MP calls on Schools Secretary to make University of Cumbria the flagship for British teacher training

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has written to Secretary of State for Schools Michael Gove about the Education White paper and asked him to look at making the University of Cumbria the flagship for educational teaching in the UK.

In Tim's letter to Michael Gove, he asked: "In (our last) meeting we discussed the possibility of the University of Cumbria developing a pilot prototype model of University Training School Partnership with a remit to operate effectively across its existing large networks of schools. Is this still a viable option and can I still count on your support for the University of Cumbria to start turning this idea into a detailed proposal?"

The proposal from Tim and the University is to use them as a prototype for teacher education - where partnership between a University and both large and small schools and urban and rural areas, allow them to show how it could work to the rest of the country. Currently the University of Cumbria educates more teachers than any other provider in the country. There are more than 2,500 student teachers currently at the University, and the majority of them will gain teaching posts in the region. In addition to the strong presence in the North West of England, the University also has a large impact at its campus in London's east end.

Tim Farron is regularly raising the issue of University of Cumbria in Westminster.

Tim said: "I am today asking the government to use the White Paper to make the University of Cumbria the flagship and centrepiece in terms of teacher education. They could pilot schemes and initiatives for the rest of the country and build on the foundations of Charlotte Mason and her education philosophy. I will be pressing the government to consider this and fighting to bring more services, funding and courses to the university and to Ambleside in particular."