New flexibility is to be introduced into the numeracy and literacy skills tests for trainee teachers to give them more opportunities to pass the test, the Teacher Training Agency (TTA) announced today.

The tests form a key element of the Government’s drive to raise standards and are designed to ensure teachers have the skills required to carry out their professional duties. The rigorous standard of the tests will be maintained, but there will no longer be a limit of four attempts to pass and gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Those who have used their existing opportunities will be able to take the tests again.

Although around nine out of ten candidates have passed the tests so far, the move will allow candidates to approach the computerised test more confidently.

The decision to remove the limit applies to the literacy and numeracy tests currently in place, and to the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tests to be introduced from September.

Support for trainees to prepare for the tests has been arranged by the TTA and includes workshops and additional opportunities to take the tests during the summer break.

Education and Skills Secretary Estelle Morris said:

'We must not compromise on standards. These literacy and numeracy tests will continue to ensure that teachers have the skills to carry out their professional role effectively in the classroom. However, we have listened to concerns expressed about the limit on the number of attempts and feel that offering greater flexibility is the right way forward, not least in the interests of trainees.'

Ralph Tabberer, Chief Executive at the TTA, said:

'The tests were subject to robust trials involving training providers, teachers and trainees before they were introduced. As part of the planned monitoring process, we are examining the literacy and numeracy results and carrying out a statistical analysis to help us ensure the standard of the numeracy tests has been maintained since the introduction of the first tests in paper-based form last year.

'Results up to the beginning of this week show 16,875 people have passed the literacy test, and 15,456 the numeracy test. This represents 95.8 per cent of candidates who have taken the literacy tests, and 87.6 per cent of those who have taken the numeracy test.

'Our close monitoring of the tests has shown that the restriction on opportunities is affecting some candidates’ test performance when they are also adjusting to working on a computer.

'We want to be fair to all individuals. By removing the maximum limit of four opportunities, we believe we are responding to candidates’ concerns and offering them a practical solution while maintaining the standard of the tests themselves.

'I am delighted Ministers have agreed to this proposal. There is a wealth of material available to assist trainees in preparing for the tests - on the TTA website, through electronic mail, tutorial workshops, a CD-ROM and publications. The TTA is now arranging for test centres to open through the summer holidays to accommodate candidates who wish to take the tests during that time.'

Notes to Editors:

1. The Department for Education and Employment’s Green Paper ‘Teachers, meeting the challenge of change’ proposed the introduction of new national tests for all trainee teachers to guarantee high level skills in numeracy, literacy and Information and Communications Technology (ICT), set in a professional context.
2. The tests were announced by the DfEE in June 1999 and the TTA was tasked to take forward development of the tests. In June 2000, 22,900 final year trainees sat the first national numeracy tests in paper format.
3. The computerised skills tests in numeracy and literacy were introduced from February 2001 for all trainee teachers who expect to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) from 1 May 2001. A test in ICT, to be introduced from September 2001, will be an additional requirement for candidates who expect to gain QTS from 1 May 2002. There is no charge for the tests, including re-takes. The TTA is instructing test contractors to begin work immediately on implementing the change to allow additional attempts. The TTA is writing to all candidates who have registered but have yet to pass to inform them of the change.
4. Newly Qualified Teachers are already able to seek an extension of their induction period by a term for exceptional circumstances. Ministers have agreed to amend the Induction Guidance to advise Appropriate Bodies to allow the NQTs who gained QTS between 1 May 2000 and 30 April 2001, who have not passed the test, to take the test as many times as they need to do so during that additional term. After that point these NQTs would not be able to teach in the maintained sector if they had not passed the numeracy test. The Department for Education and Skills will also consult on amending the Induction Regulations to enable Appropriate Bodies to suspend induction for those NQTs who have not passed the tests, so that those NQTs who pass at a later date will be able to complete their induction period and return to teaching in a maintained school. This would bring the position for these NQTs into line with the position of trainees who will not be subject to a time limit for passing the tests and being recommended for QTS, but will not be able to teach until they have done so.
5. Trainees need to pass the tests in order to gain the award of Qualified Teacher Status and begin their induction period, register with the General Teaching Council and teach in a maintained school or non-maintained special school. Around 30,000 began initial teacher training during the current academic year.
6. In addition to the benchmark tests, the TTA website Teach, includes various support materials to help trainees to prepare for the tests, including detailed guidance on the areas covered, commentary on sample questions, a glossary of terms used in the tests, and advice on how to tackle questions.
7. As well as the 45 test centres, five smaller sites are available in remote areas and a mobile testing facility is available if required. The TTA will consider requests from trainees who believe they require special arrangements for health or other reasons.
8. The Teacher Training Agency was established under the Education Act 1994. Its purpose is to raise standards in schools by attracting able and committed people into teaching and by improving the quality of teacher training.
9. The Agency is responsible for a wide range of initiatives to promote recruitment to the teaching profession; for funding initial teacher training, which is linked to the quality of the training provision and identified through OFSTED inspection; for further development of the standards for award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), including currently the new QTS Skills Tests for numeracy, literacy and ICT; and working with the New Opportunities Fund for the provision of training in the use of ICT in subject teaching.