(1)There shall be established a body corporate to be known as the Teacher Training Agency to exercise—
(a)their functions as a funding agency under this Part,
(b)the function of providing information and advice on teaching as a career, and
(c)such other functions as may be conferred on them by or under this Part.
(2)The objectives of the agency in exercising their functions shall be—
(a)to contribute to raising the standards of teaching;
(b)to promote teaching as a career;
(c)to improve the quality and efficiency of all routes into the teaching profession;
(d)to secure the involvement of schools in all courses and programmes for the initial training of school teachers;
and generally to secure that teachers are well fitted and trained to promote the spiritual, moral, social, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and to prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.
(3)Except where corresponding functions in relation to Wales are conferred on another person or body, the functions of the agency are exercisable in relation to England and Wales generally; but the agency shall not do anything in relation to Wales, or institutions or students in Wales, except at the request of the Secretary of State.
[F1(4)In exercising their functions, the Teacher Training Agency shall have regard to the requirements of persons who are disabled persons for the purposes of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 1(4) inserted (1.9.2002) by 2001 c. 10, s. 40(2) (with s. 43(13)); S.I. 2002/2217, art. 3, Sch. 1 Pt. 1
(1)The Teacher Training Agency shall consist of between eight and twelve members appointed by the Secretary of State, of whom one shall be so appointed as chairman.
(2)In appointing the members of the agency the Secretary of State shall have regard to the desirability of including persons who appear to him—
(a)to have experience of, and to have shown capacity in—
(i)teaching in schools,
(ii)teaching in higher education (other than training teachers), or
(iii)training teachers, or
(b)to have held, and to have shown capacity in, any position carrying responsibility for—
(i)the provision of education in schools,
(ii)the provision of higher education (other than the training of teachers), or
(iii)the training of teachers;
and in appointing such persons he shall have regard to the desirability of their being currently engaged in the provision of, or in carrying responsibility for, such matters.
(3)In considering the appointment of members in accordance with subsection (2) the Secretary of State shall have regard to the desirability of including persons whose relevant experience or responsibility is, or was, in or in relation to—
(a)institutions of a denominational character, or
(b)teaching persons with special educational needs.
(4)In appointing the members of the agency the Secretary of State shall also have regard to the desirability of including persons who appear to him to have experience of, and to have shown capacity in, industrial, commercial or financial matters or the practice of any profession.
(5)Schedule 1 has effect with respect to the agency.