SCHOOLS given extra cash to support teacher training are in some cases doing a better job than universities, according to researchers.

Most of the 82 “training schools”, which receive up to pound;50,000 extra a year from the Government, are providing excellent peer support for trainees and have established partnerships with other schools, businesses and universities to help them improve practice.

Some teachers are carrying out more interesting and relevant research than universities, says the Standing Committee for the Education and Training of Teachers.

However, the Department for Education and Skills has yet to release SCETT’s report. It says it has asked for additional work from SCETT, prior to publication. Others have claimed it is sitting on the report because some schools were critical of DfES support.

Jim Graham, SCETT’s chairman and head of the international centre for English at East London University, said: “Effective training schools see themselves as dynamic learning environments. There is a real buzz to the whole outfit.”

Professor Graham said the findings may not be popular with higher education institutions. He added: “We may need to de-institutionalise initial teacher training from HE institutions and think how best they can support learners rather than how well they run courses.”

He said the DfES was looking for the impact of training schools on pupil results, but that there could be other pay-offs, for example teacher retention.

In a new move by the Teacher Training Agency, more training places could be offered to universities with only satisfactory inspection grades to ensure enough new teachers enter the system.

Usually it offers additional places and funding first to institutions given top rating by the Office for Standards in Education.

Also, “failing” institutions could in future be issued with a warning rather than face immediate cuts in numbers of students allocated.

More than 300 university students undertook teaching-related courses in addition to their degree studies in 2001-02, earning credits towards future training and up to pound;1,000. But consultants KPMG say there was confusion among students as to whether they were working towards or achieving some qualified teacher status standards.

And, while expectations were raised that the credits would count towards future training, providers were still working out how this could be managed.

This year there will be up to 3,000 places for finalists and students in their penultimate degree year.

Primary view, 21