The government has ended funding for the sector body set up to oversee the teaching schools hub network. In a letter to hubs today, seen by Schools Week, the Department for Education said it would be 鈥渞e-purposing鈥 the cash for the Teaching Schools Hub Council and its central team from September. The , made up of 13 school leaders, supports the national network of 87 hubs, including facilitating networking and collaboration to 鈥渆nable the sharing of development of best practice鈥. A central team of four employed staff also help build capacity and growth. The teams were initially funded for three years. However the government made clear in the letter that funding for the teaching school hubs will 鈥渃ontinue as planned鈥. After a reaccreditation process, DfE confirmed last month which teaching school hubs would continue to run from September. Praise for ‘excellent support’ But Chris Armstrong-Stacey, deputy director for developing teachers and leaders, said in the letter it was now 鈥渞ight to reflect on that strong progress and the strength and maturity鈥 of the network. 鈥淲e are extremely grateful to both the council and central team for their hard work and significant contribution to establishing such an effective network of Teaching School Hubs during the first designation period,鈥 the letter added. He praised the council鈥檚 鈥渃areful stewardship鈥 and 鈥渆xcellent support鈥 in helping increase the delivery of 鈥渉igh-quality professional development to teachers and school leaders鈥. Officials will now work with the council on a transition plan. Hubs were told they will 鈥渃ontinue to receive support鈥 from the DfE鈥檚 delivery team, who will also continue to 鈥渇acilitate regional forums鈥 and share updates. Richard Gill, TSH council chair, told Schools Week that its work, 鈥渋n particular the tremendous support and training provided by the central team, has helped hubs deliver over 65,000 NPQs (national professional qualifications), provide early career support for over 50000 ECTs and training for over 45000 mentors. 鈥淚 trust the experience gained over the last three years will ensure that there is resilience across the network so that the momentum will be maintained.鈥 It is understood the council will decide its future at a meeting later this term. In 2021, more than 80 hub schools replaced the previous 750 teaching schools 鈥 with government saving 拢25 million. Armstrong-Stacey added that government is 鈥渃onfident that the capacity and expertise in the Teaching School Hub network means you will continue to excel, so thousands more teachers can benefit from high-quality training and support鈥. It is the latest in a series of cuts of school-related schemes as DfE faces up to a potential 拢1.5 billion budget black hole to fund teacher pay rises. Other schemes axed include a governor recruitment service, free NPQs scaled back, teacher top-up training courses cut and an international teacher 鈥榬elocation premium鈥 pulled. A DfE spokesperson said the council has “done a great job building a strong and mature hubs programme 鈥 driving up teaching excellence and best practice”. “We will continue to develop and support hubs to build on our successes to ensure every child receives a world-class education.”