Recent developments in primary initial teacher training in wales: An outsider's perspective

The (British) Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (CATE) criteria have now been in operation for five years. They have required substantial changes for many initial teacher training (ITT) institutions. The initial questionnaires and follow-up, in-depth interviews provided a wealth of data about the achievements and problems experienced by a group of ITT institutions in implementing the CATE criteria, over the last five years. Major problems for institutions have included financial burdens resulting from the CATE criteria, impediments to the effective working of local committees, problems in providing recent and relevant teaching experience for tutors, and difficulties in reallocating time for the equivalent of two years’ subject study. These notwithstanding, there was considerable support for the improvements which have occurred overall as a result of the CATE criteria