24 February 2006
Training standards for graduates learning to teach on the job are too low, the education watchdog said this week.
An Ofsted report published on February 21 criticised the standards offered by so-called Designated Recommending Bodies.
These organisations identify and assess training needs for candidates wishing to follow the Graduate Teaching Programme, an employment-based alternative to the Post-Graduate Certificate in Education in England.
DRBs include a range of organisations, such as local authorities, private education consultancies and higher education institutions, which are accredited to provide post-graduate teacher training.
Ofsted director of education Miriam Rosen said: 'The programme helps trainees develop classroom management skills quickly, and those who choose this route are often more confident in dealing with discipline problems.
'But more attention needs to be paid to developing trainees' ability to teach their subject to a high standard.'
The report noted that primary trainees continue to achieve higher standards than secondary trainees. About a third of DRBs inspected by Ofsted displayed weaknesses in subject-specific training, contrasting with PGCEs, where trainees are given a good grounding in their chosen field.
DRBs were also criticised for relying too heavily on external scrutiny to identify strengths and weaknesses, rather than self-evaluation.
However, Rosen went on: 'Management is improving, and if DRBs and schools implement and monitor strategies for improving subject-based training, we could see some rapid improvements.'
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