New course enables primary teachers to train in Highlands and Islands

29th August 2013

Aspiring primarily teachers can now complete their training in the Highlands and Islands. The University of the Highlands and Islands has launched the first ever Professional Graduate Diploma in (primary) Education available in the region.

There has been so much demand for the new course that, despite little advertising, over 80 people applied for the 20 places available in this year�s intake.

The first cohort of students is taking part in an induction in Inverness this week. Those who pass the nine-month diploma will have met the General Teaching Council for Scotland�s standard for provisional registration and can start their year as a probationary teacher in a Scottish primary school.

The course is being delivered at Inverness College UHI, Moray College UHI, Orkney College UHI and Lews Castle College UHI in Stornoway. Students based at Inverness or Stornoway who are fluent in Gaelic have the option to complete the diploma through the medium of Gaelic and work in a Gaelic-medium primary school.

Applications for August 2014 entry can be made through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry service from November. Candidates must have a relevant undergraduate degree as well as current experience of working with children.

Minister for learning, science and Scotland�s languages, Dr Alasdair Allan, said: �The Scottish Government recommended last December that the Scottish Funding Council should allocate 20 student teacher places to the University of the Highlands and Islands, meaning this is a welcome development that will widen the choice available to those planning on studying for a career in teaching.

�I am particularly pleased that a Gaelic option is available for prospective students. By putting Gaelic at the heart of learning opportunities, the university is continuing to play an important role in Gaelic maintaining its place in classrooms across Scotland. As well as widening access to initial teacher education to people across the north of Scotland, this initiative should also contribute to easing some of the teacher recruitment challenges faced by rural local authorities.�

Shona Scott is one of the new students attending this week�s induction. She explained why she signed up to the course: �I�ve been thinking about training as a primary teacher for a long time, but the nearest course was in Aberdeen. As I live in Buckie and I�m a lone parent, it would have been difficult for me to travel so the opportunity to study in Elgin is just fantastic. I�m really excited and proud to be in the first class and it�s great that the university wants to nurture local talent. The other students in my induction are from all over the Highlands and Islands, including Fort William, Orkney and Shetland. It�s good to meet local people who I might be working with in the future.�

Dr Neil Simco, dean of arts, humanities and business at the university, said: �I am delighted that this month, 20 students are commencing their studies for a primary PgDE (Gaelic and English medium) here at the University of the Highlands and Islands. Working with our local authority partners, we are now positioned to make a real contribution to the teaching profession across the region and beyond. I look forward to building on what has already been achieved to create a truly distinctive addition to the teacher education landscape within Scotland.�

The General Teaching Council for Scotland was responsible for accrediting the course. Chief executive, Anthony Finn said: �We are delighted that this newly accredited course of initial teacher education has proved to be so popular. We have felt for a long time that provision should be made available for aspiring teachers in their local area. This is now a reality in the Highlands and Islands and we wish the university, its staff and students every success for the future.�

To find out more about the Professional Graduate Diploma in (primary) Education, visit
www.uhi.ac.uk/en/courses/pgde-primary-teaching or call the university�s course line on 0845 272 3600.

Gaelic
Tha c�rsa �r a� leigeil le tidsearean bun-sgoile tr�anadh air a� Gh�idhealtachd agus anns na h-Eileanan

Faodaidh an fheadhainn a tha airson a bhith nan tidsearan an tr�anadh aca a dh�anamh air a� Gh�idhealtachd agus anns na h-Eileananan a-nis.Chuir Oilthigh na G�idhealtachd agus nan Eilean a� chiad Diopl�ma For-Cheum Proifeiseanta ann am Foghlam (bun-sgoile) riamh air bhog a tha ri fhaotainn sa sg�re fh�in.

Bha an t-iarrtas cho m�r air a� ch�rsa seo, ged nach deach a shanasachadh gu m�r, �s gun do chuir c�rr is 80 neach a-steach airson 20 �ite a bha ri fhaotainn am-bliadhna.

Tha a� chiad bhuidheann de dh�oileanaich a� gabhail p�irt ann an seisean inntrigidh ann an Inbhir Nis an t-seachdain seo. Coinnichidh an fheadhainn a shoirbhicheas san diopl�ma, a mhaireas naoi m�osan, ri inbhe Comhairle Teagaisg Choitcheann na h-Alba airson cl�rachadh sealach agus faodaidh iad t�iseachadh air a� bhliadhna pr�bhaidh aca mar thidsearan ann am bun-sgoiltean na h-Alba.

Thathas a� l�bhrigeadh a� ch�rsa aig Colaiste Inbhir Nis UHI, Colaiste Mhoireibh UHI agus Colaisde a� Chaisteil UHI ann an Ste�rnabhagh. Tha roghainn aig oileanaich ann an Inbhir Nis no Ste�rnabhagh a tha fileanta sa Gh�idhlig an diopl�ma a dh�anamh tro mheadhan na G�idhlig agus a bhith ag obair ann am bun-sgoil Gh�idhlig.

Faodar iarrtasan a dh�anamh airson inntrigeadh san L�nastal 2014 tro sheirbheis Cl�r an Tr�anaidh Thidsearan For-cheum bhon t-Samhain. Feumaidh fo-cheum iomchaidh agus e�las air obair le clann a bhith aig tagraichean.

Thuirt an t-Oll Alasdair Allan, am ministear airson ionnsachadh, saidheans agus ch�nanan na h-Alba: �Mhol Riaghaltas na h-Alba san D�bhlachd an-uiridh gum bu ch�ir do Chomhairle Mhaoineachaidh na h-Alba 20 �ite a riarachadh do dh�oileanaich teagaisg aig Oilthigh na G�idhealtachd agus nan Eilean. Is e leasachadh cudromach a th� ann an seo a bheir roghainn nas fharsainge don fheadhainn a tha airson ionnsachadh airson obair mar thidsear.

"Tha mi gu s�nraichte toilichte gu bheil roghainn G�idhlig ann don fheadhainn a tha ag iarraidh a bhith nan oileanaich. Le bhith a� cur na G�idhlig aig cridhe chothroman ionnsachaidh, tha �ite cudromach aig an oilthigh a thaobh G�idhlig a chumail suas ann an se�mraichean clas air feadh Alba. Cho math ri bhith a� leudachadh chothroman air treanadh thidsearan do dhaoine air feadh Alba a tuath, bu ch�ir don iomairt seo cuideachaidh a thaobh nan d�bhlain a th� aig �ghdarrasan ionadail d�thchail a thaobh tidsearan a thrusadh.�

Tha Shona Scott am measg nan oileanach a tha a� frithealadh an t-seisean inntrigidh an t-seachdain seo. Mh�nich i na h-adhbharan aice airson a� ch�rsa a dh�anamh: �Bha mi am beachd tr�anadh mar thidsear bun-sgoile fad �ine mh�r, ach �s ann ann an Obar Dheathain a bha an c�rsa as fhaisge. Leis gu bheil mi a� fuireach ann am Bucaidh, agus mi nam pharant singilte, bha e doirbh dhomh siubhal. Mar sin �s e rud math fh�in a th� ann gu bheil cothrom agam ionnsachadh ann an Eilginn. Tha mi gu math togarrach agus pr�iseil a bhith sa chiad chlas agus tha e gu math brosnachail gu bheil an t-oilthigh airson t�lant ionadail oileanachadh. �S ann � diofar p�irtean den Gh�idhealtachd agus na h-Eileanan a tha oileanaich eile san t-seisean, a� gabhail a-steach An Gearasdan, Arcaibh agus Sealtainn. �Tha e math a bhith a� coinneachadh ri daoine ionadail agus coltas ann gum sinn ag obair c�mhla san �m ri teachd.�

Thuirt an t-Oll Neil Simco, deadhan nan ealain, nan daonnachdan agus gnothachais aig an oilthigh: �Tha mi air leth toilichte gum bi 20 oileanach a� t�iseachadh air an cuid ionnsachaidh airson PgDE bun-sgoile (tro mheadhan na G�idhlig agus na Beurla) an t-seachdain seo, an seo aig Oilthigh na G�idhealtachd agus nan Eilean. Ag obair leis na h-�ghdarrasan ionadail a tha nan com-p�irtichean againn, tha sinn a-nis ann an suidheachadh far as urrainn dhuinn cuir ri teagasg air feadh na sg�re agus nas fhaide �s. Tha mi a� d�anamh fiughair ri bhith a� togail air na chaidh a choilionadh mar-th� gus rudeigin a tha s�nraichte dha-r�ribh a chur ri foghlam thidsearan ann an Alba.�

Is i Comhairle Teagaisg Choitcheann na h-Alba a bharrantaich an c�rsa. Thuirt an Ceannard, Anthony Finn: �Tha sinn air leth toilichte gu bheil feill mh�r air a� ch�rsa �r seo, a chaidh bharrantachadh o chionn ghoirid. Bha sinn den bheachd fad �ine mh�r gum bu ch�ir solarachadh a bhith ri fhaotainn don fheadhainn a bha ag iarraidh a bhith nan tidsearan anns an sg�re ionadail aca fh�in. Tha seo a-nis a� tachairt air a� Gh�idhealtachd agus anns na h-Eileanan agus tha sinn a� guidhe gach soirbheas air an oilthigh agus na h-oileanaich agus luchd-obrach aige airson an ama ri teachd.�

Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh mun Diopl�ma For-cheum Proifeiseanta ann am Foghlam (bun-sgoile), tadhail air www.uhi.ac.uk/en/courses/pgde-primary-teaching no f�n loidhne ch�rsaichean an oilthigh 0845 272 3600.