Fears grow for teacher training in the Capital

Unions and politicians are worried that any scaling down will mark the end of Edinburgh University's Moray House School of Education – one of the oldest and most prestigious teacher training colleges in Scotland.

Speculation is growing amid staff within Moray House after education secretary Mike Russell stated in a parliamentary question that he understands the university's estates strategy includes plans to "dispose of its Moray House School campus".

University insiders say they have had strong hints that bosses want to axe the four-year BEd primary teaching course, which they claim would "finish" the education school.

The Evening News revealed last month that about a quarter of staff Moray House face losing their jobs after the Scottish Government's decision to reduce the number of new teachers being trained.

The number of places offered on the one-year primary PGDE teaching course at Moray House has reduced by three-quarters, from 280 last year to just 66, while the secondary equivalent has gone down by almost a quarter, from 186 to 142.

Meanwhile, the BEd primary teaching course has reduced its available places from 185 down to just to 125.

In response to a parliamentary question from Ken Macintosh, Labour's schools spokesman, about Edinburgh University's plans to sell off land at Moray House, education secretary Mr Russell said: "We understand from the Scottish Funding Council that the estates strategy for the University of Edinburgh includes plans over the longer term to dispose of its Moray House School campus. However, as an autonomous institution, the university is responsible for managing its own estate.

"The Scottish Government does not have any role in such matters."

Dr Terry Wrigley, senior lecturer in education at Moray House and the University and College Union's Edinburgh rep, said:

"Edinburgh University, it would appear, is planning to sell off the buildings, which is not exactly a vote of confidence. It's worse than just closing down some buildings, it's the end of Moray House."

An Edinburgh University spokesman said the institution "remains fully committed" to the provision of undergraduate and postgraduate education teaching courses at Moray House, and added:

"The university estates strategy is a separate matter."

A HISTORY OF MERGERS AND CHANGES

MORAY House was originally opened as the Free Church of Scotland's Normal and Sessional School in 1843. It was located first in Whitefield Chapel, then in Rose Street. It moved to its current Canongate location in 1848.

In 1907, it merged with the Free Church Training College and the Edinburgh Provincial Training Centre was formed.

Moray House College of Education was officially formed in 1959.

In 1987, it merged with the Dunfermline College of Physical Education at Cramond, and retained two separate campuses until 2001. In 1991, the institute was linked with Heriot-Watt University and was renamed Moray House Institute of Education.

In 1998, Moray House Institute of Education merged with the University of Edinburgh becoming its Faculty of Education, and since 2003 it has been known as the Moray House School of Education.