New courses are being piloted in mathematics, physics and French.  Six month enhancement courses in mathematics and physics are targeted at graduates with numerate or science-based degrees. The pre-initial teacher training enhancement courses will develop a profound understanding of the concepts of the subject so that, together with their subsequent initial teacher training, participants will be able to teach the subject accurately and confidently.

The three month extension course in French is targeted at graduates with a degree in one language.  Although many people have degrees in one language, schools usually seek to employ those who can offer two languages. The extension course develops participants’ linguistic competence so that, after training, they can teach French accurately and confidently to pupils at Key Stage 3. For all courses a bursary of £150 per week is available.

Mary Doherty, Director of teacher supply and recruitment said:

'The demands of the school workforce are such that almost 40,000 need to train to teach each year. In the face of strong competition for graduates in mathematics, science and languages, we need to cast our net wider.  These courses offer a new opportunity for able and committed people to develop their subject knowledge so they can progress to initial teacher training.”

School Standards Minister David Miliband said,

'The numbers of teachers with Qualified Teacher Status stands at the highest figure since 1984 and Ofsted report that we now have the best teachers ever.  However we recognise that recruiting specialist maths, science and language teachers remains a challenge as highlighted by Professor Adrian Smith's post-14 inquiry into Maths.  I welcome innovative approaches - like the TTA's new subject-enhancement courses for prospective teachers which will help us continue to build a large and skilled teaching profession.'

Currently, 40 places are available on each course; if successful the pilot will be rolled out nationally to 200 places for each course by 2006/7.

Notes for editors

Mathematics enhancement courses began in January at Liverpool Hope Universityand at University College Chichester, whilst physics courses are taking place at Keele Universityand St Martin’s College Lancaster. Both are full time, taught courses lasting six months. Extension courses for modern language graduates will run from May 2004 at Liverpool John Moores Universityand the University of Hull. Chemistry enhancement and German extension courses will be added to the pilot next year.

Case studies– future participants on the language extension courses in both Liverpool and Hull– are available for interview on request. Participants on the maths and physics enhancement courses are also available for interview . Some of the participants undertaking the maths enhancement courses have experience in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Management, Economics and Banking; some of those undertaking the physics enhancement course have degrees in Fuel and Combustion, Biochemistry, Minerals Engineering and Civil Engineering. Most are career-changers.

Eligible trainees on postgraduate courses are entitled to a training bursary worth £6,000.   Newly Qualified Teachers in priority subjects (English with drama, mathematics, science, modern languages, design and technology, ICT and Welsh in Wales) are entitled to ‘golden hello’ payments worth £4,000 before tax after successfully completing their induction.

Salaries for classroom teachers start at £18,105 (£21,522 in inner London) and rise to £33,150 (£39,093 in inner London).  New pay scales are available from April 2004.

Applications for most initial teacher training courses are processed through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) while undergraduate applications are processed through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS ).

The Teacher Training Agency was established under the Education Act 1994.  Its purpose is to contribute to raising standards in schools in Englandby attracting able and committed people into teaching and by improving the quality of initial teacher training.