Changes to teacher training will help to develop a new generation of curriculum thinkers, according to the head of a new Department for Education expert panel.

Professor Sam Twiselton said the introduction of the new Early Career framework and the shifting focus of Ofsted inspections will mean that more emphasis is placed on curriculum during initial teacher training.

She has been selected to head a panel that will review initial teacher training to ensure it aligns with the launch of the new Early Career Framework - the DfE’s package of support for newly qualified teachers.

Training under review: Panel to look at initial teacher training

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Teachers thinking about curriculum

Prof Twiselton, the director of the Sheffield Institute of Education at Sheffield Hallam University, told Tes: “The curriculum is an important focus of both the Early Career Framework and of the new Ofsted inspection framework.

“It has always been covered by initial teacher education, but I think this is something which will be built upon. 

“Trainees are taught how to develop medium-term plans and how they sequence what they teach but I think we can build on this so that they can get to think about how what they teach fits into the whole school curriculum.”

She said that Ofsted’s new framework had led to increased planning and discussion in schools about curriculum.

Prof Twiselton said she hoped trainees on placements would be able to take part in school meetings about curriculum development and speak to experienced teachers to get a more “holistic view of the school curriculum”.

Ofsted’s new framework, which comes into effect in September, will promote the importance of curriculum in school inspection.

Inspectors will look at the intent, impact and implementation of the school curriculum as part of a new quality of education grade, which will also look at pupils’ results.

The Early Career Framework, published earlier this year as part of the DfE’s recruitment and retention strategy, sets out the support and training that early careers teachers will be entitled to by the end of an extended two-year induction period

Teachers will be guaranteed a 5 per cent timetable cut during their second year in the profession for additional support and training.

The framework aims to support the development of teachers early in their careers in five key areas: behaviour management, pedagogy, curriculum, assessment and professional behaviours

Prof Twiselton is heading up a panel to look at ensuring that the content of initial teacher training courses and the early career support that the framework will provide are joined up.