Funding initial teacher training (ITT)
HEFCW funds initial teacher training both through its recurrent teaching grant and allocations to support the implementation of ITT strategies.
ITT is a “quota” subject, which means that the Welsh Government sets an annual quota or “intake targets” for the higher education sector as a whole for new entrants to ITT courses. As part of its overall recurrent grant for teaching, HEFCW determines funds and funded numbers for universities which offer ITT based on these intake targets. Further information on allocations can be found in the Recurrent Grant circular which HEFCW publishes each year.
HEFCW provides ITT Strategy Funding and asks ITT providers to prepare three-year strategies as a basis for releasing the funding. The strategies provide a framework for development work and activity to support the delivery of ITT. They also help provide assurance to HEFCW and Estyn (the Office of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector in Wales) that providers are addressing priorities and requirements for ITT and meeting the needs of their students.
We are funding ITT providers to implement their strategies for 2009/10 to 2011/12. Some of the priority areas for the strategies are:- developing and maintaining partnerships with schools
- marketing, recruitment and retention
- contributing to equality and diversity in the teaching profession
- quality assurance and enhancement, including preparing for and responding to Estyn inspections
- curriculum design and development
- providing training for those who wish to teach in Welsh medium schools
- providing training for teaching Welsh as a first or second language
ITT provision in Wales has been reconfigured with universities coming together in partnerships to form three new Centres of Teacher Education. The ITT strategies also help the Centres to develop their joint working.
The total ITT Strategy Fund for 2011/12 is around £1.13million.
