Publication: Evaluation of the National Institute of Teaching (NioT) Intensive Training and Practice Pilot
“Intensive training and practice” (ITAP) will be a required part of all initial teacher training (ITT) in England from 2024. ITAP is expected to provide a bridge between the theory of teaching and classroom practice, and there are different ways to interpret and implement the Department for Education’s guidance.
The National Institute of Teaching funded a pilot to support future delivery of high-quality ITAP, trying out four different models of ITAP. We (Oxford MeasurEd) carried out a formative evaluation of the pilot to investigate how the four models were designed and delivered and assess how feasible, promising and scalable they were. We aimed to contribute to the evidence base on ITAP and offer lessons on how to best support trainee teachers during ITAP that might inform future delivery as the policy comes into practice.
We found that the four models were well-designed and demonstrated promise, but that there were trade-offs between promise and feasibility/scalability. Most trainees rated the models positively, but there were concerns about the fast pace and whether all trainees benefited equally. The models were feasible to deliver, but challenges related to burden on school staff, added pressure on trainees and ensuring sufficient support for tailored training content need to be addressed.
Based on our findings, we recommended that ITT providers consider how best to plan and communicate proactively, make sure that teacher training content delivered through ITAP addresses the different contexts that trainees teach in, provide pastoral support for trainees and manage the burden on schools and school staff. We encourage organisations supporting ITT providers to support providers to share with and learn from each other and to advocate for the right balance of guidance and flexibility from the government on ITAP design and delivery.
Read the full Intensive Training and Practice Pilot Evaluation Report here.
