New teachers to get extra cash to train in poor schools

Would-be teachers are to receive extra cash to train in poorer schools, ministers announced today.

Additional funding is also set to be given to those who train to become specialist maths teachers in primary schools.

The plans are part of a revamp which ministers said will boost the quality of teacher training in England.

Under the proposals, individuals who do most of their training in a school where a high proportion of children are eligible for free school meals - a measure of poverty - will receive up to 25% extra in bursary payments, up to £5,000.

The Department for Education (DfE) said it hoped the extra money will encourage people to train in challenging schools, and to stay working in them after they qualify.

To be eligible for the additional funding, these trainees will have to be training through the government's new School Direct scheme.

School Direct is an initiative established by ministers which will see schools take responsibility for training people to become teachers.

More than 900 places are expected to be on offer when it opens in September, with individuals being trained by schools themselves, or with accredited institutions working with the school.

There will also be 5,000 places made available through School Direct for people leaving their current career to become a teacher.

An extra £2,000 will be on offer to graduates who train to become specialist primary school maths teachers - to be eligible the trainee will have to have at least a B in A-level maths, the DfE said.

This is on top of the bursary they would currently receive.

In a speech to the National College annual conference in Birmingham today, Education Secretary Michael Gove will say: "The impact of these changes on initial teacher training will be revolutionary. By the end of this Parliament well over half of all training places will be delivered by schools."

In further changes, institutions rated outstanding for teacher training will be guaranteed places for two years, while those judged good will receive some allocations but no guaranteed places.

Those found to be only satisfactory will not be allocated any training places while any found to "require improvement" twice in a row under Ofsted's new inspection guidelines will be shut down.

PA