Ian Power from the HMC says ‘vast majority’ of teachers trained on SCITTs now have jobs in the state system
Concerns that teacher training partnerships that include independent schools would deprive state schools of new recruits have not been realised, according to leading heads.
Ian Power, membership secretary of the HMC, told the TES that the “vast majority” of teachers trained through school centred initial teacher training schemes (SCITTs) involving independent schools had gone on to settle in the state sector.
He said: “There was a fear in some quarters when these SCITTs were being developed that the independent sector would recruit a disproportionate number of the newly trained teachers to work in their schools.
“In reality, the vast majority have found places in the state system, helping to encourage more top graduates to enter the teaching profession in subjects like maths and modern languages where there are acute difficulties in recruiting specialist staff.
“This is a tribute to the way the SCITTs have worked across all types of schools, so trainees have been able to judge where they feel their talents are most needed.
“These SCITTs are now going from strength to strength and are among the most successful examples of the mutually beneficial partnerships between the independent and state sectors.”
Two SCITTs have been set up in England since 2017 that include independent schools: the National Modern Language (NML) SCITT and the National Mathematics and Physics (NMAPS) SCITT.
The partnerships include numerous independent schools, as training “hubs” including Oundle School, Dulwich College and Bolton School.
Katrin Sredzki-Seamer, SCITT director at NML, said that 31 out of 40 trainees qualifying in 2019-20 went on to teach in state schools.
