New teachers are set to receive a boost to their training and
development amid a surge in applications to join the classroom
since the outbreak of coronavirus.
The new induction programme, based on the Early Career Framework,
will be launched in the North East, Bradford, Doncaster and
Greater Manchester as planned from autumn 2020, ahead of a
national rollout the following year. Up to 2,000 new teachers in
these areas will benefit from additional training and one-to-one
mentor sessions in the first two years after qualifying.
Participating schools will receive £2,200 for every teacher on
the second year of the induction, helping to support time out of
the classroom with extra development opportunities.
In response to the disruption to teacher training courses this
academic year, a one-year funded offer of support will also be
available to up to 3,000 early career teachers working in schools
outside of the early rollout areas from this autumn, with a focus
on those serving disadvantaged communities.
Minister for School Standards said:
It is encouraging to see a major increase in the number of
applications to join the teaching profession over the last few
months.
The Early Career Framework is at the heart of this Government’s
drive to raise school standards, which is why we are making a
commitment to continue with our reforms to teacher training
this autumn.
All those entering the classroom for the first time this
September can be reassured they will receive high-quality
training based on the best available evidence and research,
helping to increase retention and ensure newly qualified
teachers are better prepared for the challenges and rewards of
teaching.
High-quality training materials –developed for the Early Career
Framework reforms – will also be made freely available to all
early career teachers and their mentors from this September.
Evidence shows that teacher quality is the most important factor
within school in improving outcomes for children and young
people, and reforms to teacher training and early career support
are key to the Government’s plans to improve school standards for
all.
This early career support package comes following a surge in the
number of applications to teacher training since the coronavirus
outbreak. Teachers across the country have been celebrated for
their role in continuing to support children throughout the
pandemic, and there has been a twelve per cent increase in
applications for those looking to enter the classroom compared to
the equivalent period last year.
Geoff Barton, Association of School and College Leaders General
Secretary said:
We welcome the decision to press ahead with the rollout of the
Early Career Framework at a time of uncertainty caused by the
coronavirus emergency and the subsequent disruption to teacher
training programmes.
The Early Career Framework is an important step in giving more
support to new teachers and thereby improving the retention
rate: it is one of the keys to solving teacher shortages.
Paul Whiteman, National Association of Head Teachers General
Secretary said:
Today’s announcement that Government intends to move forward
with the Early Career Framework is good news for the profession
– this is an essential first step towards securing necessary
career-long professional development to help retain teachers
and leaders.
The impact of Covid-19 continues to create extraordinary
challenges for new and experienced staff alike; we therefore
welcome today’s extension of support for new teachers beyond
the rollout areas, and the announcement that Early Career
Framework materials will be made freely available to all
schools supporting NQTs in the autumn.
Richard Gill, Chair of the Teaching Schools Council said:
It is vital that we keep our newest career entrants in the
profession to set them on a path of continuous improvement and
to improve outcomes for all.
The Early Career Framework provides an exciting opportunity for
new entrants to the profession to access and apply the best
available evidence at the very start of their careers. This is
one of the most significant reforms in a generation and its
potential is unquestionable.
Schools should feel confident in recruiting newly qualified
teachers and are encouraged to consider how they could play a
role in helping to train teachers and bring them into the
profession at a crucial time for education.
Trainee teachers for the upcoming academic year will be the first
cohort to benefit from the new Initial Teacher Training (ITT)
Core Content Framework, which sets out mandatory content for all
ITT Providers, from September 2020.
This framework is based on the best available evidence of the
skills required for new teachers to excel in the classroom.
