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Expert group and Teaching Schools Council to take forward work to improve initial teacher training systems in England.

An independent expert group, chaired by Stephen Munday CBE, Chief Executive of Comberton Academy Trust, and the Teaching Schools Council have been commissioned to lead vital work to improve the quality of initial teacher training (ITT) courses in England, the Education Secretary Nicky Morgan announced yesterday (24 March 2015).

On 19 January, Sir Andrew Carter published his review of the quality and effectiveness of ITT courses in England. The report highlighted that the system in England is performing well but that more needed to be done to ensure all trainees receive some core grounding in the basics of classroom management and subject knowledge. The report made 18 recommendations to government and the ITT sector.

In response to the report the government confirmed that it will:

• commission an independent working group made up of expert representatives from the sector to develop a core ITT framework - to support those who deliver ITT as well as applicants and trainees to have a better understanding of the essential elements of good ITT core content

• commission the Teaching Schools Council to develop a new set of aspirational standards for school-based ITT mentors - to help promote the importance of the role and create a better shared understanding of the characteristics of effective mentoring across the ITT sector

Announcing the formal appointment of the expert group and the Teaching Schools Council to take forward this important work, Nicky Morgan said yesterday:

I was really pleased that Sir Andrew Carter’s report highlighted that overall the ITT system in England is performing well.

We want to continue to ensure we have excellent teachers in our classrooms to prepare young people for life in modern Britain. That is why we have committed to taking forward these important recommendations to help drive up improvements in the ITT system further.

I’m delighted to appoint Stephen Munday to chair the independent expert group to lead the work on developing a new ITT course content framework, and The Teaching Schools Council to develop new standards for ITT mentors.

Stephen Munday CBE said:

I am delighted to be able to work with colleagues on this really important development. We will seek to bring together our various areas of experience and expertise together with the thoughts and input of many others involved in initial teacher training in order to produce something of real use and value for future ITT provision.

Vicky Beer CBE, Chair of the Teaching Schools Council, said:

I am delighted that the Teaching Schools Council has been asked to lead on this really important work. Teaching Schools are at the heart of the government’s drive to give schools more freedom and to enable schools to take increasing responsibility for managing the education system. The Teaching Schools Council agree it is absolutely crucial for trainees to have high-quality, school-based mentoring to support them through their initial teacher training, and we look forward to working with teaching schools and ITT experts in developing national standards for mentors.

We expect the independent expert group and the Teaching Schools Council will report to Ministers by the end of 2015.

The expert group supporting the development of the new ITT content framework includes:

• Tom Bennett, former teacher, ‘behaviour guru’ and Times Educational Supplement blogger
• Kath Goudie, Cambridge Teaching School Network
• Dina Lewis, Dean of Education, Hull University
• Margaret Mulholland, Director of Development and Research at Swiss Cottage School
• Ruth Miskin, former headteacher and phonics consultant
• Seamus Oates, Executive Headteacher TBAP Trust (Bridge AP Academy)
• Dame Alison Peacock, Executive Headteacher, The Wroxham School

In response to the Carter review the government also committed to develop the Get Into Teaching website and provide information about ITT on GOV.UK so that applicants of ITT and schools can find clearer information about provision.

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