AQW 28463/22-27


Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley


Tabled Date: 09/06/2025
Answered On Date: 03/07/2025
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for a breakdown of initial teacher training places for secondary education, over the last three years, broken down by subject.


Answer:
A detailed breakdown of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) places allocated to Bachelor of Education (BEd) and Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) programmes for post-primary subjects, by ITE provider, over the past three academic years (2022/23 to 2024/25), is provided below.
Provider
Subject
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
Stranmillis University College
Business and Enterprise (BEd)
16
21
17
Mathematics (BEd)
9
7
8
Religious Studies (BEd)
14
14
19
Technology & Design (BEd)
9
10
7
St Mary's University College, Belfast
Business Studies (BEd)
12
14
12
Mathematics (BEd)
10
12
10
Religious Studies (BEd)
18
19
20
Technology & Design (BEd)
9
6
8
Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) *
English (PGCE)
28
29
28
IT/Computing (PGCE)
7
7
2
Mathematics (PGCE)
16
14
9
Modern Languages (PGCE)
18
16
26
Religious Education (PGCE)
12
10
9
Science - Physics (PGCE)
4
4
4
Science - Chemistry (PGCE)
5
5
9
Science - Biology (PGCE)
10
20
17
Social Science (PGCE)
18
16
22
Ulster University (UU) *
Music (PGCE)
10
9
10
Home Economics (PGCE)
15
13
14
Physical Education (PGCE)
12
11
14
Technology & Design (PGCE)
6
5
0
English Drama/Media (PGCE)
9
12
12
Geography (PGCE)
11
11
10
History (PGCE)
10
10
12
Art & Design (PGCE)
11
8
11
* QUB / UU are each allocated four Post-Primary PGCE Irish-Medium Education (IME) places across the subject offerings.
The data presented reflects the number of students enrolled in ITE programmes and may differ from the number of places originally allocated due to factors such as applicant demand, institutional capacity and recruitment outcomes.