Schools, and other educational settings, play an essential role in Initial Teacher Training (ITT) by hosting placements and providing mentors for trainee teachers. 

Through an expert advisory group and consultation, the Department for Education (DfE) conducted a review of ITT with the aim to make well informed, evidence-based recommendations on how to make sure:  

• all trainees receive high-quality training in the ITT market   

• the ITT market maintains the capacity to deliver enough trainees and is accessible to candidates  

• the ITT system benefits all schools 

New Quality Requirements 

The review recommended a new set of quality requirements to be implemented by all ITT providers, to ensure a consistently high standard of ITT provision across the sector.   

These requirements cover a range of areas, including new mentoring requirements. These will ensure that mentors are well trained in how to be a mentor and to understand the ITT Core Content Framework (CCF) and underpinning evidence, and the ITT curriculum the trainee is following, so that they can effectively support the trainee’s progress during school placements.   

There are also new quality requirements relating to curriculum, assessment and progression of trainees, and quality assurance which are reflected in the updated ITT criteria and supporting advice for 2024/25. 

What does the ITT reform mean for schools? 

Following the reforms, from September 2024 there will be new quality requirements for all ITT courses. These include:

Click here to find out more about the DfE ITT reforms and what this means for schools.

Click here to find out more about HISP Teaching School Hubs ITT strategic role.