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The Guernsey Institute is partnering with Middlesex University to provide on-island teacher training, which will count as a certifiable teaching qualification in the UK for the first time.
The initial cohort of trainees will be six learning support assistants. LSAs currently working in local primary and secondary schools are eligible to apply and successful applicants will be offered fully-funded trainee teacher positions.
The training programme will commence in the Autumn in partnership with Middlesex University. In future years, the Committee hopes to expand the scheme to all graduates who wish to become teachers.
Pictured: Middlesex University will be supporting the assessment components of the programme so that the course meets UK standards.
Dr Tracey McClean, Head of the Institute of Health & Social Care Studies and Executive Director at The Guernsey Institute, said the course will allow trainee teachers to complete all the practical and theoretical requirements needed to qualify.
“Middlesex University will be supporting the assessment components of the programme to ensure the trainee teachers fully meet the expectations of the teachers’ standards which are set by the UK Department for Education," she said.
"This partnership is an exciting initiative which reinstates a career pathway for talented and experienced support staff who have a desire to teach.”
ESC President Matt Fallaize was pleased to see the Guernsey Institute build on its already strong links with the London-based university.
He said: "If the initial scheme is a success, we hope to offer on-island teacher to a greater number of learning support assistants and others who wish to become teachers in the future."
Pictured: Deputy Fallaize said having the teaching qualification recognised by the UK would be a "strong advantage" to applicants.
“When the Committee was elected we were advised that a previous arrangement which allowed people to train to become teachers on-island was being discontinued. The Committee asked officials to find ways of re-starting the scheme at the earliest opportunity and we are delighted a new scheme is about to commence.
"The previous scheme allowed people to train as teachers but the qualification was not recognised outside of Guernsey, whereas this will be recognised in the UK, offering a strong advantage to applicants.”
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