HL Deb 18 July 2003 vol 651 cc199-200WA
Baroness Blatch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Teacher Training Agency will take steps to ensure that all newly qualified biology teachers have sufficient training to enable them to deliver basic out-of-classroom teaching in biology and other scientific disciplines. [HL4009]

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

As one of the statutory requirements to be met before qualified teacher status can be awarded, trainee secondary teachers must be able to demonstrate a secure knowledge and understanding of the subject they are trained to teach. They must also be able to demonstrate that they can plan opportunities for pupils to learn in out-of-school contexts, including school trips, museum visits, field-work and employment-based settings, with the help of other staff where appropriate.