Teacher training providers
Initial Teacher Training (ITE)
Inspections of ITE 2008–11
We inspect all accredited providers of initial teacher education (ITE) leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and publicly funded training of further education teachers validated by higher education institutions. Providers are inspected against the relevant requirements and standards set out in Professional standards for Qualified Teacher Status and Requirements for ITT, published by the Training and Development Agency for Schools, and/or New professional standards for teacher/ tutor/ trainer education in the lifelong learning sector, published by LifeLong Learning UK, as appropriate.
Our single ITE inspection framework, Framework for the inspection of initial teacher education 2008–11 – published in July 2008 – outlines the purpose, processes and procedures used for the ITE inspections carried out within the academic years 2008 to 2011. Each provider will normally be inspected once in this period, with the inspection covering all phases of its ITE provision, and the inspection reports are published on our website. Inspections are differentiated, according to the quality of the provision as determined in the previous inspections, and to the size and complexity of the provider. If, at any stage, provision is found to be inadequate, an additional follow-up inspection may take place in the following year.
The grade criteria for inspection judgments are detailed in the Grade criteria for the inspection of initial teacher education 2008–11. This will be used by inspectors during inspections and can also be used by providers to help with self-evaluation.
The guide for providers (see link below) provides further details of the inspection methodology. It will help providers to prepare for inspections.
- Framework for the inspection of initial teacher education 2008–11
- Grade criteria for the inspection of initial teacher education 2008–11
- Inspections of ITE 2008-11: A guide for providers on the organisation and management of inspections
Self-evaluation for providers of ITE for the FE system
All providers of ITE are invited to complete a self-evaluation of the quality of their provision. In the 2008/09 inspection year, for providers with provision of ITE for the FE system this should be sent to us. A standard format, a self-evaluation document (SED), is provided for this purpose (see link below). While providers are encouraged to use this SED, self-evaluation will be accepted in any format. A set of guidance notes on self-evaluation is also provided (see link below).