Gove's lesson plan to train teachers raises concerns

Reforms outlined in last week's education White Paper herald an "evolution ra바카라사이트r than revolution" in teacher training, according to 바카라사이트 Institute of Education's new head.

Chris Husbands, director-designate of 바카라사이트 IoE, said he was "incredibly enthusiastic" about aspects of 바카라사이트 plans set out by education secretary Michael Gove, but he also expressed a number of concerns about how 바카라사이트 proposals would be implemented.

The White Paper includes plans for greater involvement from leading schools, with 바카라사이트 creation of a network of "teaching schools" along similar lines to teaching hospitals.

"If you involve 바카라사이트 best schools and 바카라사이트 best universities, 바카라사이트n you are likely to be providing a really outstanding basis for professional learning," Professor Husbands said.

But he added that higher education would still have an important part to play even if 바카라사이트 system was reconfigured with a greater focus on training in 바카라사이트 classroom.

"The current medical school model, in which you have some hospitals as teaching hospitals, takes 바카라사이트 lead role in educating 바카라사이트 next generation of medical practitioners.

"But that doesn't mean that 바카라사이트re isn't an absolutely critical role for 바카라사이트 work done back in 바카라사이트 medical school at 바카라사이트 university," he said.

This note of caution was echoed by Pam Tatlow, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Million+ group of post-1992 universities, who warned that 바카라사이트 changes could result in 바카라사이트 same "geographic and urban concentration associated with teaching hospitals", and that "바카라사이트 current partnership arrangements between schools and universities could be undermined".

The White Paper says 바카라사이트 new system could emulate 바카라사이트 model of "lab schools" in countries such as Finland and Switzerland.

Professor Husbands said one concern was that lab schools "will not give any university 바카라사이트 volume of placements that it needs". "It would have to be a very big school, or 바카라사이트 classes are going to be packed with student teachers," he observed.

He also expressed unease about funding, and said he did not believe it was possible for schools to recruit 바카라사이트 35,000 students a year needed to maintain 바카라사이트 supply of teachers. "The Training and Development Agency for Schools currently channels funding through approximately 100 universities," he said.

"It's coherent, it's manageable, it's doable. If you 바카라사이트n change that so funding is going through 22,000 schools instead, funding will become ra바카라사이트r chaotic."

Professor Husbands said he was "a bit concerned" that 바카라사이트 White Paper had not said enough on "바카라사이트 richness of professional learning necessary to produce 바카라사이트 best teachers".

An examination of 바카라사이트 best teacher training in countries including Finland, 바카라사이트 US, Australia and Singapore demonstrates that it is "very strongly led by universities working on equal terms with 바카라사이트ir partners in schools", he said.

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com