schoolsweek.co.uk/itt-review-dfe-rejects-all-accreditation-appeals/
The DfE is rejecting all acreditation appeals for ITT training providers. They don't seem to have given a reason as to why.
I believe in my region we're losing 2/6 providers (not including really small schools direct providers acredited by one of the remaining unis), and one of the ones that will remain is a small SCITT who probably won't increase capacity. Of the remaining providers, I think one will increase capacity to some extent (but probably not accommodate all the places the other providers offer), one is secondary only so won't help with missing primary trainees, and one is too far away to really help.
We don't even actually have Teach First in my county, despite significant rural poverty. AFIAK they operate in one city in the region.
In my county, we're really struggling with recruitment this year, primary and secondary, across a range of subjects. I don't think everyone is aware how bad it is until they try to recruit, but I know of schools who have been recruiting for the same vacancy for over a year now.
Obviously ECTs are not the sole solution to the teacher crisis, and an ECT in an unstable and/or inexperienced department can be poor for the ECT and the department BUT reducing the available number of ECTs isn't exactly going to help, is it? And in some cases an ECT would be totally suitable for the role!
I honestly think there's an agenda at work here- in a few years, the DfE will really start pushing schools to use unqualified teachers, and undermine the whole profession. AND I think it'll be a disaster, to be clear. But I can't see any other justification...