Teacher psychometric tests 'highly dubious'
Date posted: 30 Jun 2009
Proposals to use psychometric testing for selecting new teachers have been criticised by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).
The plans were announced by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) and could be used to select the right sort of candidates for training places.
Graham Holley, chief executive of the TDA, explained that the tests would be used as a diagnostic tool to ensure that candidates are selected on the basis of having the best all-round skills.
Proposals to use psychometric testing for selecting new teachers have been criticised by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).
The plans were announced by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) and could be used to select the right sort of candidates for training places.
Graham Holley, chief executive of the TDA, explained that the tests would be used as a diagnostic tool to ensure that candidates are selected on the basis of having the best all-round skills.
He said that there had been "unprecedented levels of eligible candidates for teacher training" and the tests "will help ensure we turn this huge upsurge in applications into a golden generation of teachers".
However, general secretary of the ATL Dr Mary Bousted explained that the tests themselves were "highly dubious".
She said: "There is no scientific justification for them, and they are culturally biased. Why is the TDA wasting public money on expensive gimmicks when it should be providing proper support for trainee teachers going into hugely challenging jobs?"
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