TRAINING AND
DEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR SCHOOLS News Release issued by The
Government News Network on 9 October 2007
Commenting on the
publication of the Ofsted report Reforming and developing the
school workforce, Graham Holley, Chief Executive of the Training
and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) said:
"Ofsted has found that teachers' time is more sharply
focussed on teaching and learning helped by the increased roles of
support staff. This is strong evidence that schools are working
smarter in order to drive up standards of achievement and reach
the Every Child Matters outcomes for every child.
"I applaud the hard work of schools and local authorities in
embracing different ways of working. The TDA must now continue to
support schools to make the most of the mix of talents and skills
their whole workforce has to offer."
- ends -
Notes to editors
This news release applies to England only.
The TDA works with schools to help them develop and train their
whole school workforce.
There are more than 60 different support staff roles in schools,
and more than 305,000 (full-time equivalent) support staff in
schools. Some roles are long established - teaching assistant
(TA), technician, caretaker, secretary. Others are newer and
reflect the changes underway in schools - cover supervisor, higher
level teaching assistant (HLTA), wrap-around care manager.
School leaders need information about training and development
opportunities for all the members of the school workforce. They
also need effective continuing professional development (CPD) for
their teachers that is linked to school improvement.
Until now, there has been no single body to take the lead. Many
organisations have done much good work, but the TDA's new
role reflects the fact that headteachers want a coherent strategy
for training and developing all their staff, and a more effective
framework for career progression for each of the occupations
within their workforce.
Please see http://www.tda.gov.uk/support.aspx
<http://www.tda.gov.uk/support.aspx>
for more information about the school workforce.
For information about how to become a teacher, see http://www.teach.gov.uk 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
<http://www.teach.gov.uk/payandbenefits>
Eligible trainees on 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, English or drama, 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
http://www.teach.gov.uk/funding
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
<http://www.teach.gov.uk/routes>
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
For further information on the Training and Development Agency
for Schools please see our website at http://www.tda.gov.uk