HC Deb 12 June 1992 vol 209 cc304-5W
Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what provision will be made in the Liverpool area for teacher training; what schools will be used as training bases; what assessment he is making of the existing private studies in Liverpool developing between the Liverpool institute of higher education, Liverpool university and local comprehensive schools; if it is his intention to maintain those arrangements; and if he will make a statement;

(2) whether new teacher training arrangements will be based entirely on opted-out schools.

Mr. Forth

Courses of initial teacher training are approved by my right hon. Friend against criteria laid down by him. The Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (CATE) advises him on whether courses meet these criteria.

Following consultation earlier this year my right hon. Friend announced that changes would be made in the criteria and procedures for the accreditation of training for secondary school teachers. Details of the new criteria and procedures will be issued shortly.

Under the new procedures it will be a matter for individual schools and higher education institutions in Liverpool, as elsewhere, to work together. Participating schools will be expected to meet explicit criteria, including performance indicators. All maintained and independent secondary schools will be eligible to be considered for selection as partner schools and it will be for the higher education institutions to justify their selection of schools, in the first instance to CATE.