The government announced a 10 per cent increase in the number of teacher training places in 2003-04 compared to the previous year. It said that the number of places would reach almost 42,000 by 2005-06, one third more than in 1997-98.
Source: Press release 13.12.02, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: Press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/3, Digest 119, paragraph 3.4
Date: 2002-Dec
The schools inspectorate warned that standards in up to half the country's secondary schools have been hit by the use of temporary teachers. It said that supply staff give a higher proportion of unsatisfactory or poor lessons than permanent teachers.
Source: Schools Use of Temporary Teachers, HMI 503, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
Researchers found that classroom assistants make a positive impact in Scotland s primary schools. Teachers believe that the most important contribution they make is their flexibility in supporting both teachers and pupils.
Source: Valerie Wilson, Ursula Schlapp and Julia Davidson, More Than an 'Extra Pair of Hands'?: Evaluation of the Classroom Assistants Initiative, Scottish Council for Research in Education (0131 557 2944)
Links: Report | Summary | SE press release
Date: 2002-Dec
A survey found that fewer than 5 per cent of local education authority teachers in England and Wales who left their jobs in 2001 moved out of teaching. The annual turnover rate increased from 12.8 per cent in 2000 to 13.3 per cent in 2001: but this was still below the average turnover rate in local government of 13.8 per cent.
Source: Survey of Teacher Resignations and Recruitment: 1985-86 to 2001, Report 31, Employers Organisation for Local Government (020 7296 6600)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
The government published its response to an official report on teacher workload. It said it endorsed the key principles that there should be delegation of appropriate work to support staff, and strict management of initiatives and reporting requirements.
Source: Response to STRB Workload Report, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Response (Word file) | Press release | Teacher workload study 2001 (Word file)
Date: 2002-Oct
The schools inspectorate found the quality of training related to minority ethnic achievement for both specialist and mainstream staff to be generally good: but local education authorities often find it difficult to attract mainstream staff to courses outside their own schools.
Source: Support for Minority Ethnic Achievement: Continuing Professional Development, HMI 459, Office for Standards in Education (web publication only)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
The government began consultation on ways to develop and expand the role of classroom support staff. Teaching unions said the plans threaten teaching standards.
Source: Developing the Role of School Support Staff, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260) | Press release 22.10.02, NASUWT (0121 453 6150) | The Independent, 18.10.02
Links: Consultation Document (Word file) | DfES press release | NASUWT press release | Independent article
Date: 2002-Oct
The government announced a package of reforms to the school workforce, including plans for a new trained, professional grade of teaching assistant; teachers to have 10 per cent of their teaching time guaranteed for planning, preparation and assessment; amending teachers contracts so that they no longer have to do certain administrative tasks; and increasing the role of support staff in non-teaching contact tasks.
Source: Time for Standards - Reforming the School Workforce, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
The government was forced to drop its ban on teachers who have not been vetted for criminal records, following serious delays at the new Criminal Records Bureau. Unvetted teachers will be allowed to work at the discretion of headteachers.
Source: The Independent, 5.9.02
Links: Article
Date: 2002-Sep
An audit report on recruitment and retention problems in local public services found people are leaving because of negative experiences rather than compelling alternative options.
Source: Recruitment and Retention: A Public Service Workforce for the Twenty-First Century, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Sep
Researchers found that around 30,000 of the former teachers who are aged under 50 and have taught within the last six years could be persuaded back into the profession with the right combination of incentives and support.
Source: Martin Johnson and Joe Hallgarten (eds.), From Victims of Change to Agents of Change, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
A survey comparing teachers perceived quality of working life with that of other occupations showed that, while job satisfaction is high, teachers experience dissatisfaction with salaries and suffer higher levels of work-related stress.
Source: Linda Sturman, Contented and Committed? A Survey of Quality of Working Life amongst Teachers, National Foundation for Educational Research (01753 747281)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
A review of literature on the impact of teaching assistants in schools showed that they are playing increasingly significant roles in supporting teachers and pupils.
Source: Barbara Lee, Teaching Assistants in Schools: The Current State of Play, National Foundation for Educational Research (01753 747281)
Links: Press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 3.4
Date: 2002-Sep
Teacher numbers hit a 20-year high. There were 419,600 full-time equivalent regular teachers in England in January 2002, an increase of 9,400 (2.3 per cent) since January 2001. Vacancies also fell.
Source: Teachers in Service and Teacher Vacancies January 2002 (revised), Statistical First Release 18/2002, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: SFR 18/2002 (pdf) | DfES press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 3.4
Date: 2002-Aug
A literature review examined stress in teaching, its causes and effects, comparisons with other professions, and methods of coping.
Source: Valerie Wilson, An Overview of the Literature on Teachers Stress, Research Report 109, Scottish Council for Research in Education/University of Glasgow (0131 557 2944)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Jul
A book argued for greater local control over the curriculum and testing regime, as a way of making teaching a more attractive profession.
Source: M. Johnson and J. Hallgarten (eds.), From Victims of Change to Agents of Change: The Future of the Teaching Profession, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Summary
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122 (paragraph 3.4)
Date: 2002-May
An official report on teachers' workload recommended they should have a contractual right to a reasonable work/life balance.
Source: School Teachers' Review Body, Special Review of Approaches to Reducing Teacher Workload, Cm 5497, Department for Education and Skills, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122 (paragraph 3.4)
Date: 2002-May
