Data collection
The initial teacher training (ITT) census is collected annually and counts trainees registered on a course on the second Wednesday in October. For 2020/21 this was Wednesday 14 October 2020.
This statistical release presents detailed provisional data for 2020/21 and revised data for 2019/20. The 2020/21 provisional figures include forecast trainees who have accepted offers but will start after census collection period closes.
For 2020/21 we received data from all 234 providers in England comprising 165 School Centred ITTs and 69 HEIs. The collection remained open until 3 November 2020 to allow providers time to input and check their records.
Quality assurance
Data for the ITT census were completed, reviewed and signed-off by providers. The data collection and publication team within DfE carried out additional quality checks and data validations throughout the data entry process. After the data was extracted, the production team undertook a further quality assurance process to recode and correct some of the data.
This quality assurance process identified a small number of issues. These, along with the solutions that have been implemented, are outlined below:
- A small number of duplicate trainees were identified and removed during the quality assurance process. Data were then validated and signed-off by the production team.
- Approximately 400 trainees (80 from the 2019/20 revised data and 320 from the 2020/21 provisional data) were classified as being on a mainstream ITT route, but as studying Early Years ITT. The production team investigated each provider individually and recoded trainees appropriately as studying primary on a mainstream ITT route, or as being on an Early Years ITT route
2019/20 revised data:
- For the revised data, the production team were unable to access complete degree-level data when taking the census data extract from the DTTP. This affected 807 trainees at HEI providers who were not eligible for bursaries. These trainees could only be recorded as having an “unknown” degree class.
- 125 trainees initially had no course level information. These were investigated and completed by the production team.
- 53 trainees were classified as being on a Future Teaching Scholars training route. This was a route targeted at A-level students, which had a small intake and was recently discontinued. Due to small numbers, trainees on the Future Teaching Scholars programme in this dataset are included with trainees on a School Direct route.
- Approximately 150 trainees from five providers switched from being classified as undergraduate in the provisional extract to postgraduate in the revised extract (or vice versa). The production team investigated each provider individually and recoded trainees in the revised extract to their correct course level, in line with their route and degree class information.
2020/21 provisional data:
- Approximately 140 trainees were classified as undergraduate but were also classified as studying for a professional graduate certificate of education. The production team investigated each case individually and recoded trainees in the revised extract to their correct course level, in line with their route and degree class information.
Trainees excluded from this release
Please see the main methodology for further details on filters and the full list of trainees included/excluded from the statistical release.
Self-funded trainees
There are a number of trainees excluded from this analysis who may be working towards QTS, or another teaching qualification. This release does not include:
Self-funded trainees – We exclude trainees that the provider has indicated are not eligible for UK financial support. This includes overseas trainees not entitled to UK financial support, and trainees on the School Direct salaried route undertaking a non-DfE funded subject and/or employed at a private school. This year, 666 self-funded trainees were excluded compared to 519 self-funded trainees excluded from the revised figures for 2019/20.
Trainees included in this release
The census combines data on actual registered trainees with the reported number of forecast trainees by subject.
Teacher Supply Model
The Teacher Supply Model (TSM) is used by DfE to estimate the number of postgraduate trainee teachers needed to provide sufficient numbers of qualified teachers for state-funded schools in England. The 2020/21 TSM estimated the number of postgraduate ITT entrants needed for ITT courses starting in England in the autumn of 2020. The model is updated annually and is published online.
The model accounts for a wide range of factors including projected pupil numbers, the latest data on the teacher workforce, economic factors, and curriculum-related policies, among others.
More information can be found within the 2020/21 Teacher Supply Model and accompanying user guide, both of which are available here.
