The Welsh government has outlined plans to reform initial teacher education (ITE) in the country.

Huw Lewis, the education minister, said that ¡°radical change¡± would be needed following the recommendations of a government-commissioned report by John Furlong, emeritus professor in the University of Oxford¡¯s department for education, published in March.

In his report, Professor Furlong set out nine recommendations to improve ITE in Wales, including a revised accreditation process for teacher training providers and four-year ITT degrees where 50 per cent of trainees¡¯ time is spent in a school department specialising in their main subject.

The government¡¯s new approach will include a revision to professional teaching standards and plans to drive up the quality of initial teacher training (ITT) courses by overhauling the teaching qualification and accreditation process.

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To carry out the recommendations, Mr Lewis has commissioned an internal reference group to engage with the profession and build revised professional standards. He has also asked Professor Furlong to chair a "task and finish group" to review course accreditation criteria.

an independent review of the financial incentives available to ensure that courses attract high calibre candidates, and the possible introduction of a targeted trainee scholarship programme to support teacher recruitment in STEM subjects.

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¡°Professor Furlong in his?Teaching Tomorrow¡¯s Teachers report set out a series of options for transforming initial teacher training in Wales,¡± said Mr Lewis. ¡°The steps I am setting out...will ensure that those recommendations are translated into tangible action on the ground and result in first class newly qualified practitioners of the future.¡±

Mr Lewis added that he wanted a ¡°world class education system¡± built on the ¡°enhanced professionalism of practitioners".

¡°We will need to prepare a new generation of professionals equipped with the qualifications, skills and resilience needed to deliver our reform agenda and build a sustainable self-improving education system fit for the future,¡± he said. ¡°I see this review as an important piece of the jigsaw in making that happen.¡±

john.elmes@tesglobal.com