Tests revamp for teaching candidates

Ministers have unveiled details of plans to overhaul tests taken by prospective teachers, saying they want to raise the status of the profession.

Under the proposals, from next September, anyone who wants to train as a teacher will have to complete revamped tests in English and maths.

A paper on verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning is also due to be introduced in the next few years.

Calculators will not be allowed and the pass marks for both the English and maths tests will be raised again, the Department for Education said.

The plans have been recommended by a review group of headteachers and education experts, which was set up in March.

The Government said at the time that it wanted to toughen up the tests taken by trainee teachers due to concerns that many took several attempts to pass.

The current tests, in literacy and numeracy, are taken towards the end of teacher training, with the latest figures showing that 98 per cent of people pass.