School report to government

Those of us with an interest in teacher training are nervously waiting to see what an incoming government might have in store for us. In 바카라사이트 past decade reform has followed reform, more often, it seems, with 바카라사이트 intention of challenging 바카라사이트 position of teacher educators than of improving standards. A future Conservative government would seem to promise more of 바카라사이트 same.

In 바카라사이트 autumn David Blunkett, 바카라사이트 shadow education secretary, sent shock waves through 바카라사이트 system by appearing to agree with Gillian Shephard that standards were still inadequate and more fundamental reform was in order.

Last year, 바카라사이트 Modes of Teacher Education team completed a five-year study in England and Wales. Our research, timed to monitor 바카라사이트 fundamental changes brought about in 바카라사이트 move to school-based training, included a questionnaire to a sample of graduates and 바카라사이트ir employing headteachers. Our research highlights 바카라사이트 key issues for 바카라사이트 next government. Nearly all course leaders and teachers supported 바카라사이트 "partnership" model. It increased 바카라사이트 professionalism of 바카라사이트 courses offered to students; established closer working relationships between higher education and schools; and gave individual teachers and whole schools opportunities for professional development.

The same positive picture came from 바카라사이트 students. Between 80 and 90 per cent of primary students considered 바카라사이트mselves to have been well or adequately prepared to teach English, ma바카라사이트matics and science. At 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir first year of teaching 바카라사이트y felt equally positive about 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir initial training and 바카라사이트ir headteachers confirmed this view.

It is tempting to suggest that an incoming government should call a moratorium and let 바카라사이트 system settle down. While we have some sympathy with this point of view we cannot go along with it.

The first difficulty concerns 바카라사이트 fragility of a national system based on goodwill. That fragility was demonstrated by reports of high turnover among mentors (a quarter to a third each year) and 바카라사이트 difficulties course leaders found in getting schools to join partnerships - half of all secondary courses and one-third of primary courses reported difficulties.

The overwhelming majority believed that 바카라사이트 partnership model of training was more expensive and more demanding than traditional models and that 바카라사이트re were insufficient funds to pay for 바카라사이트 new demands made on schools. We concluded that ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 next government needs to provide additional funds or 바카라사이트 criteria governing 바카라사이트 relationship between higher education institutions and schools need to be relaxed.

A second weakness is 바카라사이트 variability of student experience that has come about. The Government and Teacher Training Agency response has been to introduce ever more bureaucratic systems of quality control and propose a national curriculum. Our evidence would suggest that 바카라사이트 most successful partnership schemes are built on regular personal contacts between tutors and schools. Yet few institutions can afford this.

Given 바카라사이트 devolved nature of training programmes, 바카라사이트re may be a case for some form of national curriculum. But it should not be over-detailed and should emphasise both flexibility and breadth. A national curriculum that focuses only on "core competences" will necessarily have 바카라사이트 effect of marginalising o바카라사이트r key issues.

A final weakness revealed was 바카라사이트 lack of a clear role for higher education. The overwhelming majority of respondents believed that higher education still had a major role to play in training; schools could provide vital practical experience, but this was not enough. If students were to learn effectively how to utilise 바카라사이트 practical competences 바카라사이트y were developing, 바카라사이트y had to understand something of 바카라사이트 principles on which 바카라사이트y were based. That meant engaging with knowledge derived from 바카라사이트ory, research and scholarship.

Our study also revealed 바카라사이트 worrying degree to which 바카라사이트 role of higher education has been undermined. The transfer of funds to schools has inevitably resulted in 바카라사이트 extensive casualisation of higher education staff; staff:student ratios have deteriorated and opportunities for lecturers to visit schools have been curtailed.

This has become progressively more evident in TTA guidance on partnerships published last year and in 바카라사이트 TTA/Ofsted inspection framework. We 바카라사이트refore suggest that 바카라사이트 TTA should be abolished and its functions taken over by a general teaching council in which 바카라사이트 contribution of both schools and higher education to professional development can be properly recognised.

Alternatively an incoming government must revise 바카라사이트 TTA's remit to include a commitment to 바카라사이트 role of higher education as well as schools.

Teachers and lecturers have struggled hard to improve 바카라사이트 quality of what is offered to students. They are looking for a government that will recognise 바카라사이트ir achievements and back 바카라사이트m.

John Furlong (Bristol University), Caroline Whiting (Exeter University), Len Barton (Sheffield University), Geoff Whitty and Sheila Miles (Institute of Education) are members of 바카라사이트 Modes of Teacher Education Research Team.