More graduates enter teacher training

Citation

(2004), "More graduates enter teacher training", Education + Training, Vol. 46 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2004.00446aab.002

More graduates enter teacher training

More graduates enter teacher training

Almost 3,000 more people accepted places on postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) courses in 2003 than in the previous year, and the number of graduates accepting places to train as mathematics teachers rose by 35 per cent. Figures published by the Graduate Teacher Training Registry show 15 per cent more acceptances of PGCE places to train as primary teachers, while secondary acceptances were up by 14 per cent. Acceptances were up in all secondary subjects, with results especially encouraging in those areas where the need for new teachers is greatest. Mathematics was up by 35 per cent, science was up by 14 per cent, modern languages were up by 10 per cent, English was up by 2 per cent, music was up by 3 per cent and technology was up by 26 per cent.

School-standards minister David Miliband said: "I am encouraged to see that acceptances to all secondary-teaching courses have risen compared to last year. It is particularly encouraging to see more maths graduates coming forward. Along with £6,000 training bursaries, and £4,000 "golden hellos" that we introduced in 2000, the new repayment of teachers' loans scheme is clearly enabling more people to consider teacher training in the shortage areas. Recruitment to teacher training has risen for three years in a row after almost a decade of decline. These figures confirm that our measures to attract more people into the teaching profession are taking effect and that we are on the right track."