The chair of the government’s controversial ongoing teacher training review has claimed it will “help rather than hinder” the recruitment and retention of teachers.

Writing in Tes, Ian Bauckham has also said that it is wrong to suggest that either university or school-based providers of teacher training are “in the crosshairs” of the new reforms.

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Bauckham: 4 myths about the ITT market review

Earlier this month, the Department for Education published the outcomes of its major initial teacher training (ITT) review, which included the suggestion that all providers should go through a “rigorous” process of reaccreditation.

This has been met with strong opposition from teaching unions, who called on the government to halt the review “immediately” over concerns that the proposals would cause “fundamental and irreparable damage to the supply of high-quality teachers to our schools”.

And the National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers (NASBTT) warned there could be “a catastrophic risk to the teacher supply chain” as a result of the plans.

But Mr Bauckham argues in Tes today that the ITT review could actually increase teacher numbers over the long term.

“Sadly, some trainees are let down by the current system of training,” he said.

“Ensuring every trainee an excellent introduction to the profession should help rather than hinder the sufficiency challenge.

“Better quality ITT should contribute to higher recruitment of trainees and better retention of these teachers, as fewer sink and more swim in their early career.”

Mr Bauckham added that stronger partnerships suggested by the review could deliver “economies of scale” so that trainees might be placed where they are best suited.

And he said that fears that the review will drive out school or higher education institution providers were unfounded.

“Tellingly, both school and HEI providers have suggested that the ITT market review has them in its cross-hairs. Neither complainant is correct,” he said.

“However individual providers decide to proceed, there will remain a mixed market of schools and universities, working closely together on the shared moral endeavour of best-preparing the next generation of teachers.”

Mr Bauckham is the chair of the ITT Market Review expert advisory group.