Psychometrics for all trainees

In global first for England, personality tests will be used to weed out ‘unsuitable’ teaching applicants

Kerra Maddern — TES Connect

England is to become the only country in the world where all teaching hopefuls face psychometric tests designed to reveal whether they have the right personality for a career in the classroom.

From 2012, all training applicants will face the psychological assessments that examine whether they have “a blend of empathy, communication and resilience” that is suited for life as a teacher, The TES can reveal.

Following a successful pilot, the “diagnostic tool” will be rolled out nationwide from 2012 and will become the latest weapon used by universities to spot students who are not cut out for the chalkface.

The tests are a recruitment tool favoured by many blue-chip companies, and in recent years top universities have started experimenting with them on highly competitive courses.

The tests for prospective teachers were successfully piloted at Edge Hill University and London University’s Institute of Education (IoE) last year.

These pilots were commissioned in 2009 to see if they could help reduce drop-out rates. Graham Holley, chief executive of the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA), said at the time that the changes could stop public money being “wasted” on training those who were not fit for the classroom.

Speaking to The TES this week, the TDA’s outgoing leader, said: “We have been working with universities to ensure we have a suite of very good tests; they will really show us the aptitude, capability and capacity of those applying for teacher training courses.

“By 2012 England will be the only country in the world to have a system like this, and every university will use them.”

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