In a recent article in the British Education Research Journal, Dr Louisa Dawes, Dr Elizabeth Gregory and Dr Mark Innes of the University of Manchester argue that UCET should be given a say in the ongoing reform of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) for school leaders in England. Here, they explain why.
Over the past year I have had the pleasure of being part of a PGCE student-tutor collaborative research project, aiming to have a better understanding of how student teachers engage in reflective practice. Interestingly, as an Initial Teacher Education (ITE) practitioner, the project has also helped me reflect on how I support student teachers’ reflective practices.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is more than a buzzword: it's the foundational process through which young people develop the crucial skills needed for healthy identities, goal achievement, empathy, and responsible decision-making. Recognised globally as a key determinant of pupil success and lifelong socioeconomic outcomes, the importance of SEL has never been clearer.
When teachers seek their own Continuing Professional Development (CPD), they are increasingly required to justify its immediate impact on classroom practice and alignment with school improvement priorities. This performative framing of CPD raises important questions about what professional learning is for—and who it serves.
Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and Initial Teacher Training (ITT) – titles that are often used interchangeably and synonymously when referring to the preparation of teachers in England. Yet each term is ladened with meaning and interpretation – there is a deep significance inherent in the terms which reflect alternative discourses around the knowledge, understanding and skills that are considered essential to become a teacher.
The latest UCET Teacher Education blog from Elizabeth Gregory, Louisa Dawes and Rosa Archer (University of Manchester). Special thanks to Lisa Murtagh and Andy Howes for their support and guidance in writing this blog and for helping to develop the concept that underpins the blog.