HC Deb 30 October 2000 vol 355 c287W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary 'of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the quality of teacher training in England and Wales. [134712]

Ms Estelle Morris

All initial teacher training (ITT) providers in England are subject to regular inspection of the quality of their provision by Ofsted. The Teacher Training Agency (TTA) allocates funding to ITT providers, according to the quality of provision, based on Ofsted's judgments.

A new teacher training curriculum was introduced in England in 1998. The proportion of trainees in high quality primary ITT provision has increased from 56 per cent. in 1997 to 65 per cent. in 1999.

Teacher training in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.