A Registered Charity (No 275082)

Promoting Quality in Teacher Education

Minutes of the meeting of the School Reference Group held at 11am on Wednesday 19 May 2021 via Zoom

Present

Ruth Argyle (knste)

Julie Greer (Cherbourg primary)

Spencer Hennessy (Emmanuel College, SRG Chair)

Fiona Hopkinson Kearney (pmat Academy)

Jan Linsley (YITSA)

Nicola Lyons (Minster School TSA)

Jackie Moses (UCET)

Margaret Mullholland (ASCL)

James Noble-Rogers (UCET)

Keith Perera (Inspire TS)

Brian Rock (Ebor Hope TSA)

Matt Varley (NTU)

Andrew Young (Pathfinder TSA)

Apologies: Jake Capper, Kevin Mattinson, Emma Rodrigues, Di Swift & Jenny Wynn.

Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 February were agreed. There were no matters arising not already included on the agenda.

UCET updates

These included:

OfSTED had that day published a report on the outcome of its research visits of a number of ITE providers, details of which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teaching-teachers-during-covid-19/teaching-teachers-during-covid-19

Registration for the 2-3 November on-line UCET conference was open at: www.uct/conference.

ITE market review & Institute of Teaching: Implications for the sector

The Group received a presentation on the possible implications for teacher education of government policies in regards the: review of the ITE Market; the Institute of Teaching (IOT); Teaching School Hubs (TSHs); and the Early Career Framework (ECF). DfE was currently engaged in a series of sector engagement events on the Market Review and a formal consultation would take place in the summer, with new structures intended to come into being

in September 2023, although many felt that this timescale was unfeasible. Key concerns related to: the possible imposition of inflexible ITE content and structure requirements; a reduction in the number of accredited ITE providers of all sizes; disruption to teacher supply; and increased central control over how new teachers are educated and trained.

The following points were made during the discussion:

Many schools involved in ITE partnerships were unaware of the Market Review and its possible implications for existing partnerships. There were concerns that some, for example SD lead schools, would withdraw from ITE rather than be forced into new partnership arrangements, and that local community based partnerships that meeting local needs might be undermined.

The role of TSHs in regards ITE was not yet clear, with the immediate focus for TSHs being on ECF and NPQ delivery. Around half of the new hubs were reported to have no direct experience of ITE.

The ECF was in some areas disrupting effective local CPD and teacher development partnerships.

The scope for TSHs in their role as Appropriate Bodies to refuse to sign-off completion of the new induction period in the absence of new teachers receiving their ECF entitlement was unclear, as was finding for the back-filling of ECF mentor time.

Other issues

OfSTED inspections of ITE partnerships under the new inspection framework had begun the previous week. A key focus was on CCF implementation, notwithstanding that 2020/21 was intended to be a transitional year in regards the implementation of new curricula.

Recruitment to ITE, where recruitment was generally reported to be strong, although it had slowed down in recent weeks and was sometimes less buoyant than the previous year. Reductions in bursaries had led to a downturn in application in some subjects, including geography.

Recruitment had in some places been curtailed because of the lack of placement opportunities.

iQTS, and government proposal for a new international teaching qualification based on standards and requirements that apply to accredited ITE provision in England, and which failed to recognise the fact that different structures would be required for programmes marketed at UK international schools and those for domestic markets.

The new (not yet public) SEND Gateway resource for use free of charge by schools and ITE providers - https://ittr.sendgateway.org.uk/ - which was designed to support teachers in meeting the needs of children with complex needs and to help them build and integrate SEND into their classroom activities and to support student teacher mentors. Feedback on the resource was invited from SRG members.

Any other business

None.

Date of next meeting

20 October 2021, via Zoom.