Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Teacher Training Agency proposes that those training to teach English should be given a limited training in drama teaching; and, if so, whether it proposes that such training would obviate the need to train specialist drama teachers. [HL1431]
205WA
§ Lord WhittyThe national training curriculum for secondary English will specify the essential core of knowledge, skills and understanding which trainee teachers must be taught and be able to use in relation to secondary English. The drama element in the secondary English curriculum will ensure that teachers of secondary English are taught how to teach drama in relation to its position in the pupils' English curriculum.
The national training curriculum for secondary English has been the subject of a widespread consultation by the Teacher Training Agency which ended on 3 April. There has been no support in consultation to require those training to become specialist drama teachers to follow the national training curriculum for secondary English. The agency is currently considering the implications of its proposals for those initial teacher training courses which cover both English and drama.