Formerly accredited teacher training providers are being invited to apply for re-accreditation, the first opportunity since the bruising market review.
The 2021 review forced all teacher trainers through a re-accreditation process which resulted in around a quarter of providers lose out.
Those that did were then forced to either “partner” with one of the 179 successful providers or quit the market.
But Schools Week revealed in November that it would be running a re-accreditation round this spring.
Today, the DfE opened that “targeted accreditation round”.
It is open exclusively to providers that were previously accredited, are a lead partner currently and have not received two consecutive ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’ ratings.
The DfE says the round “will provide an opportunity for eligible organisations to demonstrate their ability to meet the new quality requirements and provide a smooth transition from any existing partnership arrangements”.
Application timeline
All applicants must complete an “apply for ITT accreditation” form by March 16, says the DfE.
The assessment process will include a written and verbal submission. The written submission opens on March 7 and will close on April 6.
The window for verbal submissions opens on April 28 and closes on May 9.
Outcomes of the accreditation round will then be published by June 30, the DfE said.
The DfE ran an expression of interest exercise in November, but eligible organisations may apply even if they did not take part in this process.
Process welcomed by ITT sector leaders
James Noble, executive director of the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET), has welcomed the news. “We’re hopeful that the process will be a lot more collegiate and open and professional than it was the first time around, and more objective,” he told Schools Week.
He said the DfE has consulted UCET about the process, and “appear to have listened” to its feedback
“While we think we’d have rather these providers had not lost their accreditation, we’re hopeful that as many get through the process as possible, and we’ll be supporting them in any way that we can.,” he said.
He said while the exact requirements of the written evidence required are yet to be confirmed, he is hopeful it will be “balanced and not too onerous on providers”.
“We’re pleased to receive reassurance that DFE want to give providers multiple opportunities to them to succeed and demonstrate that they will be able to meet the new quality requirements,” he said.
Emma Hollis, CEO of the National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers (NASBTT), which has also been consulted as part of the process, also welcomed the news.
Hollis describes the lengthy written application required during the reapplication process in 2021 was “really quite challenging” for providers. “It’s very difficult to explain a very complicated, nuanced programme in kind of a linear, narrative form,” she said.
“It became about the ability to write bids.”
But Hollis says the introduction of a verbal element shows the DfE taken that criticism on board and is taking a more “holistic” approach.
“It’s not that if they’re dumbing down the process at all. They’re not making it easier, but what they’re doing is asking people to present in a different way.”
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