Response from Kirsty Williams, Minister for Education in Wales: grade B entry requirement for ITT applicants

13 February 2020

13 February 2020

Dear James,

Thank you for your correspondence of 7 February regarding the concerns of the accredited teacher education partnerships in Wales in relation to entry requirements.

Whilst I acknowledge that the skills and abilities required to make an excellent teacher are not restricted to educational attainment at GCSE level in isolation, it is expected that prospective trainees are able to evidence high standards of literacy and numeracy. The current statutory minimum entry requirements for all routes to gaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in Wales will not be lowered. The requirements for students to have achieved the relevant GCSE grades in English or Welsh and Maths support the Welsh Government’s Literacy and Numeracy Framework and the high standards expected of our teaching staff to support our learners.
If candidates do not possess the required level of academic achievement at GCSE the providers offer the opportunity to undertake equivalency testing to evidence that they meet the required standard.

To support the ongoing changes to Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Wales officials are currently reviewing the position and efficacy of the existing arrangements for equivalency testing. Officials will work with all stakeholders to develop an approach that ensures a consistency across all ITE providers and adequate support is available to students. Your contribution to this work would be very welcome.

Yours sincerely,
Kirsty Williams AC/AM
Y Gweinidog Addysg
Minister for Education