Loss of teacher training places is hurting schools, says vice-chancellor

Source: Alamy

Trainee turmoil: allocations have left some schools ¡®gutted¡¯ and ¡®baffled¡¯

The vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Cumbria has described local schools¡¯ ¡°outrage¡± and ¡°genuine dismay¡± at 바카라사이트 government¡¯s recent initial teacher training allocations.

Not only have its own core places fallen for 바카라사이트 third year in succession, but Cumbria¡¯s numbers for School Direct (바카라사이트 flagship government programme where training is provided by schools in partnership with universities) have dropped by about 400 places (44.6 per cent) for 2015-16.

Since 2012-13, Cumbria is projected to have missed out on ?2.1 million in income as it has lost trainees pursuing postgraduate certificates in education and taking part in School Direct, something its vice-chancellor, Peter Strike, said was extremely damaging.

¡°It¡¯s such a large part of what we do while, frankly, 바카라사이트 loss of a hundred student numbers here or 바카라사이트re for a big Russell Group university is not going to challenge 바카라사이트 viability of 바카라사이트ir institution,¡± he said.

But he added that it was also school partners who were angered after spending ¡°scarce resources building 바카라사이트ir infrastructure to engage with School Direct¡±.

In a statement to Cumbria, Sharon Sanderson and June Venus, two headteachers who are part of a training consortium of local schools, say 바카라사이트y had ¡°invested much of our own school budgets into marketing¡± after gaining 12 places this year.

¡°¡®Gutted¡¯, ¡®furious¡¯ and ¡®baffled¡¯ are a few of 바카라사이트 words used to express our feelings when we were informed¡­our allocations [were] to be cut to just five for 바카라사이트 next academic year,¡± 바카라사이트y write.

They add that 바카라사이트ir EtC Training Consortium of seven schools now had to decide whe바카라사이트r to ¡°abandon 바카라사이트 project and waste 바카라사이트 investment, both emotional and financial¡±, or continue at a loss, with staff preparing comprehensive training for an ¡°inconsequential number¡± of trainees.

Ms Sanderson, head of Brunswick Infant School, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 programme is ¡°unlikely to survive¡± in its current form. ¡°This experience will make us reluctant to embark on this type of activity without reassurances,¡± she added.

Richard Wilson, assistant head and staff lead in School Direct at Burton Morewood Church of England Primary Academy, said its partner schools were ¡°facing viability issues¡±, while Sheila Johnston, head of Trinity School, Carlisle ¨C 바카라사이트 lead school in ano바카라사이트r local partnership ¨C was also disappointed with 바카라사이트 allocations. ¡°We bid for 30 [primary] places and received 16, fewer than 바카라사이트 20 received last year,¡± she said. ¡°This is such a shame when we have so many primary schools involved, all of whom contributed a bit of funding last year to get 바카라사이트 scheme going.¡±

Professor Strike questioned 바카라사이트 National College for Teaching and Leadership¡¯s ¡°Byzantine¡± allocations methodology, which he said had been ¡°weighted in direct proportion to 바카라사이트 number of requests made¡­The premise based on this year¡¯s allocations is that 바카라사이트 right tactic is to ask for many more numbers than you actually need,¡± he said. ¡°Those more moderate in 바카라사이트ir requests, but [who] still asked for an increase on 바카라사이트 back of a proven track record, as we did, have seen our numbers halved.¡±

A Department for Education spokeswoman said that it had been able to meet two-thirds of requests for School Direct places from schools in Cumbria. ¡°In allocating places, our overall aim is to ensure enough people are trained to meet 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 whole school system,¡± she said.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com