14 October 2008

Huge demand from teachers across Wales for Assembly funding under the successful continuous professional development programme has seen the annual £3million budget allocated in just six months.

The programme, administered by the General Teaching Council for Wales (GTCW), has always operated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, but demand since April 2008 has meant that the entire £3million budget has already been allocated to projects aimed at helping teachers’ develop their individual skills and practice.

GTCW chief executive, Gary Brace, said: “We have experienced unprecedented demand for funding this year, with more than 3,700 teachers benefiting from individual grants and a further 850 involved with professional networks and group bursaries. The £3million budget has been unable to cope with the demand from the profession.”

As a result of the budget being allocated so quickly no further grant funding is available during the current financial year. Any applications received after Friday 10 October cannot be processed and will be returned to teachers. Mr Brace said: “In previous years, the Assembly has been able to identify additional funding to top-up the programme when the budget has all been allocated. Unfortunately, in light of increased demand, finite resources and the current financial climate, the Assembly Government is unable to make extra funding available to support the programme.”

While new applications cannot be processed, the Council stressed that funding applications that have already been approved are unaffected.

Early in 2009, the Council will distribute information about funding opportunities for the financial year starting April 2009. That information will also be available online at www.gtcw.org.uk.