Fast-track teacher training course to address shortages

A fast-track teacher training course aimed at plugging shortages has received official accreditation.

The course covers the two-year postgraduate diploma of education (PGDE) and teacher induction in 18 months by reducing holidays.

Developed by Dundee and the Highlands and Islands universities, it is targeted at recruiting teachers in chemistry, computing, home economics, mathematics and physics in rural areas, comes with a bursary and is open to students with a 2:1 undergraduate degree and above.

The universities will work with four rural local authorities – Aberdeenshire, Argyll and Bute, Highland and Scottish Borders – to enable trainee teachers to learn in their own local area with financial support from their council.

The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) has accredited the new course model.

Education Secretary John Swinney said he was delighted the GTCS had judged this new route into teaching, supported with £250,000 from Scottish Government, as meeting the high standards required for accreditation.

GTCS director of education and professional learning Ellen Doherty said the approach comprises on-campus face-to-face inputs, tutor and student directed tasks, online learning and school-based experiential learning.