Four new members have been appointed to the group tasked with developing a “core” initial teacher training (ITT) framework.
The new faces will join Comberton Academy Trust chief executive Stephen Munday and eight other education professionals on the board, which was set up in March in response to the Carter Review of ITT.
As reported in last week’s Schools Week, the ITT expert group is one of 11 set up since education secretary Nicky Morgan took her post.
The expert group is now expected to report next spring, as opposed to this December, as initially announced.
Sir Andrew Carter was last year appointed to review all aspects of ITT and recommend where improvements could be made. His report was released in January and included 18 recommendations, including the creation of such an expert group.
In response to the new additions, Mr Munday said: “I am very pleased to welcome our new members who I know will strengthen the diversity of the group by adding further expertise in initial teacher training as well as the independent sector.
“We look forward to working with them to develop a framework of core content that will be of value to all ITT providers, applicants and trainees and in turn raise standards in education.
Schools minister Nick Gibb added: “We want to continue to ensure we have excellent teachers in our classrooms so that every child can reach their full potential. Making sure trainees learn essential skills such as classroom management and have a good grounding in subject knowledge are vital to this, and will help drive up improvements in the ITT system further.”
The new members are:
– Rachael Hare – Head of initial teacher education, Harris Federation
– Patrick Derham – headteacher, Westminster School
– John McIntosh CBE – former headmaster, London Oratory School
– Professor Anthony O’Hear – director of the Royal Institute of Philosophy, University of Buckinghamshire
They join:
– Tom Bennett, teacher, educational writer and director of researchED (leader of two other expert groups)
– Kath Goudie, Cambridge Teaching School Network
– Dina Lewis, dean of education, Hull University
– Margaret Mulholland, director of development and research at Swiss Cottage School
– Ruth Miskin, former headteacher and phonics consultant
– Seamus Oates, executive headteacher TBAP Trust (Bridge AP Academy)
– Dame Alison Peacock, executive headteacher, The Wroxham School
Given the current recruitment crisis – and the fact that this has coincided with a growth in school-led systems – I would have thought there would be more representation from those who are experienced in running ITT programmes from HEIs and SCITTs, as well as people who have trained relatively recently. Getting the balance right between high quality training, making expectations realistic and not overwhelming trainees too soon is not easy. ITT and early professional development drop out is an ongoing issue and it is crucial that ITT is seen as the first stage of effective and supportive CPD.