TRAINING AND
DEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR SCHOOLS News Release issued by The
Government News Network on 17 October 2007
The Training and
Development Agency for Schools (TDA) Chief Executive, Graham
Holley, today responded to the key findings on initial teacher
training (ITT) in the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief
Inspector of Schools 2006/07 published by Ofsted. He said:
"The TDA welcomes Ofsted's key findings on initial
teacher training (ITT). I am pleased to see that the quality of
teacher training in half our institutions is outstanding. This is
encouraging evidence of the quality of the new generation of
teachers entering the profession.
"Ofsted notes that the quality of primary and secondary ITT
programmes is well led and managed. We will continue to monitor
the quality of ITT and will provide appropriate support to teacher
training providers to make certain that schools have
well-qualified new teachers to ensure pupils' attainment and well-being."
Headteacher of the Jo Richardson Community school, Barking and
Dagenham, and TDA Board member, Andy Buck said:
"Our experience on the front line is that the quality of new
teachers joining the profession has been improving year on year."
Notes to editors
This news release applies to England only.
For more information about how to become a teacher, see http://www.teach.gov.uk
Personal advice is available from the Teaching Information Line
on 0845 6000 991 - 992 for Welsh speakers (minicom 0117 915 8161).
From 1 September 2007 a newly qualified teacher (NQT) will start
on a salary of at least £20,133 (£24,168 in inner London). The pay
scale for good, experienced classroom teachers who have
'crossed the threshold' rises to £34,281 outside London
and £41,004 in inner London. Additional allowances may be paid to
teachers considered to be excellent, and to those who take on
management and other responsibilities. The pay scale for head
teachers can rise to more than £90,000 depending on size of
school. Further details are available at http://www.teach.gov.uk/payandbenefits
Eligible trainees on secondary postgraduate initial teacher
training (ITT) courses in England are entitled to a tax-free
training bursary worth £6-9,000. Newly qualified teachers with a
postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) in maths and science
may also be eligible for a 'golden hello' payment worth
£5,000 (taxed) after successfully completing their induction
period. Those with a PGCE in modern languages, design and
technology, information and communications technology, music and
religious education may receive £2,500. Details are available on
the TDA website at http://www.teach.gov.uk/funding
From 1 August 2008, the bursary for trainees starting ITT courses
in secondary postgraduate English, dance and drama will be reduced
from £9,000 to £6,000 and trainees will not be eligible for a
golden hello. The bursary for trainees starting primary
postgraduate ITT courses will be reduced from £6,000 to £4,000.
The graduate teacher programme (GTP) enables people to train to
become a teacher while employed in a school. Details of employment
based routes can be viewed at http://www.teach.gov.uk/routes
Data collected by the TDA shows that close to 40,000 people began
teacher training in the academic year 2006/07.
The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) was
established under the Education Act 2005. Its principal aim is to
secure an effective school workforce that improves children's
life chances.
General TDA enquiries: 0870 4960 123