Hundreds start teacher training with less than a 2.2 degree

Statistics published by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) reveal that 264 graduates recruited on to primary PGCE (Post-Graduate Certificate in Education) courses, and 835 graduates recruited onto secondary PGCE courses had a third class, or unclassified degree.

Ministers confirmed plans last week to withdraw Government funding for initial teacher training for graduates with a third-class degree or less.

The TDA's figures show that in total, 1,099 people starting PGCE teaching courses this autumn fell below this threshold.

This includes 148 recruits (two per cent) to primary courses who had unclassified degrees and 116 (one per cent) who had achieved a third, 383 people (three per cent) starting secondary courses who had unclassified degrees and 452 (three per cent) who had a third.

The figures also show a two percentage point increase in the total number of men signing up to become primary teachers, which means that almost a fifth (18 per cent) of entrants for all primary initial teacher training courses are now male.

Data published by the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) in September revealed that just one in eight primary teachers (12.5 per cent) are male, and more than one in four (28 per cent) state primary schools in England have no registered male teachers at all.

The TDA's figures show more people are training to become science and maths teachers and there has also been an increase in the numbers of people swapping careers to take up teaching.

More than half of entrants to courses this year were over 25, the figures show.

In total, around 37,000 people joined teacher training courses in 2010/11.