Wrexham Glyndwr University Joins With Partner Schools To Bid For Teacher Training Accreditation

Wrexham Glyndwr University has launched innovative partnerships with top schools to bid for new-style teacher training programmes in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Welsh Government wants schools to work more closely with universities to train teachers and has invited school-university partnerships to apply for teacher education accreditation later this year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of the process, Wrexham Glyndwr University has signed agreements with four lead partner schools: Ysgol Glan Gele, Abergele, Victoria Community School in Wrexham, Ysgol Uwchradd Y Fflint, Flint, and The Maelor School, Penley. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The university has a strong track record as a provider of programmes for the education sector and delivered accredited Initial Teacher Education (ITE) courses for 67 years, up until 2012. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Should the university’s bid for accreditation be successful, new degree programmes would be taught in Wrexham from September 2019. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Accredited teacher training courses lead directly to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), the qualification needed to start teaching in schools, without the need for further study. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dr Claire Taylor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said: “We are delighted to be working with high performing lead partner schools that are dedicated to ensuring the very best learning opportunities for children and young people across our region. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“New approaches to teacher education are needed in order to develop a world-class education system for Wales and we are pleased to be part of a national conversation currently taking place about the future shape of teacher education and development going forwards.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wrexham Glyndwr University already has strong relationships with all four partner schools, which cover primary and secondary education. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Each of the lead schools complements the partnership with opportunities for trainees to experience classroom settings across every stage of compulsory education from Foundation Phase to Sixth form. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Julia Buckley Jones, Headteacher at Ysgol Glan Gele, said: “We are confident that we have the skills, knowledge and expertise to contribute to this exciting development in ITE in Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wrexham Glyndwr University currently has four specialist undergraduate education routes that enable graduates to access roles in teaching, additional learning needs and the wider family and community support professions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It also trains students to work as teachers in the post-compulsory sector via a PGCE (PcET) course. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​