ALL new teachers should be required to pass tests in basic maths and
literacy before being allowed in the classroom, a report demanded
yesterday.
The right-wing Campaign for Real Education called for a shake-up of
teacher training colleges, which it claims are to blame for ''trendy''
teaching methods undermining standards.
The report, A Manifesto For Our Schools, said graduates should only
need to complete a year's practical experience in schools to qualify.
The demand came as Education Secretary Kenneth Clarke puts the final
touches to a review of teacher training which is expected to give
schools a greater role.
Today's report also called for a return to traditional teaching
styles, education vouchers to increase parental choice of schools, the
abolition of local education authorities and new courts for dissatisfied
parents.
Meanwhile, Mr Clarke said children aged nine and 10 should be streamed
according to ability.
Specialist teachers should be introduced to teach different subjects,
ending the system where one primary teacher takes their class for
everything.
''We have to address the question of teaching a nine subject
curriculum to nine and 10-year-olds, he said.
Mr Clarke underscored his determination to restore streaming to
secondary schools on Wednesday by announcing the return of different
GCSE exams for different abilities for pupils aged 16.
But National Association of Head Teachers' general secretary David
Hart, who recently argued for the introduction of streaming and
specialist teaching in primary schools, said Mr Clarke had only
addressed half the issue.
''Mr Clarke wants to have his cake and eat it because he is focusing
on ways of raising standards in primary schools without extra costs'',
he said.
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