Transforming Initial Teacher Education

Tracing the development of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) since the large scale expansion of the teaching professional after the Second World War to the present day, this book explores the changing nature of teacher education. It considers the growth of the ‘teaching industry’ and addresses key issues including the return to an apprentice model, the growing importance of schools in ITE and the continuing decline in the role played by Higher Education. The book sets these changes in the broader international context to consider the future of teacher education and the changing nature of teaching.

The book examines the broader socio economic context of increased marketization and competition and considers the political factors driving the reform process. Drawing on interviews with prominent individuals who have been involved in the development of policy, it reveals the ideas and ideals that have permeated teacher education and how these have shaped the experiences of trainees on a variety of programmes.

Offering an insight into the changing nature of teacher education and its impact on practice, this timely book will be of interest to postgraduate and undergraduate education students and academics in the field of teacher education.

Ian Abbott is Director of the Institute of Education at the University of Warwick. He has extensive experience of Initial Teacher Education in Higher Education and has worked on both SCITT and the Teach First programmes. He has been closely involved in the development of the University of Warwick School Direct programme working with a number of Teaching Schools. He has written extensively on a range of education issues including a number of books on aspects of secondary teacher education.

Michel Rathbone was Director of Continuing Professional Development in the Institute of Education at the University of Warwick. He has wide ranging experience of primary teacher training and has worked in a number of schools and Higher Education Institutions. He has published widely on teacher education and continuing professional development especially related to beginning teachers.

Philip Whitehead began his career in education in a comprehensive school in London. Since then he has worked across most phases of education including, secondary, further, higher and special education. He was a headmaster of a secondary school in Papua New Guinea for three years. On returning to the UK he took management roles in staff development and teacher training before moving into development work in higher education. He has carried out research into returning to learn, learning journeys and ethnicity and pathways into higher education. At present he is course leader for the PGCE (Teach First) at the University of Warwick