Expert panel to toughen up tests for trainee teachers

The numeracy and literacy tests that trainee teachers have to sit are to be reviewed by a panel of outstanding head teachers and education experts so all new teachers have the basic skills needed to be great teachers.

Trainee teachers currently have to pass skills tests in literacy and numeracy. However, they only take the tests after starting their training course and they are allowed unlimited re-sits.

New figures show that around one in five trainees fail either of the basic tests first time round. Around one in 10 trainees has to take the numeracy test three times or more to pass.

The Government set out last year, in the ‘Training our next generation of outstanding teachers’ strategy, its plans to raise the quality of trainee teachers in England to match the best-performing countries in the world. In order to attract top graduates into teaching, they will be offered bursaries of up £20,000 to train as teachers.

In line with this, the skills tests will be strengthened so that they are testing candidates to meet rigorous standards of literacy and numeracy. The new tests will be introduced in September 2013 for trainees who are starting training from 2014.

While the tests are being reviewed, from this September the pass mark for the current tests will be raised. Trainees who fail one or both of the skills tests at the first attempt will be limited to two re-sits for each test. They will also have to pass the test before starting their course, so those without the right skills cannot start the training.

Find out more.