Launch of Evaluation Report on the Teacher Professional Development Partenership with Schools Project

The Teacher Professional Development Partnership with Schools Project is a research project focused on the exploration and the development of structured involvement of schools in the school-based experiences of student teachers during school placement. The research involves primary schools, student teachers and staff at St Patrick’s College.  The project is led by Dr Bernadette Ní Áingléis, Director of Teaching Practice, whose doctoral work is based on the development of collaborative practices between schools and initial teacher education institutions culminating in the Teacher Professional Development Partnership with Schools Project.  22 schools have been involved over a 6-year period in the project in which mentoring capacities at school level have been built up and a whole school approach to providing holistic professional experiences for student teachers on school placement.  Student teachers have been actively involved in framing the partnership process.  Paula Murphy and Seán Mac Conmara (Education Department, St Patrick’s College) have been involved in the project team from the outset.

The Evaluation Report on the Teacher Professional Development Partnership with Schools Project by Dr Maeve Martin recommends that the model of partnership which has emerged from the Partnership Project should become the dominant model for school placement system-wide.  Dr Martin further recommends that the determination of a student teacher’s grade on school placement should remain the remit of teacher education institutions with a formative, consultative role for teachers in the process. A recommendation that consideration should be given to the setting up of a Centre of Excellence for studies in education partnership is also made in Dr Martin’s Evaluation Report.

The Evaluation Report was launched by Prof. Kathy Hall, Professor of Education and Head of School, UCC.  In her address, Prof. Hall referred to the timeliness of the Partnership Project, to the robustness of the theoretical base underpinning the project and to the challenges posed by the partnership process itself and the research findings to models of technical rationality.  Prof. Hall congratulated St Patrick’s College, the schools and all who contributed to the pioneering model of partnership.

Dr Pauric Travers, President, St Patrick’s College and Dr Déirdre Kirwan, Principal Teacher, Scoil Bhríde, Blanchardstown addressed the significance of the project and its potential for student teacher learning and pedagogy in classrooms.  Dr Travers congratulated schools, the project team and all who contributed to the development of the partnership model with schools.  The INTO, the Teaching Council and the Inspectorate have been involved in the project in significantly supportive ways over the years and their contribution to the process was acknowledged by Dr Travers.

The Evaluation Report and Prof. Kathy Hall's address can be downloaded from St Patrick's College Education Department.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated: Friday December 02 2011