Radical changes to teacher training proposed by Welsh Conservatives
Welsh Labour’s proposals to “transform” teacher training in Wales don’t go far enough says Welsh Conservative Shadow Education Minister, Angela Burns.
Earlier this month, at the Welsh Conservative Conference, Mrs Burns announced radical plans to establish a Centre for Education that will focus solely on initial teacher training and educational research.
She also announced plans to re-purpose the Education Workforce Council and create a College of Teaching in Wales.
In a speech delivered to the Welsh Conservative Conference earlier this month, Mrs Burns said:
“In order to achieve excellence in education we need to recognise one absolute truth put very clearly years ago by Sir Michael Barber:
“The quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers”
“That’s why we have committed to establishing a higher education institution that will focus solely on initial teacher training and educational research.
“In tandem with the creation of the Centre for Education we will re-purpose the Education Workforce Council and create a College of Teaching.
“The teaching profession deserves and needs the status that is accorded to doctors, lawyers and engineers.
“The College will set the standards for teacher training, will focus on continuous professional development and will develop fellowships and Head Teacher programmes.”
