The General Teaching Council for Scotland (PGCE) has accredited a new model of Initial Teacher Education developed by University of Dundee.The model integrates a PGCE with an induction programme, qualifying students to graduate into a career in teaching after one full year.

Teaching modules have been based on the recently accredited PGDE/PGCE (primary/secondary) at University of Dundee, with the programme carefully blending student time between school placement and campus.GTCS Director of Education and Professional Learning, Ellen Doherty, said:

“This innovative and exciting model of Initial Teacher Education has been skilfully designed to maximise students’ learning and teaching experience over a one-year period.”

“We have carefully considered that the correct balance of theoretical understanding and practical application is in place, whilst also ensuring that the programme enables students to develop the competence and confidence required to enter the classroom.”

The new programme will be delivered over a 52-week period from January 2018 to January 2019. Equivalent existing models require completion of a 36-week PGDE programme of study (from August 2017 to May 2018) and a one-year Induction programme (from August 2018 to June 2019). Qualifying STEM teacher graduates will therefore be ready to teach 6 months earlier than via the existing, equivalent routes.

University of Dundee developed this new model of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in response to the Scottish Government’s calls for universities providing ITE to devise new and innovative routes into teaching to address recruitment challenges.

The university has also ensured that the students engaging in this programme will have opportunities for enhanced mentoring experiences. Importantly, local authorities with which Dundee University has a partnership have been fully engaged in discussions about the design and delivery of the programme and are keen to offer support in bringing new teachers into the classroom.The programme aims to attract STEM graduates into teaching, who have consistently been under recruited into existing models.

During the first phase of the programme, from January to June, students will be working towards the Standard for Provisional Registration and will spend 18 weeks on school placement, equivalent to the PGDE model. In the second phase, from July to January, students will work towards the Standard for Full Registration, with successful graduates fully qualified to teach in secondary schools in Scotland.

Scottish Government had asked institutions for ideas to help tackle shortages, in particular STEM teaching areas. In total, more than 11 alternate routes into teaching are being adopted by six institutions across the country. The initiative is backed by more than £1million from the Scottish Government Attainment Scotland Fund.

As the accrediting body for Initial Education Programmes, GTC Scotland is holding a number of further accreditation events to consider the range of new programmes being developed. Chief Executive and Registrar Ken Muir said:

“GTC Scotland is very mindful of its role in ensuring that these new routes maintain and enhance the high standards of teaching and teacher education expected within our graduate teaching profession.

“These new routes will go some way towards addressing the very real need to bring more high-quality teachers into the teaching profession in Scotland. GTC Scotland is prioritising the accreditation of new programmes as part of our work to enhance teacher professionalism that will benefit children and young people across the country.”

Prospective students interested in these two new courses should contact the University of Dundee admissions office for further information.