This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Teacher training places to increase
23/02/2004
Extra teacher training places were announced today,
which will help increase the workforce to 53,000 by 2007
and reduce class sizes to 20 in S1 and S2 maths and
English, and 25 in P1.
Efforts to attract former teachers back to the
profession will also be stepped up.
Since May 2003, the intake for the one-year Postgraduate
Certificate in Teaching Education (PGCE) has already
increased from 1625 in 2003-4 to 2310 for 2004-5.
In addition, further increases will take intakes to the
one-year course to
around:
* 3100 in 2005-6, and
* 2900 in 2006-7.
Announcing the increases, Education Minister Peter
Peacock said:
"This Executive has set clear and ambitious targets to
increase teacher numbers, despite falling school rolls, and
ensure our children receive the level of support they need
in school and the chance to develop to their full
potential.
"The Executive's investment in the teaching profession
will enable us to continue our efforts to reduce class
sizes and raise attainment in the critical stages in
learning - primary one and the often difficult transition
years in early secondary.
"I recently met the principals of all the Scottish
universities providing teacher training and stressed the
important part they had to play in delivering these key
targets. The additional investment we have provided and
efforts to give them as much advance notice as possible on
the expansion in training places will support them in
this.
"Today's announcement also marks another important step
forward in the major changes and improved levels of support
for the profession being introduced through the Teachers'
Agreement - better pay and conditions, reduced class
contact time and increased opportunities for continuing
professional development. These improvements, I hope, will
encourage more former teachers back into the classroom.
"Overall, this investment highlights how much we value
the contribution of teachers, who are the lifeblood of our
education system and crucial to our efforts to create
better opportunities for all. Investing in this workforce
is one of the most important things we can do to build a
better future for our young people and a more successful
nation."
Roger McClure, Chief Executive of the Scottish Higher
Education Funding Council added:
"These additional student teacher places are welcomed by
SHEFC. This increase contributes to the commitment to boost
teacher numbers and a good start has been made by
Scotland's HEIs in achieving this target."
The figures have been derived from the annual workforce
planning exercise involving universities, the General
Teaching Council for Scotland and local authorities, and
represent the best estimates of how teacher training will
need to expand to meet the target of 53,000 teachers by
2007.
These calculations are based on the current workforce
(51,693 in September 2002), the projected number of pupils
in the years ahead, the number of teachers leaving the
profession each year (for example for retirement, maternity
leave), the numbers who return, requirements to reduce
class contact time for teachers as part of the teachers'
agreement, and the number of teachers that do not complete
their teacher training course or decide after course
completion to pursue another career.
Prior to publication of the Partnership Agreement in May
2003, these calculations showed that total teacher
workforce for 2007 was projected to decrease slightly to
50,000 by 2007. However, in the Partnership Agreement the
Executive announced that it would increase the 2003
projected workforce force from 50,000 to 53,000.
Projected intakes for the one-year Postgraduate
Certificate in Education (PGCE) are set out below. This
includes planned intakes for the current student year and
future years, broken down into primary and secondary
trainee teacher numbers. Figures for 2005 and 2006 are
approximate at this stage and will be reviewed as part of
the autumn workforce planning exercise to ensure we remain
on target for a teacher workforce of 53,000.
Primary Secondary
2003
675 950
2004
1005 1305
2005
1300 1800
2006
1300 1600
The 2003 figure for primary teacher training above,
includes an additional 200 training places announced in
June 2003.
To meet the Partnership Agreement commitment only the
one-year PGCE route can be used as the Bachelor of
Education degree takes four years to complete. There are
one year PGCE courses for both primary and secondary
teachers.
The Executive has announced funding of £29m/£49m for
2004-05 and 2005-06 for the Partnership Agreement
commitment and the project formerly known as Spark, now the
Scottish Schools Digital Network.