Teacher Training (Hansard, 19 January 1993)

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many entrants for initial teacher training last year undertook a period of pupilage, or other work with children, before starting their courses; what percentage of all students this was; and what contribution his Department has made to encourage this practice;
(2) how many schools, counted separately, in the primary, secondary and special education sectors, offer pupilage to prospective initial teacher training students; and what is the percentage of schools involved;
(3) how long a period of pupilage in a school lasts, on average; what are the longest and shortest periods of time; and what advice is given by his Department to encourage high quality student experience.

§ Sir Wyn Roberts
This information is not held centrally. The Government have given financial support to a number of "taster courses" in Wales providing school experience for people who are interested in teaching.

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the way in which initial teacher training establishments are selecting applicants on the basis of their personal qualities for effective classroom management and for relating well to children, the way in which his Department is contributing to more effective selection procedures and the number and percentage of applicants who are not accepted for initial teacher training.

§ Sir Wyn Roberts
The criteria for the approval of initial teacher training courses require institutions to ensure that entrants to teacher training have the necessary personal qualities for the profession, including an ability to manage and to get on well with children. No one can be accepted on to an ITT course without being interviewed.
The number of applicants not accepted on to ITT courses in England and Wales in 1992 were, for undergraduate courses, around 9,900—39 per cent. of applicants—and for postgraduate courses around 8,800 —35 per cent. of applicants.

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps have been taken in the last two years to promote multicultural awareness and equal opportunities in schools and initial teacher training establishments.

§ Sir Wyn Roberts
In the last two years the Government have continued the phased introduction of the national curriculum, which is designed to challenge and stimulate all pupils whatever their ethnic or cultural origin. The Curriculum Council for Wales and the Schools Examination and Assessment Council, which advise my right hon. Friend on the curriculum and assessment, are required in exercising their functions to take account of the ethnic and cultural diversity of society in Wales and the importance of promoting equal opportunities for all pupils regardless of ethnic origin and gender. The Government are also proposing to strengthen religious education, which provides opportunities to study other faiths and cultures and develop greater tolerance and understanding.
184W
The criteria for the approval of courses of initial teacher training include a requirement that they should help student teachers to develop an awareness of individual differences, including social and cultural dimensions. We have encouraged the development of ITT courses for people from ethnic minority communities.

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of teacher training courses in developing group management skills; and if he considers further specific measures are needed in this regard;
(2) what assessment he has made in the last two years of the effectiveness of basic counselling skills for students in initial teacher training establishments; and how many establishments have been studied for this purpose.

§ Sir Wyn Roberts
The criteria for the approval of courses of initial teacher training require that students should be trained both in the effective management of groups of pupils and in the pastoral skills required to interact well with individual children. HMI, in its inspection of all ITT courses in Wales, and the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education in its scrutiny of all course proposals have collected evidence of the satisfactory compliance of the institutions with these criteria.

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of those involved in the provision of teacher training in determining whether potential teachers have the ability to relate well to pupils.

§ Sir Wyn Roberts
Higher education institutions are required to interview all students they admit to courses of initial teacher training. Assessment of students' ability to relate well to children is done during that interview and as part of the assessment of the student's teaching practice. We have not made a specific assessment of how institutions undertake this task.

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of initial teacher training establishments in introducing students to the concept of peer support and its uses.

§ Sir Wyn Roberts
We have not made an assessment of peer support within initial teacher training courses in Wales. The use of group work is a feature of all ITT courses in institutions in Wales and teaching practice guidance includes the expectation that students should employ various strategies, including group work, in their work with pupils.