Teacher training gets personal

Posted 29 Jun 2009

People eyeing careers in the classroom may soon have their communication and empathy skills assessed first in psychometric tests.

According to the Training and Development Agency (TDA), putting applicants’ personalities under the spotlight before they start a teacher training course will ensure they are well-suited to the job.

TDA chief executive Graham Holley told the Commons schools select committee last week: "One thing that we will be doing is developing a diagnostic tool, so that initial teacher training providers can select the right sorts of candidates in the first place, before they give them training, and also to work on campuses getting the brightest and the best."

He added that the tests would also provide an opportunity to turn an "upsurge in applications" in recent months into a "golden generation" of teachers.

In other news that may interest TEFL teachers, the government outlined its commitment to the sector earlier this year with plans to provide a fast-track six-month training scheme to entice high-fliers and career-changers to the teaching profession.

Category: Teaching and Learning