The School Direct training initiative has had a marked effect on the production of new teachers in England. The role of university education departments has been curtailed, and the belief that learning from doing, is better than a more theory based approach has caused politicians to radically change teacher education processes. Challenges are also being experienced by schools and other training establishments. Long term effects are as yet unclear, but already the programme has resulted in the closure of some university departments of education and concerns that school mentors do not have the expertise to provide the depth of subject and educational theory required by trainees, or sufficient knowledge of education research. There are questions too about the variation in the quality of provision in those schools and consortia undertaking this new type of training. At present the major concern seems to be that this change could severely affect teacher supply. [For the complete Volume 13, Number 1 proceedings, see ED568595.]