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Memorandum submitted by Professor Sally Inman, ITE
Summary § Entry requirements are currently generic and context free § They make no reference to the characteristics required of teachers to equip pupils for the future global society § We believe that teachers need to have the following characteristics and values - a cosmopolitan outlook; commitment to social justice; communicative capacities which include empathy; intellectual curiosity; critical literacy; flexibility; resilience.
Entry into the teaching profession.
1. For entry to initial training applicants must have demonstrated their potential to meet the QTS standards in relation to:
intellectual and academic capabilities; qualities, attitudes and values; capacity to read and communicate in standard English; health and physical capacity.
For entry to PGCE and other graduate programmes trainees must have a first degree or equivalent and have achieved grade C GCSE or equivalence in English, mathematics and science (for those entering primary programmes). They must have performed successfully at interview, and been approved through CRB checks and GTCE registration.
Inspections by OfSTED indicate a high percentage of ITT provision to be of high quality and that most providers have 'secure arrangements for quality assurance'. This is sound evidence that current entry requirements are being met and are helping produce good quality teachers.
Meeting the requirements has been supported by the TDA who has produced guidance for ITT providers and some institutions have developed their own tools to diagnose capabilities and appropriate attributes.
2. The ITE ESD/GC Network notes however that the current requirements are generic and context free. They make no explicit reference to the type of teachers needed to equip pupils for the society and economy of the future, a society which will be more cosmopolitan and an economy which will be more global, more digital and will increasingly need to address issues of innovation and sustainability as well as community cohesion. Given this likely future and the pace of change worldwide, we believe that among the characteristics of good teachers who can act as role models to pupils will be a cosmopolitan outlook; commitment to social justice; communicative capacities which include empathy; intellectual curiosity; critical literacy; flexibility; resilience.. These we see these as important in stimulating and motivating pupils, and helping them become thoughtful and tolerant global citizens, able to play an active role in society and the economy locally, nationally and globally.
January 2009 |