The government’s review of teacher training could lead to the number of providers allowed to operate being slashed, Tes has been told.

Sources have revealed how the review, which the Department for Education (DfE) established with the aim of developing a more ”effective” initial teacher training (ITT) market, could lead to fewer institutions offering the training.

One source said the reduction in provider numbers could be significant. Another said the government was considering a major reshaping of the market.

ITT review: Newer teachers may not be ‘right’ mentors

Ofsted: Teacher trainers not ‘ambitious’ enough

Institute of Teaching: ‘Knowledge-based’ ITT for 1k teachers a year from DfE

The key purpose of the DfE’s review has been to “support” the market to “work more efficiently and effectively”, but the department has remained tight-lipped about what that could mean.

Review chair Ian Bauckham previously offered a glimpse into its work when he said mentoring capacity issues were “not irrelevant” to the review, adding that there were “questions that could legitimately be asked” about how ITT providers are “incentivised” to supply “rigorous and detailed support for mentors”.

But little else has been said by either the DfE or Mr Bauckham about which specific aspects of the market the government hopes to revise.

Now is the first time there has been a direct indication that the number of providers could be cut down following the review.

However, the news that the DfE is establishing a new Institute of Teaching had already suggested there could be some pressure on the capacity of existing providers unless the overall number of trainees is increased.

Announced in January, the institute is expected to train 1,000 new teachers a year when it reaches “full capacity”, using a “knowledge-based” approach.

Tes revealed in April that the department had set aside up to £121 million for the project. 

The institute will be funded for six years, opening in September 2022, and will be managed by a “world-leading faculty of expert teacher educators”, according to a contract notice published online.

The resumption of the ITT market review was announced earlier this year, following a pause owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last month, schools minister Baroness Berridge revealed that the process would involve a public consultation on the final proposals.