How prepared do newly-qualified teachers feel? Differences between routes and settings

Gorard, S.

Abstract

Does it matter whether teachers are trained in schools or universities? In England, there is an ongoing change in the balance of routes to becoming a newly qualified teacher (NQT). Given this, and widely-reported problems with teacher supply, it is important to consider whether there are discernible differences between the routes in terms of their outcomes. This paper is based on a re-analysis of the 2015 Department for Education survey of 7,770 NQTs. The outcomes considered are the levels of reported NQT satisfaction with their overall training, preparedness to help improve pupil reading, whether satisfaction varies between routes, phases, and types of provision, how much of any difference is attributable to the prior characteristics of the students or to the routes alone. Using logistic regression, it was possible to explain around 18% of the variation in NQT responses. Most of the variation remains unexplained – perhaps because key but unknown variables are missing, and certainly because the level of satisfaction is generally so high. The average levels of satisfaction for NQTs are largely un-stratified by sex, disability, age and ethnicity. Within the two main routes of school- and university-led there is almost as much variability as there is between them. Once other factors are taken into account, the differences in reported satisfaction between routes and providers are small. There is, therefore, no particular reason to promote or support one route at the expense of the other – at least in terms of NQT satisfaction.

Citation

Gorard, S. (2017). How prepared do newly-qualified teachers feel? Differences between routes and settings. Journal of Education for Teaching, 43(1), 3-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/02607476.2016.1220700

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 20, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Aug 18, 2016
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jun 7, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 18, 2018
• Journal: Journal of Education for Teaching
• Print ISSN: 0260-7476
• Electronic ISSN: 1360-0540
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 3-19
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02607476.2016.1220700
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1379543