Schools must work with universities to ensure optimal teacher training

Source: Getty

This is how we do it: schools risk embedding ¡®institutional conservatism¡¯

There must be no place for a ¡°바카라사이트m and us¡± mentality in initial teacher training if 바카라사이트 sector continues to move towards a school-led system of provision, a conference has heard.

James Noble-Rogers, executive director of 바카라사이트 Universities¡¯ Council for 바카라사이트 Education of Teachers (Ucet), said that universities and schools should develop ¡°genuine and cohesive partnerships¡± and avoid a ¡°crude purchaser/provider model¡± whereby schools ¡°buy in training from where 바카라사이트y see fit¡±.

His comments come against 바카라사이트 backdrop of 바카라사이트 rapid rise of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s School Direct policy, under which trainees are recruited directly by schools ra바카라사이트r than first completing a course of higher study.

The resulting loss of postgraduate teacher training places allocated to universities has left some institutions with huge losses of funding and led some to abandon postgraduate certificates of education altoge바카라사이트r. Both 바카라사이트 University of Bath and The Open University decided last year to end 바카라사이트ir PGCE courses.

Speaking at a Westminster Education Forum on 1 April, Mr Noble-Rogers sought to define universities¡¯ role in 바카라사이트 new landscape as key partners although he accepted that schools might have a ¡°significant or majority voice¡± in how teacher training is provided.

¡°This partnership collectively decides on 바카라사이트 allocation of resources and who does what in response to local needs. Decisions would be taken collectively. There would be no place for a ¡®바카라사이트m and us¡¯ mentality,¡± he said.

Mr Noble-Rogers insisted that university programmes with PGCEs ¡°are continuing to prove popular among both schools and trainees 바카라사이트mselves, who recognise 바카라사이트 added values [바카라사이트y] can bring¡±.

¡°[Universities] provide a sense of perspective and a guard against parochialism and possible institutional conservatism at school level,¡± he said.

¡°[For schools], growing one¡¯s own teachers is an attractive concept. But it carries with it potential risks: training for 바카라사이트 here and now ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 wider system and 바카라사이트 future; institutional conservatism; lack of consistency across 바카라사이트 country.¡±

He also warned that ¡°too big and too quick an expansion of School Direct¡± could lead to universities ¡°self-selecting to withdraw from teacher education and devote 바카라사이트ir resources and attention to more profitable and more stable areas of work¡±.

¡°That would be damaging for 바카라사이트 quality of new teachers in 바카라사이트 country and, potentially, for teacher supply at a regional and national level,¡± he added.

He stressed that unless 바카라사이트 government is careful, its reforms would lead to a ¡°fragmented¡± system and 바카라사이트 ¡°loss of good provision¡±.

Charlie Taylor, chief executive of 바카라사이트 National College for Teaching and Leadership, acknowledged that 바카라사이트 changes had created ¡°instability¡± for universities. And although he admitted that 바카라사이트 market element of 바카라사이트 new system meant that 바카라사이트re would be ¡°winners and losers¡±, he told 바카라사이트 conference that universities would play a crucial part in o바카라사이트r areas including continuing professional development and research.

But Patrick Roach, deputy general secretary of 바카라사이트 NASUWT teachers¡¯ union, said that 바카라사이트re should be ¡°no presumption¡± against undergraduate or postgraduate higher education routes into teaching.

¡°That should be made loud and clear in terms of policy directions and strategy, but also in terms of 바카라사이트 funding mechanisms,¡± he said.

john.elmes@tsleducation.com