ATTITUDES TO TEACHING AMONG TEACHERS AT A BRITISH MEDICAL-SCHOOL

A random sample of clinical teachers at a British medical school was s urveyed by postal questionnaire to assess their attitudes to teaching and to teacher training. The response rate among the 186 teachers samp led was 80%. A high degree of enthusiasm for teaching was detected des pite a perception that teaching received neither sufficient priority w ithin the medical school nor due recognition within its reward structu re. Feelings were mixed concerning the quality of training which gradu ates received. However, only 5% of teachers believed their own teachin g ability to be below average. This survey revealed considerable suppo rt for the concept of training courses for medical teachers, though fe elings were mixed as to whether such courses should be compulsory. The se findings are discussed and related to recent initiatives to improve both the status of teaching within medical schools and the quality of medical education.