Trainees expose the gaps in Scotland’s teacher training programme

10 May 2017

Evidence given to Holyrood’s education committee today has thrown more doubt over the effectiveness of Scotland’s teacher training programme.

Several teacher trainees spoke to the committee about their experiences of teacher training, and highlighted problems with training for additional support needs (ASN), behaviour management, and most worryingly, literacy.

It comes after figures yesterday revealed that the percentage of S2 pupils who are not meeting the required level of writing increased from 7% to 16% in the last four years.

One trainee said that they received a “single week on literacy – that would be it”.

Others said that they received “‘next to nothing on classroom behaviour management”, and that there was “absolutely nothing on ASN” in their course.

Scottish Conservative shadow education secretary Liz Smith MSP said:

“The evidence heard this morning has once again laid bare the SNP’s terrible record on education.

“With literacy rates plummeting under this SNP Government we now discover that trainee teachers are receiving the bare minimum in training when it comes to improving reading and writing skills.

“This morning’s committee evidence made plain the extent of the concerns about some aspects of the teacher training programme.

“Trainees told us that there was virtually no training on additional support needs despite the fact that nearly a quarter of Scottish pupils are requiring that support, and that there has been no support to help children stay safe online.

“There were also concerns over how school placements were organised, something which clearly has had a detrimental effect on the experience of some trainee teachers.

“These are major issues which have a huge impact on our children. Today’s evidence sends yet another very blunt message to John Swinney that there are serious issues in Scotland’s schools.”