Schools will soon be able to appoint newly qualified teachers on the basis of their “profiles” - documents from their training courses setting out the students’ strengths and weaknesses.
The scheme, drawn up by the Teacher Training Agency, should be ready for new teachers completing courses in July 1997. The Universities Council for the Education of Teachers has welcomed the idea.
“The profiles now on trial spell out the levels of competence to be achieved across all the elements that make for a good classroom teacher,” said the agency’s chief executive, Anthea Millett, “from the subject knowledge and teaching skills right through to everyday issues of classroom management. ”
She said the scheme should help improve the quality of induction of new teachers. The TTA is drawing up the required standards in consultation with teacher training institutions. It is also planning the framework for an “expert” grade of classroom teacher.
Stephen Hillier, the secretary of the TTA, said that the profiles should concentrate the attention of teachers, schools and trainers, raising standards in the process.