Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 34
34
Deferred
Expand subject-specific National Professional Qualifications and establish clearer career progression pathways
Conclusion
The Department should build on improvements in its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) offering and there should be more scope in the system for teachers to gain and maintain seniority through subject specialism. The Department should expand its subject specific NPQ offering beyond numeracy and literacy and establish clearer career progression pathways for teachers who want to focus on and develop within their subject, for example as head of subject within a year group or subject lead across their school. We would recommend that the Department consider further NPQs for subject leaders with cross disciplinary application such as heads of science or languages. (Paragraph 140) Subject specific teacher shortages
Government response summary AI-generated
The government states it does not believe producing a list of responsibilities for schools and teachers would be helpful. It then deflects to discussing other initiatives like the Child Poverty Taskforce and SEND reforms, without addressing the expansion of subject-specific NPQs or clearer career progression pathways.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
we will establish a process for reviewing the existing NPQ suite, to ensure the qualifications continue to be based on the latest evidence and best- practice of what works for teaching and learning. The government has inherited a challenging set of fiscal circumstance and needs to make difficult decisions to restore economic stability, including focusing funding where it is needed most to deliver the best outcomes for children and young people. The government is committed to continue delivering funded NPQs in 2025 with a cohort commencing in the spring. Future funding will be confirmed in due course following the multiyear Spending Review. We will also support teachers to access more high-quality CPD through the introduction of a new teacher training entitlement. Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE)
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