Commenting on Ofsted’s report ‘Teaching teachers during
Covid-19’, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of
School and College Leaders, said:
“Like everybody else, teacher training providers, and trainees,
have faced an extremely challenging time during the pandemic. We
are pleased to see Ofsted highlighting the good work that has
taken place in providing training remotely and in supporting the
wellbeing of trainees.
“However, despite the best efforts of providers, there have
obviously been constraints on direct classroom experience. Ofsted
makes the point that trainees are therefore likely to need
additional support in their first year as newly qualified
teachers.
“This will represent another pressure on schools, alongside other
demands such as education recovery programmes.
“It is imperative that the government recognises the extent of
the challenges schools will face and does not overload them with
various demands and initiatives, as it has a tendency to do.
“There is food for thought too in Ofsted’s finding that too few
providers have a sufficiently ambitious teacher training
curriculum, and this will clearly need to be an area of increased
focus given the vital importance of ensuring that prospective
teachers receive the best possible preparation for the
classroom.”
