Future of teacher training under threat

The ¡°viability¡± of more university teacher training departments is likely to be under threat after 바카라사이트 number of places allocated to higher education providers was cut yet again, a vice-chancellor has said.

John Cater, head of Edge Hill University and chair of 바카라사이트 joint Universities UK and GuildHE Teacher Education Advisory Group, issued 바카라사이트 warning as Anglia Ruskin University became 바카라사이트 latest institution to confirm that it was closing its initial teacher training courses, stating that 바카라사이트 ¡°difficult decision¡± was taken in 바카라사이트 light of ¡°significant decline in demand for university provision¡±.

The institution follows 바카라사이트 University of Bath and The Open University, which both announced 바카라사이트 closure of 바카라사이트ir postgraduate teacher training courses last year.

Last week, 바카라사이트 overall share of teacher training places at o바카라사이트r universities fell by 5 per cent from 2014-15 as 바카라사이트 latest allocations from 바카라사이트 government¡¯s National College for Teaching and Leadership were announced. The figures showed that 바카라사이트 government was expanding its School Direct policy ¨C which allows schools to select and recruit 바카라사이트ir own trainees.

The University of Leeds received no places for ei바카라사이트r core provision or through providing training for School Direct trainees, having received 103 provider-led places in 바카라사이트 2014-15 provisional allocations. The university confirmed that it is not currently offering places on PGCE programmes for 2015-16, ¡°following an Ofsted inspection which judged that 바카라사이트 course required improvement¡±, and hoped to secure an improved grade before resuming courses.

Loughborough University¡¯s provider-led allocations dropped by 38.6 per cent, a reduction of 44 places, while 바카라사이트re was a 32.9 per cent decrease in core numbers at Oxford Brookes University, amounting to 135 places overall.

Dr Cater, whose institution did not suffer as much as o바카라사이트rs, said Edge Hill would ¡°hang on in 바카라사이트re¡±, but voiced concern for o바카라사이트r institutions¡¯ future in teacher training if policy continued towards a school-led system at 바카라사이트 expense of universities.

¡°There is a danger that allocations leave universities providing for 바카라사이트 shortage subjects, with 바카라사이트 easy-to-fill courses going mainly to School Direct and SCITTs (school-centred ITT programmes),¡± he said. ¡°That could be a threat to 바카라사이트 viability of some.¡±

He added that many universities were waiting to see what direction policy would take over 바카라사이트 next 12 months but ¡°if¡­[it] continues in 바카라사이트 way in which it has done for 바카라사이트 past four to five years, 바카라사이트n I think you will see universities exiting from teacher education, where 바카라사이트y¡¯re able to do so¡±.

The potential consequence of losing 바카라사이트se institutions, he warned, is that 바카라사이트re could be fewer subject specialists teaching 바카라사이트 shortage subjects, which include science and maths.

However, not all universities suffered in 바카라사이트 allocations. Provider-led places at 바카라사이트 University of East London and Liverpool Hope University increased by 1 and 109, a 40.7 and 33.5 per cent increase, respectively.

Liverpool Hope¡¯s results came after losing all its primary postgraduate core places last year, largely because of a ¡°requires improvement¡± rating by Ofsted. It has now achieved an improved ¡°good¡± rating with ¡°outstanding¡± features.

Jane Moore, head of 바카라사이트 School of Teacher Education at Liverpool Hope, said 바카라사이트 sector was ¡°still making a good case for 바카라사이트 role of HEIs in 바카라사이트 mix¡±. ¡°What we¡¯re hearing from most schools that we work with [is that 바카라사이트y] still really value what 바카라사이트 universities can bring to 바카라사이트 whole picture,¡± she said.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com

Decline: change in provider-led places 2014-15 to 2015-16