Written question WQ84054

Since 2019 Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes in Wales have been delivered in genuine partnership between universities and schools. There are now seven ITE Partnerships across Wales delivering ITE programmes that have been scrutinised and accredited by the EWC’s Teacher Education Accreditation Board.

During the ITE reforms Welsh Government recognised that for some of our most rural communities access to ‘traditional’ opportunities to participate in ITE was difficult. This is why we conducted a large open procurement exercise for a Pan-Wales ITE Partnership capable of delivering high quality ITE via an online blended learning model in partnership with Welsh schools. In 2018 Open University won that tender and has gone onto successfully have their Part-time PGCE and Salaried PGCE programmes accredited. Schools from all across Wales are able to apply to enter the Partnership and deliver the school-based aspects of these ITE programmes and the OU ITE Partnership continues to grow alongside the roll-out of this provision.

Both routes, now in their second year of delivery, are delivered across all of Wales. Welsh Government continues to support and work closely with the OU ITE Partnership so it can provide opportunities for those wishing to enter the teaching workforce who were previously unable to access ITE, as well as provide opportunities for schools wishing to educate the next generation of teachers.

In relation to Professional Learning the cross-regional Curriculum for Wales (CfW) Development Programme launched in Spring 2020, to equip all schools to realise the new curriculum. The programme mirrors the approach and philosophy reflected in the ‘Journey to Curriculum Roll-out.’

The programme has been designed through partnership working across regional consortia and provides a common offer of support, with flexibility for variation in regional delivery. The programme is designed to support, facilitate and guide all members of the school workforce through the phases of engagement, design, planning and evaluation in preparation for first teaching.

Despite the variation in delivery approaches, schools across all settings are receiving the same offer to support their journey to Curriculum for Wales roll-out. Over 5,700 senior leadership team members accessed the programme earlier this year.

This national offer is currently focusing on middle leader and teachers, with a central repository to access resources. This approach will ensure that schools across the system will have access to the same level of information.

Regions/partnerships have been reassured by the strong appetite for professional learning, with positive attendance by schools during live sessions hosted this term. Promoting collaborating across networks and clusters to share emerging practice is a key element of the support package.

Higher Education Institutions and lead schools are also playing an integral role in supporting the system as we move closer to curriculum implementation.

In view of the current circumstances, regions/partnerships are continuing to adopt a sensitive approach to schools’ capacity to engage in professional learning, but remain committed to the continued delivery of the CfW programme.

The cross regional group are committed to ensuring that the programme is available both synchronously and asynchronously, providing increased flexibility for schools to engage with resources when most convenient and appropriate.

CfW sessions for school leaders during the last summer term focused on vision, leading change and pedagogy and curriculum design. The next phase will focus on increasing confidence and supporting curriculum design, with a focus on the process not the product to create a holistic curriculum.

Regions/partnerships recognise that schools are in different places with regards to their preparations and therefore the support offered will also be bespoke and tailored to local needs as appropriate.