Kerra Maddern’s article “Closure is on the cards for hundreds of PGCE places” (20 January) on cuts to teacher-training places highlighted the need to safeguard quality courses.
The cuts made in 2011 included a drop to single figures in three subjects in a secondary PGCE programme that was judged outstanding by Ofsted. As a result of the closure of music, art and business education at the University of Roehampton (because of non-viable numbers), the expertise built up in schools is now lost.
A different way of making cuts is necessary so that more high-quality courses are not lost because of non-viable numbers. Expertise has been lost on courses that have already closed and that were attracting high-quality applicants.
Angela Major, Department of education, University of Roehampton.