School placement, based on a partnership approach by HEIs and schools, remains a strategic priority for the Teaching Council, and as such we are engaged in a number of initiatives aimed at sharing learning and good practice in this area. Building on discussions to date, the Council held a shared learning event in Athlone on Saturday 19 November 2016. The day offered HEIs and their partner schools an invaluable opportunity to present on innovative practices in cultivating HEI-School partnership. Attendees included HEI personnel, principals and co-operating teachers from partner schools, student teachers, and a range of other stakeholders.
In his opening address, Declan Kelleher (Chair of the Teaching Council’s Education Committee) highlighted the intergenerational responsibility of teachers and schools to welcome student teachers on placement. While recognising that most schools do this, some, for a variety of reasons, find this process challenging, but Mr. Kelleher urged all schools to consider teaching as a community activity.
Read more about the opening address, the presentations at this event and the key themes which emerged from the discussions.
