Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg
We’re pleased to announce an important new research project evaluating the policies that support Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Wales. This evaluation will examine how effectively our current policies are supporting teacher training across the country, recognising ITE’s crucial role as the first step in every Welsh teacher’s professional learning journey.
Alma Economics are the successful bidder, and work has already begun to scope out this significant research project.
What this research will aim to examine
The evaluation will focus on Wales’ policies and legislation supporting our ITE system, and provide evidence that will assist the Welsh Government in understanding more about the following:
- How ITE policy reforms have improved teacher training provision
- The impact of wider education reforms on teacher education
- The effectiveness of incentive schemes in recruiting student teachers
- Identifying what’s working well in the ITE sector
- Understanding barriers to improvement
- Developing recommendations for enhancing teacher education
The research will not evaluate specific ITE programmes or partnerships but instead look at the system-wide policy framework.
Why this matters now
It’s been 10 years since Professor Furlong’s influential “Teaching Tomorrow’s Teachers” report was published. Since then, Wales has implemented numerous education reforms including the Curriculum for Wales, the ALN Act, and Cymraeg 2050.
Following the pandemic, completed accreditation rounds, and ongoing monitoring, now is the perfect time to assess our progress and identify necessary improvements to ensure our ITE system provides the best possible foundation for Wales’ teachers.
Who’s involved
The research has been guided by a stakeholder steering group with representatives from:
- Education Workforce Council
- Estyn
- ITE Partnerships
- The Teacher Education Accreditation Board
- Welsh Government
- Welsh Local Government Association
This group will work with Alma Economics throughout the research process to ensure it delivers valuable insights for the sector.
Get involved
If your school is involved in ITE, you may be approached to participate in this research. Even schools not currently involved in ITE will be invited to share their perspectives on Wales’ teacher training system.
We’ll provide regular updates on this research through Dysg.
The final report is expected in Summer 2026.
Supporting Wales’ education future
High-quality Initial Teacher Education is fundamental to ensuring excellent education for all children and young people in Wales. This research will help us understand how our policies can better support the recruitment, development and ongoing support of student teachers as they begin their professional journey.