In 2005/6, fifty-eight per cent of first year postgraduate trainee teachers with a UK degree held a 2:1 or first, compared to 51 per cent seven years ago. In total, 90 per cent of first year postgraduate trainees with a UK degree held a 2:2 degree or better. The qualifications held by undergraduate trainees are also improving, with average UCAS tariff scores reaching 250 - equivalent to between two and three A levels at grade B*.

The data, which was collected from the universities, colleges and schools that provide teacher training, also shows that the TDA’s teacher recruitment campaign is attracting an increasingly diverse generation of new teachers. In 2005/6:

• 11.4 per cent of first year trainees said they were from a minority ethnic background (206 more trainees than in 2004/5)
• 5 per cent of first year trainees said they had a disability (88 more trainees than in 2004/5), and
• 14 per cent of new primary trainees were men (107 more trainees than in 2004/5).

In all, 33,187 final year trainees gained qualified teacher status (QTS) in 2005/6 compared to 33,750 trainees the previous year - reflecting a decrease in training places because of falling pupil rolls. This figure includes: 2,975 newly qualified science teachers, compared with 2,810 in 2004/5 (165 more) – the highest number in seven years; and 1,970 newly qualified maths teachers compared with 2,014 in 2004/5 (44 fewer) – the second highest number in the past seven years.

Employment rates of newly qualified teachers remain consistent compared to last year. Of the 24,000 new teachers whose employment status is known**, 90 per cent had secured a teaching post within six months of completing their training, and a further 6 per cent were seeking jobs.

Graham Holley, Chief Executive of the TDA, said:

“These latest figures show that teaching is attracting increasing numbers of top quality graduates into the profession. Ofsted has already rated the quality of teacher training, and the quality of new teachers, to be the best ever.  Together with a new drive to improve the training and development of teachers and support staff – headteachers and parents can be confident that today’s children are being taught by the most highly trained school workforce to date.”

“However, there is clearly more to be done.  Although we have succeeded in attracting record numbers of people to train to teach each year, the TDA’s recruitment campaign must continue to work hard to attract sought after graduates with maths and science qualifications, to provide the quality teaching staff that are needed in schools.”

- ends -

Notes to editors

The data in this release applies to England only.

The initial teacher training (ITT) providers’ performance profiles are available at http://www.tda.gov.uk/partners/datasurveys/findingaplacetotrain.aspx

The site enables potential trainees to find information about each training provider, the quality of its training, and characteristics of its trainees.

*A UCAS tariff point score of 200 is achieved by two grade Bs at A level, while a point score of 300 would correspond to three grade Bs.

**Employment data was collected from 24,583 newly qualified teachers (NQTs) on mainstream ITT training routes for the 05/06 academic year.

The Training and Development Agency for Schools was established under the Education Act 2005. Its principal aim is to secure an effective school workforce that improves children’s life chances.

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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: 0117 9158161).

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