Initial Teacher Education (ITE) is available at eight universities (including the Open University) across Scotland. For more information about training to become a teacher see Interested in becoming a teacher?
Review of Teacher Education
Graham Donaldson completed his review of teacher education in December 2010, and his report Teaching Scotland's Future was published on January 13, 2011. The report, which considers all aspects of teacher education from entry to an initial teacher education course to the continuing professional development of experienced teachers and head teachers, makes 50 recommendations for further improving teacher education in Scotland. The Scottish Government published it's response Continuing to Build Excellence in Teaching on March 9, 2011.
Further information about the review can be found on the Review website.
Student Placement Scheme
The Government-funded Student Placement Scheme was established in May 2004 and due to the financial support provided, local authorities could employ a student placement co-ordinator to manage placements. The Government has also provided funding to Glasgow University to support the implementation and ongoing development of Practicum, an internet-based system which records the capacity of schools to take student teachers and matches these to university requirements.
The National Strategy Group-Student Placements
The National Strategy Group (NSG) for student placements was established in February 2006 and comprises the teacher education institutions (TEI's), local authority representatives, the General Teaching Council for Scotland, HMIE, teacher associations, and is chaired by the Scottish Government. The main aims of the Group are to maintain a strategic overview of student placements in Scotland, to work closely with all relevant stakeholders and to ensure consistency of national practice.
The NSG has five working groups which take forward the essential issues relating to student placements such as;
- The management of Practicum.
- Operational users' interests in Practicum.
- Timeline for placements.
- The student's evaluation of placements.
- Development of a national set of guidelines for universities and local authorities.
Teacher induction scheme
The Teacher Induction Scheme is a national induction programme for newly qualified, Scottish trained teachers, which has gained international recognition. It guarantees a one-year teaching post in a Scottish local authority, with teachers being allocated to one of five local authorities of their choosing. Teachers on the programme have a maximum class commitment time equal to 70 per cent that of a full-time teacher, with the rest of the time devoted to their professional development. All have access to the services of an experienced teacher as a mentor.
By the end of their one-year induction, teachers should be ready to gain full registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland.
More information is available on the GTCS website.