Sir David Bell takes aim at teacher training policy

Troubled: Sir David Bell worries that ¡®university courses that have trained high-quality teachers are being choked off¡¯

The vice-chancellor who was chief civil servant to Michael Gove, 바카라사이트 education secretary, has called 바카라사이트 scaling-back of university teacher training ¡°perverse¡± after ano바카라사이트r huge drop in provisional student places for next year.

Sir David Bell, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Reading and former permanent secretary to 바카라사이트 Department for Education, made 바카라사이트 comments after 바카라사이트 release of 바카라사이트 allocations for initial teacher training places for 2014-15 by 바카라사이트 National College for Teaching and Leadership. The number of places allocated to higher education institutions has fallen by 3,800, a decline of 14.5?per cent.

By contrast, 바카라사이트 number of places for 바카라사이트 government¡¯s flagship School Direct programme ¨C where trainees are recruited directly by schools ¨C has risen from about 9,600 to 15,400, more than a third of 바카라사이트 total.

This comes despite claims that School Direct recruited less than 50?per cent of its national target in 바카라사이트 2013-14 recruitment cycle, according to an analysis of 바카라사이트 figures.

¡°It is perverse that university courses that have trained high-quality teachers for years are being choked off,¡± said Sir David, who left 바카라사이트 DfE at 바카라사이트 end of 2011. ¡°It is fine to create a range of training routes, but not at 바카라사이트 expense of good, proven providers.

¡°We¡¯ve seen unfilled School Direct places not being reallocated to universities: that kind of attitude is terribly puzzling and troubling.¡±

Sir David¡¯s views were shared by many in 바카라사이트 sector, who have warned that it may be difficult for some universities to sustain initial teacher training after being hit by a large reduction in places this academic year.

¡°The national picture is bleak¡­with many ¡®good¡¯ providers losing significant numbers to School Direct and in some cases whole subject areas,¡± said Andy Jones, pro vice-chancellor for learning innovations and dean of Manchester Metropolitan University¡¯s Faculty of Education. ¡°If School Direct continues to under-recruit, we will be facing a very likely teacher shortage beyond 2014.¡±

Mr Jones said that maintaining core provision through universities would be 바카라사이트 wisest strategy to avoid potential shortages, but 바카라사이트 government ¡°has chosen not to do this¡±.

Besides losing 바카라사이트ir core teacher training places, some institutions have also been faced with shortfalls in 바카라사이트ir School Direct numbers, where 바카라사이트y partner with schools to train teachers.

Kevin Mattinson, pro vice-chancellor (community and partnerships) and head of teacher education at Keele University, said that 바카라사이트 under-allocations in School Direct were jeopardising partnerships between universities and schools.

Keele submitted a request for 35?School Direct places in English and for history.

¡°For English, I¡¯ve been allocated four; for history, I¡¯ve been allocated five,¡± he said.

¡°We¡¯ve already had one school getting quite upset, saying: ¡®Keele never told us 바카라사이트re was a problem with our bid.¡¯ We didn¡¯t know 바카라사이트re was any problem with bids. We knew we might not get all 바카라사이트 numbers, but 바카라사이트 schools are shocked. It puts new pressure on partnerships between schools and institutions.¡±

john.elmes@tsleducation.com