The teacher training agency (TTA) is leading the National Partnership Project on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills. The project has three goals: to increase initial teacher training (ITT) capacity in schools, to continue to raise the quality of teacher training, and to promote to school communities the benefits of being involved in ITT.

Those benefits include helping to recruit the best young teachers, providing a hot-line to the latest educational research, and helping energise the existing schools workforce. The TTA's message is that, together, they can help to raise standards in schools.

The number of trainees has grown substantially over the past three years. And, as the Government seeks to recruit 10,000 additional teachers during the life of the current Parliament, the growth will continue. In the next academic year there will be almost 40,000 places for people to begin teacher training in England - at least 4,000 more than this year.

The National Partnership Project - so-called because teacher training is a partnership between schools, training providers and local education authorities (LEAs) - is now in its second phase. It supports schools entering or expanding teacher training, with grants, effective practice publications and school based tutor support.

So why should a school get involved - or more involved - in initial teacher training (ITT)? Descalie Baldwin, headteacher of Hunter's Bar Junior School, Sheffield is clear.

She said:

'Children have only one chance at education. And teachers have an enormous impact on that. If I can help train the teachers of the future I can play a part in the lives of many children in addition to the ones I teach directly. '

She points to several ways in which it has helped her school, which has 365 pupils from 21 different nationalities. 'Becoming a school based tutor enables teachers to become reflective practitioners and examine their own ways of working. Teachers have to reflect on their own teaching and how this impacts on pupils. In addition, trainees bring enthusiasm and fresh ideas into the classroom.'

A cohort of advanced skills teachers in ITT (funded by the DfES for one year) has been making a significant contribution to the national partnership project. These teachers have worked alongside colleagues in higher education institutions and school centred initial teacher training teaching on ITT courses, supporting mentors in schools and developing materials and resources.

The TTA has a partnership manager in each Government office region, whose role is to work with schools, training providers and LEAs and to manage regional partnership issues.

The TTA recently awarded grants worth more than £1.7 million to 85 projects proposed by schools, training providers and LEAs which encourage promoting the benefits of working together in ITT.

Also leading the way are more than 500 Partnership Promotion Schools dedicated to encouraging more active school involvement in ITT. Each Partnership Promotion School has a number of defining features, including:

• a commitment to excellence in the quality of ITT,
  
• a commitment to increasing the number of ITT placements,
  
• the development of close partnership links with one or more ITT provider,
  
• the adoption of an agreed whole school ITT policy,
  
• the enthusiasm and willingness of the staff to promote partnership in the school, and
  
• a commitment to reviewing and developing provision in ITT.

TTA Director of teacher training support Chris Dee, said:

'Across the country there are hundreds of fine examples of schools showing real commitment to teacher training, working closely with training providers and gaining benefits for themselves. However, it is essential that we explore new ways of expanding schools' involvement even further if we are to train the teachers we need and help every pupil fulfil their potential. The TTA is keen to hear from any school interested in playing its part in this vital project.'

Notes for editors

This News Release applies to England only.

The teacher training agency (TTA) was created in 1994 to raise standards in schools by attracting able and committed people into teaching and improving the quality of teacher training.

Schools can find contact details of Regional Partnership Managers on the TTA website at www.tta.gov.uk/partnership or by e-mailing ittsupport@teach-tta.gov.uk.

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 'canteach' website, www.canteach.gov.uk, or contact the Teaching Information Line (tel: 0845 600 0991).