Training agency hails success of 'winners take most' scheme

The Teacher Training Agency's first allocations under its new funding system have produced more winners than losers, despite big cuts in recruitment targets, the agency said this week.

More than half out of 102 teacher training providers have been allocated extra student numbers, with nearly a third gaining more than 5 per cent. Nearly one in ten have been given more than an additional 10 per cent of funded places.

There are a total of 46 losers and 56 gainers. Nearly a quarter will lose more than 5 per cent of numbers, while 14 face a cut of more than 10 per cent.

Teacher training providers have been placed in one of five quality categories, with those in the lower categories penalised by reductions in allocations.

Projected student numbers for 1998/99 and 1999/2000 carry a 100 per cent guarantee for those in the top category, with a 95 per cent guarantee for those in category B and 90 per cent for category C. The bottom two categories receive no guarantees at all.

Despite big cuts in recruitment targets there has been only a small drop in total allocations this year, down to 3,253 from 3,280 last year. The TTA was still working out the financial implications as The THES went to press.