8 April 2021

OfSTED currently rate all ITE in England as being either good or outstanding and has reached similar conclusions under a succession of different inspection frameworks.  However, the context has changed since the last inspections were carried out, notably in regards to: the impact of Covid 19; policy changes, including the introduction of the Core Content Framework (CCF), the Early Career Framework (ECF) and the establishment of 87 new teaching school hubs.

The Department for Education announced its intention to review the ‘shape of the ITE market’ in its January 2019 Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy.  The review did not, however, begin in earnest until the autumn of 2020 when an Expert Advisory Group was established.  A formal statement about the review was made on 2 January 2021 alongside an announcement about the establishment of a new Institute of Teaching (IOT).  Although technically separate from the market review, IOT documentation refers to it as being part of an ‘ambitious’ reform of ITE.

The initial training of teachers is core to the work of the APPG for the Teaching Profession.   We are therefore carrying out this urgent review to inform the debate around any proposed changes to Initial Teacher Education.

The APPG would welcome your view by addressing 5 key questions that can be found here (DOCX - 0.04 Mb). Written evidence, of no more than 2,000 words in total (plus annexes), should be submitted to: kate@waterman.education by 9 April 2021.