Teacher training courses – employability high on agenda
Head teacher Jonny Mitchell (second left) is pictured alongside (l-r) Jonathan Hipkin from Hays Education and University of Huddersfield's Dr Lesley-Anne Pearson and Kate Aspin
Wed, 12 Feb 2014 14:04:00 GMT
Educating Yorkshire head teacher Jonny Mitchell addresses Huddersfield students
COMPETITION for teacher training places at the University of Huddersfield is intense. But successful applicants can be highly confident of a well-paid post at the end of their course. They also receive guidance from visiting experts, such as Jonny Mitchell, the inspirational head teacher who gained a massive national profile from his appearance in the television documentary series Educating Yorkshire.
Every year, the calendar for students in the final year of their BA degree in Primary Education, and for students completing their Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in primary and secondary education includes a guest lecture organised by the teacher recruitment organisation Hays Education.
The 2014 lecturer was Mr Mitchell, who heads Thornhill Community Academy. He delivered his talk at the University of Huddersfield shortly after Educating Yorkshire scooped the Best Documentary prize at the 2014 National Television Awards.
Emphasis on employability
The annual guest lectures for final-year undergraduates and for PGCE students are one element of the emphasis placed on employability by the University of Huddersfield’s School of Education and Professional Development. It gets results, with recent figures showing that 96 per cent of students find a job or move on to further study within six months. And they receive average starting salaries above the national average.
An intense programme of work placement, fully integrated into degree courses, is a major factor in the employability success. The School works with a large number of partnership schools in the region and PGCE students spend at least 120 days of their one-year course gaining practical classroom experience at both primary and secondary schools. Students taking the three-year BA(Hons) Early Years and Key Stage One degree course spend 18 weeks a year at the chalk face, gradually taking on more and more teaching responsibility during lessons.
But even before applying for a course at the School, prospective students must have gained some prior relevant experience, usually by acting as a classroom volunteer during their A-level studies, while PGCE candidates often gain experience though placement and modules followed on their undergraduate degree courses.
“Primary education training outstanding” - Ofsted
In this video head teacher Jonny Mitchell gives an insight into what he looks for in a good teacher and why he still loves the profession after 14 years.
Every year there are just 22 places available on the BA primary course; but it typically receives over 300 applicants. The secondary PGCE course covers a range of subject including Business Studies, Design Technology (resistant materials), Computer Science, Maths, Music and the three sciences and additional subjects are available through the School Direct route in Partnership with the University.
The School's most recent Ofsted inspection rated primary education training as outstanding, while secondary and further education was rated good with outstanding features.
In the Guardian's University Guide subject league table for education, the University has been ranked second nationally every year since 2011 and the 2013 National Student Survey placed the School in the top five for academic studies in education amongst its competitor group.
When Jonny Mitchell spoke at the University, he gave students guidance on teaching a lesson.He also dealt with interview techniques and what he looks for in a good teacher. It was invaluable advice from a leading professional and it backed up the lessons that students had already learned during their demanding courses.
