Initial Teacher Education: response to consultation on strengthening QTS

The consultation proposes a number of changes, including:

• instead of new teachers gaining QTS at the end of their initial teacher education programme, it should be awarded after a period of sustained practice
• the statutory induction period for new teachers should be extended
• new teachers should be supported during induction with an early career content framework, continuing professional development (CPD) and mentoring
• CPD and progression routes should be strengthened and expanded for all teachers

UCU has welcomed the consultation's aim to strengthen professional development in education. However, we have raised serious concerns about the potentially damaging impacts of decoupling QTS from initial teacher education in relation to teacher recruitment, university teacher education departments and QTLS equivalency.

Read UCU's full response:

  UCU response to QTS reform consultation, Mar 18 [500kb]