Thank you for the article in TES Magazine (April 20) about teachers on postgraduate professional development courses. A major evaluation has recently shown the positive impact that such programmes have on teachers and schools.
Other reports have reached similar conclusions. Action is needed on three fronts. First, all teachers need to be made aware of the benefits of masters-level courses. Second, funding should be increased to allow all staff, including those in the post-compulsory and early-years sectors, to have access to such provision. Finally, the Department for Education and Skills must withdraw its recent threat to remove the pound;20 million available for postgraduate training from the Training and Development Agency for Schools’ budget.
James Rogers Executive Director, Universities Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET), London
