Staffordshire University
About Us
The Staffordshire University learning and skills sector initial teacher training (ITT) partnership is in the early stages of its operation as part of the Staffordshire University Regional Federation (SURF). Following approaches by a number of SURF partner further education (FE) colleges, a new in-service Certificate in Education/PGCE has been offered since September 2004 by five SURF colleges in partnership with the university; a further FE partner joined the partnership in September 2005. There are now some 300 trainees involved in the programme, who attend sessions in an FE college once a week with some subject-specialist support built into the programme. Trainees have individual tutorial support while their teaching is jointly observed and assessed by generic tutors and by a subject-specific mentor who also supports their professional development during their training.
"Our particular pilot sought to establish and evaluate an approach to subject-specialist observation of teaching, mentoring and support in the learning and skills sector ITT that is informed by recent research and expertise in the field.
The pilot involved two distinct but linked areas of activity:
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an increased frequency and intensity of subject mentoring
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the trial of ‘Learning Study’"
Resources
Evaluation report - PDF format
Case study
Case study - printable version - Word format
Mentor and mentee handbook - Word format