UCU welcomes millions for diploma teacher training

A combination of practical and theoretical learning at Levels 1-3, Diplomas will be taught by consortia including one or more schools and a college. Five Diplomas will be introduced this September, and by 2011 there will be 17.

However, the union warned the money must be spent carefully and in a way that involved teachers and unions in the design of training.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Of course this is good news – some of our members who are due to teach this new qualification in just a few months time, have expressed concern about their lack of appropriate preparation.

'We urge government to target this money carefully so that the training gets to those who need it. It must also be relevant to the needs of those due to teach the diploma – we would like to see teachers and lecturers have some input into the design of this training.

'We also hope better training can bring together the school teachers and the college lecturers who are jointly responsible for teaching this new qualification.'