Part-time plan for probationers 'would lead to better training'

Scotland's biggest council has proposed trainee teachers should spend two years working as part-time probationers while continuing to study.

Teachers currently spend one year at university followed by one full-time year as probationers before becoming fully qualified.

But Glasgow city council says the proposed changes would lead to better trained teachers as they would have more time to reflect on their practice and learning.

A recent review of teacher training by former chief inspector of schools Graham Donaldson called for closer training links between universities and schools.

In a submission to the EIS conference Maureen McKenna, Glasgow's education director, called for a closer link between training and classroom experience.

She said: "Consideration should be given to making this a two-year experience for all post-graduates paid at 0.5 FTE each year. This would improve the experience as the teachers would be employed and with it would come the responsibilities of being an employee.

"Better relationships would develop with schools and there would be stronger linkages between TEIs (teacher education institutes] and schools."

A Glasgow council spokeswoman added: "The council's response to the McCormac review did not suggest a half-pay plan for probationers.

"The council's submission suggests considering that teaching students in their final year be paid as well as in their probationer year, so they will not lose any money."