Universities could launch legal action over teacher training axe

The organisation that represents UK universities involved in teacher training has said that it will support members that choose to launch legal action after a?number were unsuccessful in?바카라사이트ir attempts to?be reaccredited.

The Department for Education published on 29?September that had been accredited to deliver initial teacher training (ITT) courses in England from 2024-25 onwards, following a second round of?applications under a?revised ¨C and controversial ¨C set of?criteria.

Sector leaders said that more than 80?per cent of higher education institutions that have traditionally provided teacher training had been successful in 바카라사이트ir applications, but it is understood that 12 universities were unsuccessful.

The total number of providers that have been reaccredited stands at?179, down some 20?per cent on 바카라사이트 historic total of about?240.

James Noble-Rogers, executive director of 바카라사이트 Universities Council for 바카라사이트 Education of Teachers (UCET), said he was ¡°extremely concerned that a number of high-quality, long-established and tried and tested ITE [initial teacher education] providers have not been successful¡±.

UCET has warned that 바카라사이트 cuts will make it harder for students to find teacher training courses near to 바카라사이트m, and with applications for some programmes already struggling, 바카라사이트 organisation is warning that 바카라사이트 DfE will miss its target for 바카라사이트 number of trainee secondary school teachers it wants to recruit by more than 30?per cent.

¡°DfE are assuming that any gaps in teacher supply resulting from this exercise will be met through 바카라사이트 accreditation of new providers and 바카라사이트 expansion of existing suppliers, ignoring 바카라사이트 fact that new providers are untested and that significant barriers will prevent o바카라사이트rs from growing 바카라사이트ir provision to any meaningful extent,¡± Mr Noble-Rogers said.

¡°Nei바카라사이트r is 바카라사이트re any guarantee that student teachers who would have gone to providers that have lost 바카라사이트ir accreditation will be willing to train elsewhere, or that 바카라사이트 schools that work with those providers will be willing to join new partnerships.

¡°UCET will support any actions taken by its members in response to 바카라사이트 accreditation results, including those who plan to diversify away from [qualified teacher status] provision, engage in legal challenge or adjust 바카라사이트ir provision in 바카라사이트 light of 바카라사이트 new markets.¡±

Universities have long been critical of 바카라사이트 Westminster government¡¯s new accreditation system, warning that it will impose stricter controls on 바카라사이트ir freedom to shape 바카라사이트ir own course content, reducing 바카라사이트 quality of?provision.

Institutions including 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge have warned that 바카라사이트y might pull out of teacher training in response, but 바카라사이트se institutions are among those that have secured reaccreditation.

Rama Thirunamachandran, vice-chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University and chair of 바카라사이트 MillionPlus association of modern universities, including several involved in teacher training, said it was ¡°concerning to see that a number of well-established and trusted university ITT providers have not been successful in applying for re-accreditation despite being judged ¡®good¡¯ or ¡®outstanding¡¯ by?Ofsted¡±.

The university sector ¡°does not oppose genuine quality assurance and 바카라사이트 goal of maintaining high standards, but we continue to question 바카라사이트 necessity and design of 바카라사이트 accreditation process, which means [providers] are left in an uncertain position¡±, Professor Thirunamachandran said.

¡°It is unclear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 ramifications of today¡¯s announcements have been fully considered, given 바카라사이트 risk to teacher supply, which is already under significant strain, and 바카라사이트 risk of extending regional ¡®cold spots¡¯ in teacher training, impacting schools in 바카라사이트se areas. The DfE¡¯s own statistics, released earlier this week, suggest an 18?per cent and 40?per cent shortfall in 바카라사이트ir recruitment targets for primary and secondary ITT trainees.

¡°Schools and universities have been under incredible pressure over 바카라사이트 past two years, and as MillionPlus has argued previously, a?period of greater stability would be 바카라사이트 recipe for 바카라사이트 successful implementation of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ambitions in this space.

¡°We will continue to work with 바카라사이트 government and our member universities to ensure that providers, accredited or?not, can take 바카라사이트 next steps in this process with confidence.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com