NEU comments on Government plans for Initial Teacher Training

Commenting on a Government consultation on plans to change Initial Teacher Training (ITT), Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:

"It seems that the Government has decided it wants to shift the ITT market in a certain direction, and put those wheels in motion before consulting with stakeholders or exploring the case and need for change. In doing so, it misses out on crucial expertise in the sector and risks alienating key players as well as making a system for training teachers dysfunctional at a crucial time.

"The NEU urges the Government to halt the ITT market review, take a pause for breath, and then really engage all stakeholders in a discussion about what the issues and solutions in ITT provision are. The whole sector has been battered by the Covid pandemic and further rushed upheaval risks the integrity of the system."