Secondary Teaching now available at Inverness College UHI
INVERNESS College UHI is now offering the University of the Highlands and Islands’ Professional Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education (PGDE Secondary).
Twenty-five students across the University of the Highlands and Islands network are studying for the Diploma this year, including six in Inverness.
It’s the first time the Diploma, which is linked to an induction teaching year with Highland Council, has been offered at Inverness College UHI.
The course has been established in direct response to the nationwide shortage of secondary school teachers, particularly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subject.
Judith Munro, PGDE (Secondary) Programme Leader, said: “Students study full-time in College for 18 weeks across the year and spend 19-weeks on placement in Highland secondary schools. The programme has been designed in partnership with local authorities to help prepare students for life as a secondary teacher, with the skills and knowledge to influence the lives of the young people they teach. We know there’s a shortage of secondary school teachers in specific subjects and this course aims to meet that demand and encourage students to stay here in the Highlands.”
Subjects to be offered in 2018/19 include Business Studies, Chemistry and Science, Home Economics, Mathematics, Physics and Science, Design and Technology, and Computing.
Inverness College UHI has offered the University’s Professional Graduate Diploma in Primary Education for five years, with 25 students enrolled this year.
Jim Steven, Head of Education at Highland Council, said: “Highland Council is delighted to be working in partnership with the University of the Highlands and Islands with the expansion of the PGDE programme to now include secondary teaching. The primary PGDE programme is going from strength to strength and we envisage this new secondary PGDE to do the same, particularly as it is targeting the subjects that are required in our Highland schools.
“We want to give local people, who want to change career and come into teaching, the opportunity to stay in the Highlands and we’re pleased to be attracting students into the region who plan to stay and teach here.”