The Association for Language Learning welcomes the 2017 Election Manifesto, ‘Time for a Step Change in Teacher Training, Supply and Retention’, published by UCET (Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers).

René Koglbauer, Chair of Board of Trustees, Association for Language Learning, commented, “I am pleased to see that UCET highlights the complexity and multifaceted issues associated with this step change. For our members, subject knowledge, language and pedagogical skills are of paramount importance to achieve success in language teaching and learning.  The Association welcomes the suggested move towards the re-introduction of qualified teacher status for all teachers as well as an entitlement to career-long professional development. For primary schools it is essential that our teacher training programmes as well as placement schools give primary trainee teachers the opportunity to experience, plan, deliver and reflect on effective language teaching. Subject expertise is an essential and integral element of secondary teacher training but needs further enhancement through continuous professional development in the post-initial teacher training phase. Although whole-school pedagogical initiatives have an important role to play, we have seen over the last decade a demise of subject specific, continuous professional development in schools. Language departments report that time is not given to subject-specific curriculum development, long-term and mid-term planning, nor for innovative practice in language teaching. It is time to revert this trend of generic pedagogical development, towards a more subject-focused development. This does not, by any means, exclude cross-curricular and interdisciplinary learning approaches, such as Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)”.

Koglbauer argues further, “What is now needed is a cross-party approach to teacher training, supply and retention in order to not only plan long-term, but also to agree a plan that is actionable regardless of the election outcome, so that our education system delivers a highly motivating, creative and engaging broad curriculum which makes a difference to the lives of future generations.”