May 2025
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This conference considered next steps for initial teacher education in England.
Implementation of new frameworks
Stakeholders and policymakers discussed the implementation of the Early Career Teacher Entitlement and Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework from September 2025, including preparing providers for delivery and supporting trainees. Attendees considered the aims of the revised frameworks, what will be needed for them to be met, including improving flexibility, reducing workload burdens for mentors and trainees, and effectively supporting progression for new teachers.
Curriculum and AI training
Those attending also considered the potential impact of broadening the ITE curriculum to include new SEND core content, including its two-year programme of support and training, and how to address concerns surrounding its potential impact on recruitment and retention. There was also discussion on how training on utilising AI can best be integrated into ITE, looking at the provision of training and support for the teaching workforce, with the Secretary of State recently announcing that it will be a mandatory part of training from April 2025.
Inspection
The conference also came as Ofsted consults on its new inspection proposals for education settings and ITE providers, including changes to the inspection framework and a revised approach to school reports, with inspections of ITE providers currently paused until the start of the 2025/26 academic year. Delegates considered the six inspection areas applying to ITE - leadership, inclusion, curriculum, teaching, achievement, and professional behaviours and personal development - and the appropriateness of a new report approach for ITE.
ECTE and NPQ reviews
Further sessions assessed priorities for the full review of the ECTE in 2027, as well as early findings from the ongoing National professional qualifications framework review. Delegates discussed the implementation of an evidence-informed approach to both reviews, including perspectives on implications of possible outcomes. Strategic options for effectively moving forward aims of the NPQ review to support workload reduction, progression through leadership levels, and improved SEND teaching and resources moving forward were also discussed.
Recruitment and ECT support
The agenda also assessed priorities for bringing more trainees into the profession and their retention in line with the Government’s aim to recruit 6,500 new teachers, including new requirements for postgraduate teaching apprenticeships. Delegates considered findings and the impact of the 2022 ITT market review on achieving equitable access to provision, strategies for addressing concerns over regional disparities from the re-accreditation process, as well as the potential impact of the new round of re-accreditation. Discussion also considered the effectiveness of expanding DfE’s Every Lesson Shapes a Life initiative.
Attendees also examined the effectiveness of existing financial incentives for those joining the teaching workforce and potential opportunities for the expansion of bursaries and one-off payments to help with travel costs and relocation, as well as considering strategies to increase access to pastoral and mental health support for trainee teachers, and best practice in introducing strategies to prevent burnout.
All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those that attended include officials from DfE; IfATE; Ofsted; IPO; NAO; DoE, ROI; and the Welsh Government.
