It follows an increasing demand for places, and the Government's commitment, in its White Paper 'Schools achieving success', to make the programme more flexible. It will look at issues including devolving more responsibility to the schools, training providers and other organisations which recommend candidates, the criteria for recognising those bodies, and funding allocation.

The review will be undertaken by a working party representing a wide range of organisations involved in the programme, and will be chaired by TTA Chief Executive Ralph Tabberer. It will complete its report in February 2002, in time for any improvements to be in place for April 2002.

Michael Day, TTA Director of Funding and Allocations, said today:

'There is no doubt that the Graduate Teacher Programme, which enables trainees to earn a salary while they train in a school, has become a very attractive route into teaching for many people, particularly those consider changing careers, and is popular with schools.

'It has grown from just 89 people at its introduction in 1997-98, to more than 2,250 places this year. This rapid growth, particularly over the past 18 months, poses new challenges, and the TTA is determined to be innovative.

'We operate in a dynamic and highly competitive market place for graduates, and we will only survive if we adapt quickly and pursue continuous improvement in all that we do. We now have nearly five years experience running this programme. We want to work with our partners to learn from that experience and identify how it can work even better for schools and candidates.'

Interested people will be able to contribute to the group's discussions through the TTA website, www.canteach.gov.uk/gtpreform.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. In its White Paper 'Schools achieving success', published in September 2001, the Government announced its intention to make the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) more flexible. The GTP enables trainees aged 24 or more work as unqualified teachers while following an individual programme of teacher training leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The programme normally takes a year but can be shortened for people with teaching experience. The TTA pays schools a grant of up to £13,000 in a full year towards the cost of employing the trainee and up to £4,000 to the school or its training provider for training costs. From January 2002, additional places will be awarded on the basis of training grants only, where schools are able to meet trainees' salary costs. Candidates are put forward by recommending bodies - schools, training providers and other organisations - and places are allocated by the TTA on the basis of advice from a panel of independent experts.

2. Priority categories for GTP places are:

a) secondary shortage subjects (mathematics, science, information technology, design and technology, modern foreign languages and English;
b) primary teachers specialising in mathematics, science or technology;
c) under-represented groups - men into primary, minority ethnic teachers, teachers with disabilities;
d) other good quality applications in any subject or phase;
e) people currently working as Teaching Assistants.

3. In addition, a special GTP for overseas-trained teachers (OTTs) provides an assessment-only route with the option of a short training programme if needed. The TTA pays grant for assessment and, where necessary, training but does not provide a salary grant. More than 280 OTTs have been taken on to the programme in the current school year.

4. The objectives of the reform are; to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of GTP delivery, reduce the uncertainty associated with obtaining a GTP place for candidates and training providers, and reduce bureaucracy. The working party will meet three times -today (29 November), 17 December and 21 January - and report to Ministers in February 2002. Papers for the meetings will be posted on the TTA's website at www.canteach.gov.uk/gtpreform where people will be able to take part in a discussion forum and submit views.

5. Members of the working group are: Chair - Ralph Tabberer (Chief Executive, TTA), Tony Robinson (Homerton College), Sue Jennings (University of Exeter), Freda Bridge (University of Huddersfield), Emma Westcott (General Teaching Council for England), Mary Russell (University Council for the Education of Teachers), Roger Woods (Ofsted), William Locke (Universities UK), Patricia Ambrose (Standing Conference of Principals), Nina Southworth (Lancashire LEA), Rob Foster (Edge Hill University College), Sally Daldorph (Devon LEA), Andy Maher (North London Partnership), Chris Waterman (Association of Chief Education Officers), Bernadette Holmes (Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research), Kate Jacques (Manchester Metropolitan University), Richard Alpin (University of Leicester), David Kershaw (TTA Board), Grazyna Kennerley (The Beauchamp College), Terry Creissen (National School Centred Initial Teacher Training Council) and James Cutshall (DfES).

6. 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. The Agency is responsible for a wide range of initiatives to promote recruitment to the teaching profession; for funding Initial Teacher Training; for further development of the standards for award of Qualified Teacher Status; and working with the New Opportunities Fund for the provision of training in the use of ICT in subject teaching.