Welsh teacher training revamp underway to raise school standards

The way teachers are trained in Wales will see an increased role for schools and more input from universities to raise standards, Education Secretary Kirsty Williams announced today (Tues 20th Sept).

Speaking to Assembly Members in the Senedd she revealed there will be a consultation on the way initial teacher training education programmes (ITE) are approved and accredited.

The move builds on Professor John Furlong’s independent report that concluded teacher training needed reforming to raise standards.

The revised accreditation includes:

• An increased role for schools;
• A clearer role for universities;
• Joint ownership of the initial teacher education (ITE) programme;
• Structured opportunities to link school and university learning;
• The centrality of research;

The proposed changes will also see an enhanced role for the Education Workforce Council in the process.

Kirsty Williams said:

“Our initial teacher education system needs to change to make sure it offers our future teachers the skills and knowledge to help us raise standards for all.

“We will be consulting on a range of changes to teacher training to help us achieve this. We must incentivise, recognise and promote teaching excellence so that we raise standards across the board.  To achieve this, teachers must be supported to be the best that they can be, and that starts in initial teacher education and continues throughout a teacher’s career.

“I am resolute that change can not and must not wait. Whilst new programmes of ITE will be accredited and marketed to prospective students from summer 2018, I expect to see substantial progress, firmly underway now.

“I want to see partnership arrangements between schools and universities maturing. I want to see universities in Wales working collaboratively with each other as well as more widely. We need to create a system that is self-improving, with the profession working for their own improvement and for that of others.

“I am delighted Professor Furlong will continue to provide his knowledge and expertise to us. I will be visiting all Welsh universities with Professor Furlong to see and hear what progress has been made and to understand how they are developing their vision for the future of their provision.

“I want ITE to be of the highest quality, world leading in fact, and that is why I am fully committed to driving forward the change that is required, and to do so at pace.”