The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA), which comes into being today, takes over the work of the Teacher Training Agency (TTA) with extra responsibilities to improve training and development for the entire school workforce – teachers and support staff - of around one million people.

Ralph Tabberer, who becomes chief executive of the TDA, said:

“The Government has declared that ‘Every Child Matters’. The creation of the TDA signals that every member of the school workforce matters too.

“Schools are changing, with the number of support staff - such as teaching assistants, librarians and break supervisors – almost doubling over the past eight years. Now we need to make sure those changes result in improvements for children.

“Some schools are outstanding in recognising that support staff as well as teachers contribute to the performance of schools and pupils. They ensure they have training plans tailored to developing the skills and abilities of each individual. Others need encouragement to join this revolution.

“The TDA will work with existing and new partner organisations to help all schools improve the training and development opportunities their staff need to benefit pupils directly. We look forward to the challenge.”

Schools Minister Jacqui Smith said:

'We have more staff in our schools than at any other time and it is vital that the whole workforce has access to the support and training they need to provide better outcomes for our children. The TDA, as part of its new expanded remit, will work closely with schools to ensure that staff have the continuing professional development they need to deliver improvements in teaching and learning.'

Carol Adams, Chief Executive of the General Teaching Council for England, said:

“The brief of the new Training and Development Agency for Schools is a most welcome sign of the strategic importance now placed on professional development by government. The GTC believes that it is vitally important for teachers and all school staff to have access to career-long high quality learning and development in order to maximise their potential to help pupils learn and achieve. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the TDA in its focus on professional development and learning to the benefit of pupils.”

The TDA, chaired by Sir Brian Follett, will work with the General Teaching Council for England, the National College for School Leadership, local authorities, trades unions and other organisations representing all staff working with children and young people, to take forward the Government’s strategy for school improvement.

It aims to build on the success of the TTA over the past five years in increasing the number of trainee teachers - the 41,300 people entering teacher training in 2004-5 was the highest for 30 years – and improving the quality of their training.

Since 1 April 2005 the TDA has encompassed the work of the National Remodelling Team (NRT), which has been leading reforms in schools and teaching, and the way children learn. The NRT’s experience and systems are being placed at the heart of the way TDA will work in the future.

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Notes for editors

The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) was established under the Education Act 2005. Its purpose is to raise children’s standards of achievement and promote their well-being by improving the training and development of the whole school workforce.

The TDA’s corporate plan for 2005-2008, and further details of the organisation, are on its corporate website, www.tda.gov.uk. E-mail addresses for former TTA staff become: firstname.surname@tda.gov.uk

In 1997 there were 136,500 full time equivalent (FTE) support staff working in schools in England (excluding catering and facilities staff). This figure has risen to 266,100 FTE support staff in 2005 – around 500,000 people in total.

Sir Brian Follett, former vice-chancellor of Warwick University, was appointed Chair of the TTA in June 2003 and will continue as chair of the TDA. Ralph Tabberer was appointed Chief Executive of the TTA in February 2000. His contract has been extended a further five years to lead the TDA.

The TDA will continue the “Use your head. Teach” campaign to recruit able and committed people into teacher training.

The National Remodelling Team was established by the Department for Education Skills within the National College for School Leadership in April 2003 for three years to support schools in changing working practices. The third phase of its programme, which includes introducing guaranteed professional time for planning, preparation and assessment within schools sessions, comes into affect from today (1 September 2005).

Media enquiries

TDA Media Relations Office Tel: 020 7023 8080

Out of hours: 07771 934629

email: mediarelations@tda.gov.uk

Teaching enquiries

People interested in becoming a teacher should visit http://www.teach.gov.uk/, or contact the Teaching Information Line (tel: 0845 6000 991 – 992 for Welsh speakers;

Minicom: 01245 454343)

General TDA enquiries: 0870 4960 123