§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to prescribe(a) the content and (b) teaching methods for teacher education.[4439]
§ Mr. ForthOn 18 September, my right hon. Friend announced the introduction of a national curriculum for initial teacher training, starting with primary English and mathematics. It will specify what teachers need to be taught about their subject; what pupils should be taught; effective teaching and assessment methods, and how and when to use them; and the standards of pupil achievement they should expect.
§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the cost of re-inspection of the 20 initial teacher education departments in higher education institutions; in what ways the criteria for the re-inspection are different for the criteria for the first inspection; for how many and which HEI teacher education departments the initial 415W inspections have not been completed; and what criteria were used in choosing the 20 initial teacher education departments for re-inspection. [4438]
§ Mr. ForthThis is a matter for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, who heads the Office for Standards in Education. I have asked Mr. Chris Woodhead to write to the hon. Member.