HC Deb 25 May 1993 vol 225 cc492-3W
Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what advice he has received from the Office for Standards in Education on the experience of partnership between higher education institutions and schools in the education and training of teachers; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what advice he has received from the Office for Standards in Education arising from its surveys of teachers education courses; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Patten

Ofsted is engaged in a four year cycle of inspections of higher education institutions offering initial teacher training and it or the institutions publish these reports. From time to time, Ofsted also publish reports on surveys conducted on various aspects of initial or in-service training for teachers.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how his plans for the future of teacher education differ from the statement in circular 9/92 concerning the shared responsibility of higher education institutions and schools for planning and management of courses; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Patten

I welcome the move towards greater partnership between higher education institutions and schools which circular 9/92 has brought about, and look forward to similar developments in primary teacher training. I am also pleased that we are now able to offer some schools the chance to design and run their own courses, allowing them to decide on an appropriate role for higher education institutions. I shall be announcing the names of the first schools chosen to run such courses shortly.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he will publish a circular about the future of teacher education for primary school teachers; what advice he has received from the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education on this matter this year; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Patten

Proposals for the reform of primary initial teacher training will be announced soon and will take account of advice received from the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how he intends to alter the present arrangements for teacher education; on what basis qualifications will be awarded to students; who will validate such qualifications; and if he will make it his policy that those qualifications will be no lower in quality and status than existing teacher qualifications.

Mr. Boswell

The Government have already introduced new requirements for secondary teacher training. M y right hon. Friend recently announced a pioneer scheme for school-led training courses. We will shortly be issuing for consultation proposals for the reform of primary teacher training. Arrangements for validation are for the institutions concerned; my right hon. Friend will continue to use his powers to approve courses leading to qualified teacher status so as to improve the quality and standing of the teaching profession.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the current arrangements for teacher education; which types of qualification are available to those who wish to practise as teachers; who validates such qualifications; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Boswell

Current arrangements for initial teacher training, and other ways of achieving qualified teacher status, are summarised in the publication "Routes into Teaching" issued by the Teaching as a Career unit. Copies are available from the Library.