The Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) has today (Monday) published the first set of data on applications it has received for teacher training in the current recruitment year.

It shows that 28,005 applicants have registered with GTTR for higher education-led teacher training courses in England as of 7 January 2013. This year’s GTTR figures exclude applicants registered via School Direct - the new school-led training programme run by the Teaching Agency.

Initial data from the Teaching Agency shows that as of 2 January 2013, 12,442 have applied with School Direct. Of these, 3,509 unique applicants have applied solely via School Direct for fee-based courses, ie not via GTTR. This represents an overall increase in the number of applicants for fee-based teacher training by 1,098 - up 3.6% on last year. A total of 31,514 applicants have registered for fee-based teacher training courses this year, compared with 30,416 at the same time last year.

A Teaching Agency spokesman said:

Latest applicant figures from School Direct - the new school-led teacher training programme - show that an additional 3,509 people have applied to train solely through this route for courses which would last year have been on GTTR. This means overall teacher training applications for post-graduate courses in England are up by more than 1,000 applicants - 3.6% - on this time last year. Early monitoring also shows that our targets, based on quality of those applying and being accepted onto courses, are on track to being met. This is encouraging news and demonstrates the Government strategy to attract the best graduates to train as teachers is working. It also highlights the appetite of schools and graduates for a more school-led training system. Overall, it will help make sure we have the very best talent teaching in our classrooms.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) figures are on the GTTR website.

School Direct is the new school-led teacher training programme that allows schools a greater say in the recruitment and selection of top graduates and the training they receive. Find out more about School Direct on our website.

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