Fears that private school teacher training partnerships could recruit a “disproportionate” number of new teachers to the independent sector have not materialised, heads have said.
Independent school leaders have acknowledged concerns “in some quarters” that their school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) programmes would see the teachers it produced settle down in the private sector. But they say the reality has been that the “vast majority” have found work in the state schools.
The Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC), which represents heads in independent schools, told Tes that the trainees “have been able to judge where they feel their talents are most needed”.
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Since 2017 there have been two SCITTs established in England that include independent schools: the National Modern Language (NML) SCITT and the National Mathematics and Physics (NMAPS) SCITT.
At NML, SCITT director Katrin Sredzki-Seamer said that 31 out of 40 trainees in the 2019-20 cycle went on to teach in state schools.
NMAPS has not responded to requests for equivalent figures.
Ian Power, HMC membership secretary, said: “There was a fear in some quarters when these SCITTs were being developed that the independent sector would recruit a disproportionate number of the newly trained teachers to work in their schools.
“In reality, the vast majority have found places in the state system, helping to encourage more top graduates to enter the teaching profession in subjects like maths and modern languages where there are acute difficulties in recruiting specialist staff.
“This is a tribute to the way the SCITTs have worked across all types of schools, so trainees have been able to judge where they feel their talents are most needed.
“These SCITTs are now going from strength to strength and are among the most successful examples of the mutually beneficial partnerships between the independent and state sectors.”