More funding for teacher trainers
Universities, colleges and schools which provide initial teacher training are to receive, on average, a 3.5 per cent increase in funding per trainee for the academic year 2004/5, the teacher training agency (TTA) announced today.
London based training providers will continue to receive a premium in recognition of the higher cost of operating in the capital.
Funding for the academic year 2004/5 totals £234 million and will be allocated between the 132 providers of initial teacher training across England.
Michael Day, Director of Quality and Funding at the TTA, said:
' The increase we are announcing today means the TTA has been able to maintain and improve on the significant funding increase awarded last year.
' We know from Ofsted reports that the quality of new teachers is the best ever. We hope this additional money will go some way towards helping providers recruit and retain the quality of staff they need to help maintain and improve that standard.
Notes for editors
This News Release applies to England only.
The 3.5 per cent increase is the average increase, per training place, across all providers and courses. This is equal to one per cent above the rate of inflation. The sums training providers will receive from September will range from £3,719 for a primary undergraduate to £4,820 for a trainee taking a secondary science postgraduate course.
Last year the TTA announced a 6.75 per cent cash increase in funding for teacher training providers. In addition, training providers in London were awarded an extra 8 per cent per trainee and those in outer London an extra 5 per cent per trainee in recognition of the higher cost of operating in London.
There are more than 40,000 training places available for initial teacher training and employment based routes for the academic year 2004-05.
A census by the TTA in October showed the number of people beginning Initial Teacher Training courses during the current academic year is 40,000 - 50 per cent more than five years ago.
People interested in becoming a teacher should visit the TTA website or contact the Teaching Information Line (tel: 0845 6000 991- 992 for Welsh speakers).
Media enquiries
TTA Press Office Tel: 020 7023 8080/1
Out of hours: 07771 934629
e-mail: pressoffice@teach-tta.gov.uk
General TTA enquiries
020 7925 3700
