New plan set to build on teachers' expertise

Plans have been announced today designed to boost teachers' professional development and give every teacher the opportunity to improve their classroom practice.

Education and Skills Secretary Charles Clarke said that it was vital that teachers are encouraged to build on their expertise in their chosen specialism and have the opportunity continually to learn on the job.

The three-year plan will see the Teacher Training Agency (TTA) concentrate on four key areas -

• To bring improved national coherence to occupational and professional standards used throughout the school workforce and especially in the areas of teachers' CPD, Senior Teacher, Excellent Teacher and Advanced Skills Teacher
• To provide clear high quality guidance to schools on CPD and human resources and give leadership to local authorities in these areas
• To monitor the quality and coverage of CPD in regions and subjects, working with the DfES and other partners such as the Specialist Schools Trust, the Higher Education sector and subject associations
• To co-ordinate specific CPD programmes, where appropriate.

Building on March's announcement that the TTA should take on a brand new role for promoting professional development, Mr Clarke said that by setting out the agency's role, the right support mechanisms would be in place to "ensure that every teacher has the opportunity to maintain and improve their subject expertise and sustain their enthusiasm and pride in their work".

Ralph Tabberer, Chief Executive of the Teacher Training Agency, said: "The TTA welcomes its new role. An opportunity exists to bring fresh thinking and new energy to professional development in schools and we look forward to working with partner organisations to improve quality and access to CPD."

(gmcg/mb)