"As the Teacher Training Agency we helped drive up teacher recruitment to record figures, and improve initial teacher training. Ofsted considers new teachers are the best ever.

"Now schools are changing, reducing the workload of their teachers so that they can spend more time teaching and focussing on raising standards.

"As the TDA we will help schools to develop teachers and support staff – people such as teaching assistants, librarians and midday supervisors – so together they can raise standards, deliver personalised learning and enable every pupil to fulfil their potential," he said.

Around 400 head teachers, teacher trainers, local authorities and union representatives met the TDA today to discuss how the organisation could best help schools to modernise and make best use of their staff.

Ruth Kelly, secretary of state for education and skills, told the conference:

"We are determined to build on the progress that has already been made to further drive up standards in our schools. Teachers and support staff are the key to achieving this. The TDA is ensuring that we have a highly skilled modern workforce equipped with the knowledge and support they need to deliver real school improvement."

Mr Tabberer said:

"Industries and business have long recognised that the key to successful modernisation is people development. That means individual staff being accountable and taking responsibility for their personal development, as well as employers providing strong training and appraisal systems.

"We have seen better performance in schools come about by improving the flow of teachers and the quality of their training. The next stage of reform will require us to do more to tailor what the school has to offer to the individual child - providing stretch when it is needed, and targeted support for those with learning difficulties.

"That will mean we must equip all staff – support staff as well as teachers – with the skills they will need. We want to combine good lessons – the backbone of a strong school – with even better support wrapped around each child. This is a modernisation agenda, with quality at its heart.

"Today's conference is the first step towards examining what schools needs and what that means for the TDA and the organisations which want to support them."

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. It aims to build on the success of the Teacher Training Agency (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.

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.

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 the TDA will work in the future.

Media enquiries

TDA media relations office:
Tel: 020 7023 8080
Out of hours: 07771 934629
E-mail: mediarelations@tda.gov.uk

Teaching enquiries

People interested in becoming a teacher should visit 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