Rookie teachers ‘let down’ by training

Some trainee teachers are being ‘let down’ by a scheme intended to prepare them for life in the classroom, the education watchdog says.

Pioneers Partnership is a  school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) scheme of 18 schools which includes all Rochdale’s secondary provision.

Currently led by Middleton Technology School, it trains 15 new teachers every year.

But an Ofsted report has found that it ‘requires improvement’ following inspections carried out in April and September this year.

The report says: “While there are some areas of good practice, the partnership is currently performing less well than it should be across all judgement areas.”

Graduates are said to bring ‘enthusiasm, passion and dedication’ to their training, as well as a determination to make a difference to the children they teach.

But the report adds:  “Some trainees have been let down by the partnership and have not made as much progress as they should have due to weaknesses in the quality of the training.”

And there is further criticism that not all trainees are ‘sufficiently prepared to plan, teach and assess their curriculum areas.’

It adds: “For example, in science, trainees do not have the knowledge or experience required to teach across the disciplines, yet they are expected to do so.”

 There is also said to be a  lack of support, advice and guidance available to help rookie teachers develop themselves.

New director Jan Machaj was appointed as the partnership’s new director in September and, alongisde teaching school director Kathryn Davies,  is said to have brought a ‘new coherence’ to the training.

They are praised in the report for making an immediate impact - but both leaders are said to be ‘under no illusion’ about what needs to be done to improve the quality of training.

A spokesman for  Pioneers Partnership said that while there was disappointment with the overall outcome of the inspection, clear plans were in place to ‘move the provision forward’.

The partnership was also pleased that improvements were noted by insepctors in September following their initial visit in April.

He said: “Ofsted confirmed that the ‘newly formed leadership team… has the skills required to the partnership, and leaders have demonstrated the capacity to improve’ and have ‘proven already that they can make a significant and immediate difference’ to the quality of provision.

“The SCITT is passionate about the quality of provision for its trainees and is delighted that it was recognised that our ‘trainees are well prepared to fulfil the wider aspects of the role of a teacher’ and that ‘employment rates are high’ following successful completion of the training year.”

He continued: “We are looking forward to re-inspection of the provision later this academic year, where we will be able to demonstrate the impact of the improvements that have been made.”

The 18 schools within the Pioneers Partnership are mainly based in Rochdale and Oldham.

As well as all of Rochdale’s secondary schools, it also includes six primary schools, a post-16 college and an ‘outstanding’ sixth form college.

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter