The new website is designed to capitalise on the increased interest in teaching which is evident from the increasing traffic on the TTA main site (over 120,000 unique visits during the month of June). The new site is at www.canteach.gov.uk/pprofiles and gives easy access to the latest available information about courses and providers including:

• Detailed information on the quality of courses, including Ofsted reports, and numbers of trainees who gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), on completion of training.
  
• Contact details and website links of all initial teacher training providers.
  
• A detailed breakdown of the age, ethnicity and gender profiles of trainees and the qualifications on entry they hold.
  
• The proportion of trainees by institution who enter teaching within six months of successfully finishing their course.
  
• A search mechanism to identify local institutions.
  
• Availability of places and online application for courses via the Graduate Teacher Training Registry.

Secretary of State for Education and Employment Estelle Morris said:

'With increased interest in the opportunities and rewards of a reformed profession, I'm delighted that the TTA's new site will give potential teachers all the information that they need to make the right choice of institution in which to train.'

Ralph Tabberer Chief Executive of the Teacher Training Agency said:

'This redeveloped site is another important resource for people searching for information they need on initial teacher training providers. We need to be at the cutting edge of online recruitment and the site gives potential teachers the latest available information and the clearest picture of all training bodies in one easy hit. I hope potential teachers will access the site and ultimately enter a profession that can change lives. '

The data used in Performance Profiles Website is the most recent available and relates to 2000/2001. The data shows:

• the total number of first year trainees increased by 1507 compared with the previous year (an increase of 6% on 25457 to 26964).
  
  
• the number of primary trainees increased by 1365 (an increase of 12% on 11552 to 12917).
  
  
• the number of secondary trainees increased by 256 (an increase of 2% on 13130 to 13386).
  
  
• the proportion of postgraduate trainees entering primary training with a 2:1 degree or better increased to 52% (compared with 51% for the previous year).
  
  
• the proportion of undergraduate trainees entering primary training with 2 or more A levels increased to 72% (compared with 66% for the previous year).
  
  
• the proportion of postgraduate trainees entering secondary training with a 2:1 degree or better increased to 49% (compared to 48% and 47% for the previous two years respectively).
  
  
• the proportion of males in primary remained at 13% (no change for the previous three years).
  
  
• the proportion of trainees from a minority ethnic background (increased to 7.0% from 6.7% in the previous year and 6.2% in the year before).
  
  
• the total number of trainees awarded QTS increased by nearly 1000 (948) compared with the previous year (an increase of 4% on 21694 to 22642).
  
  
• the total number of final year trainees awarded QTS and employed in teaching within six months of completing their training increased by 1097 (an increase of 6% on 17805 to 18902).

The site includes links to the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), OfSTED reports on training providers, the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) and providers' own websites.

Notes to Editors

1. Information for potential trainees and the general public is available through the TTA's website Teach. Additional information for providers is available to them only via a secure site.
2. The data is collected from information for the academic year 2000/2001, which is the latest year for which data is available. Information on providers and trainees and their performances in the current academic year will be collected later this year.
3. 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.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: TTA Press Office Tel: 0207 925 3755 / 3855. Out of hours 07771 934629. E-mail: pressoffice@teach-tta.gov.uk

PUBLIC ENQUIRIES: Tel: 0207 915 3700. TTA website: www.canteach.gov.uk

TEACHING INFORMATION LINE 0845 6000 991