To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many agreements with initial teacher training providers (a) the Training and Development Agency for Schools and its predecessors and (b) his Department and its predecessors have discontinued on quality grounds since 1997. (304894)

The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) is given the power by statute to accredit initial teacher training (ITT) providers, and in doing so it is required to have regard to the quality of providers’ courses when allocating training places and funding.

The available information is provided in the table. Accreditation records are available from 1999/2000 onwards. Where accreditation has been withdrawn it has been on the grounds of non-compliance with criteria set out by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in the Professional Standards for qualified teacher status and Requirements for ITT together with regard for the quality of provision offered.

In 17 other instances over this period, accreditation procedures were begun but not completed, either because the provider concerned improved sufficiently during the process or withdrew the provision voluntarily.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether formal training in recognising and dealing with all forms of bullying is offered to all trainee teachers in each of the teacher training routes. (306007)

All trainee teachers on initial teacher training routes to qualified teacher status must demonstrate that they have met the standards before they can be recommended for the award. These include standards relating to discipline and behaviour management, including bullying in all of its forms, and those relating to the safeguarding and well-being of children and young people. The standards, along with extensive guidance for trainers and trainees, are available at:

www.tda.gov.uk/qts