9 July 2009

Psychometric assessments for trainee teachers

Teacher training applicants may soon be sitting psychometric tests to examine whether they have the right blend of empathy, communication and resilience to survive a career in the profession.

The tests will be used alongside standard interviews and work experience to enable universities to spot students who are not cut out for the classroom.

A company has recently been appointed by the Training and Development Agency for Schools to develop a diagnostic tool for a pilot scheme, due to start in September.

Graham Holley, chief executive of the agency, announced the psychometric tests at a meeting of the children, schools and families select committee after MPs expressed concern about new teachers' lack of basic skills.

He explained that the academic entry levels are easy to measure, but having resilience, communication skills and empathy with young people, are also important to becoming a good teacher.

It was also important to find out why so many people dropped out of teacher training.

James Noble Rogers, executive director of the Universities' Council for the Education of Teachers, is reported as saying his members would be in favour of the psychometric testing pilot - as long as testing did not become mandatory.

I think universities are already good at assessing applicants and making judgments, he added.

 

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