Selected responses from The THES Survey

Q Are you happy with the current inspection regime?

A "If I tell you we've had approximately 15 inspections since I came here three years ago, that will answer your question. No other group is subjected to this in any other public service." Brunel University

"Too imprecise, too variable, no follow-up." Keele University

"Fundamentally the biggest problem is some people who inspect have expertise in areas other than teacher training." Nottingham University

Q Are you happy with the national curriculum for teacher training?

A"Not particularly happy. We will, at best, try to grin and bear it. Try our best to keep to the spirit of training good teachers while obeying the letter of the law." King's College, London

"The speed with which it was introduced was virtually impossible. Then we were inspected on it." Leeds University

"It's too limited, has been imposed too quickly with no consultation or discussion at a time when nationally recruitment is haemorrhaging at both ends." Keele University

"Find it too prescriptive and limited." Sheffield Hallam

"Many institutions would have trouble being compliant (with ITC standards)," University of East London

Q Are you considering withdrawing any of your teacher training provision?

A"We are cutting down very slightly on secondary subjects, maths and modern foreign languages because of recruitment problems."University of Hertfordshire

"We had to discontinue a programme last year because the numbers we were allocated were not sufficient." University of East Anglia

"We are trying to soldier on, and hoping the TTA clawback is not too great." University of Sussex

"Mathematics is currently under threat because of recruitment problems. Manchester Metropolitan (Crewe)