International Teacher Education Conference 2014 1

International Teacher Education Conference 2014
PGCE indicate little difference between student teachers on the school-centred PGCE route and those on the
university centred route, in their perceived ability to manage key areas like assessment for learning and
behaviour for learning, to ensure appropriate pupil progress.
Whilst we are still in the process of implementing the first year of the School Direct programme the increased
allocation of teacher training places to schools for 2014 has led to more changes. Further Teaching School
Alliances have requested YSJU work with them as accredited providers for both primary and secondary PGCE
and allocations have been approved for more subject strands for the secondary PGCE.
The current school partnerships we collaborate with for School Direct have proved to be committed to genuine
partnership and clearly recognise the contribution that the university makes to teacher education. Indeed many
of them have recruited former student teachers into their schools from our university-centred programmes.
There are early indications that not all universities are experiencing this level of partnership. It is interesting to
note that as we move into planning for the second year of School Direct having been supported in the first
instance partnership schools are demonstrating a greater amount of independence. There is much debate about
the transfer of intellectual property as part of this transition.
In conclusion, the proverbial wheel is turning at an ever faster pace but all in all School Direct has offered the
opportunity for new ways of working. Partnerships are stronger than ever and both university and school based
staff continue to learn… along with the students.
References
Barber, M., & Mourshed, M. (2007). How the World’s Best Performing School Systems
Came Out On Top. McKinsey and Company Report. Retrieved October 30, 2013 from
http://mckinseyonsociety.com/how-the-worlds-best-performing-schools-come-out-on-top/
Burgess, R. (2014, January 22). Teacher training: we need more balance between School Direct and
PGCE. The Guardian. Retrieved January 22, 2014 from http://www.theguardian.com/teachernetwork/teacher-blog/2014/Jan/22/teacher-training-school-
direct-pgce
British Educational Research Association (2014). The Role of Teacher Research in Teacher Education:
Reviewing the Evidence – Interim Report of the BERA-RSA Enquiry. Retrieved January 21, 2014
http://www.bera.ac.uk/system/files/BERA-RSA%20Interim%20Report.pdf
from
Department for Education (2010). The Importance of Teaching: The Schools White Paper. London: The
Stationary Office.
Department for Education (2011). Training Our Next Generation of Outstanding Teachers:
Implementation Plan. London: The Stationery Office.
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