The teacher training agency (TTA) has devised its open schools programme to provide an opportunity for people interested in teaching as a career to visit a school and observe teachers in action, to help confirm they wish to apply for initial teacher training (ITT).

Currently about 500 schools are participating in the programme and around 2,500 visits have taken place since the programme was launched in November 2000. With 34,675 initial teacher training (ITT) places to be filled in England this year, the TTA is keen to encourage more schools to join.

Visits are arranged through the TTA's teaching information Line and offered only to those with a genuine and serious interest in becoming a teacher.

During the visit, potential applicants have the chance to:

• observe lessons appropriate to their chosen subject or phase,
  
• experience the pastoral side of school life through attending assemblies, tutorials etc,
  
• discuss the curriculum for their chosen subject or phase with a classroom teacher,
  
• talk to non-teaching staff, and
  
• agree their next steps with the teacher responsible for arranging the visit.

TTA Director of Teacher Supply and Recruitment Mary Doherty said:

'Visitors will see a rewarding and dedicated profession working in an environment which has changed considerably in recent years. This is particularly important, for example, for men considering a career in primary school teaching, or someone in their 30s thinking about changing their career.

'The visit will enable them to make one of the most important decisions of their lives on the basis of sound personal experience rather than perceptions and myths. Of course, we hope the visit will confirm their commitment to apply for an Initial teacher training course, but equally people may decide that teaching is not for them.

'Schools and their teachers are best placed to encourage others to join the profession, and expanding the open schools Programme will help to attract more able and committed teachers to assist every pupil to fulfil their potential. I encourage more schools to volunteer to participate.'

Notes for editors

This News Release applies to England only.

The open schools programme is proving particularly popular to those interested in teaching science and mathematics in secondary schools. Research suggests that 91 per cent of visitors believe a visit has encouraged them to pursue plans to teach.

Schools can find out more about joining the open schools programme by calling the TTA's Communications Centre on 0845 6000 998.

People interested in becoming a teacher should visit the TTA website or contact the Teaching Information Line (tel: 0845 600 0991), which can also arrange school visits for prospective teachers.

More than 31,000 people are beginning Initial teacher training during the current academic year - the highest for 12 years - with a further 4,350 training on employment-based routes. For the coming year, the number of ITT places available rises to 34,675 while places on employment-based routes increase to around 5,600.

The teacher training agency (TTA) was established under the Education Act 1994. Its purpose is to contribute to raising standards in schools in England by attracting able and committed people into teaching and by improving the quality of teacher training.

Media enquiries

TTA Press Office Tel: 020 7023 8080; out of hours: 07771 934629; e-mail: pressoffice@teach-tta.gov.uk

General TTA enquiries

 020 7925 3700

People interested in becoming a teacher should visit the TTA website or contact the Teaching Information Line on 0845 6000 991.