Attitudes to teaching among teachers at a British medical school

A random sample of clinical teachers at a British medical school was surveyed by postal questionnaire to assess their attitudes to teaching and to teacher training. The response rate among the 186 teachers sampled was 80%. A high degree of enthusiasm for teaching was detected despite a perception that teaching received neither sufficient priority within the medical school nor due recognition within its reward structure. Feelings were mixed concerning the quality of training which graduates received. However, only 5% of teachers believed their own teaching ability to be below average. This survey revealed considerable support for the concept of training courses for medical teachers, though feelings were mixed as to whether such courses should be compulsory. These findings are discussed and related to recent initiatives to improve both the status of teaching within medical schools and the quality of medical education.