Northern Ireland

Teachers, Teacher Education, and Professional Development

Two routes into education exist for prospective teachers.¹⁰ The concurrent (undergraduate) route is designed mainly^b for prospective primary teachers and comprises a four year program leading to a bachelor’s degree in education (BEd). Students on the concurrent route learn to teach the whole curriculum. One of two providers, St. Mary’s University College, offers a subject specialist option in a range of subjects including mathematics and science. Prospective primary teachers who take this option are trained to take up a subject coordinator role, promoting and supporting their chosen subject at the primary level, in addition to teaching the whole curriculum. Stranmillis University College offered a subject specialist option until approximately six years ago.¹¹ Concurrent route programs include 32 weeks of school experience.

The consecutive route is designed mainly^c for prospective post-primary teachers and comprises a one year program leading to a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Programs are subject-specific, and applicants are required to hold a bachelor’s degree in a subject relevant to their subject specialization. The two providers (Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University) both structure their programs around three strands: subject teaching, the professional role of the teacher, and practical teaching competence. Consecutive route programs include 24 weeks of school experience for prospective post-primary teachers and 18 weeks of school experience for prospective primary teachers.

The content of initial teacher education programs is determined by providers but must meet the requirements of Circular 2010/03, Initial Teacher Education: Approval of Programmes.¹² Applicants to all initial teacher education programs are assessed by interview for suitability to teach and the potential to meet the required professional competencies. Applicants to concurrent programs are required to pass GCE A Level examinations in at least two subjects (taken at age 18). All applicants are required to have achieved at least a Grade C GCSE in English language and mathematics (examinations taken at age 16), and applicants to programs in primary education are required to have achieved at least a Grade C GCSE in a science subject, as well. These are minimum requirements, and entry is competitive.¹³

Upon successful completion of an initial teacher education program, teachers are eligible for registration with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI), which has a statutory duty to determine who should be a member of the teaching profession in Northern Ireland.¹⁴ Newly qualified teachers follow a one year induction program, involving mentoring and professional development activities, followed by a two year Early Professional Development (EPD) program. The aims of the EPD program are to assist the beginning teacher to develop, expand, and consolidate their capability as a reflective practitioner and to develop personal competencies.

Requirements for Ongoing Professional Development

There is no legally required minimum length of time for teachers to spend on continuing professional development (CPD). However, the performance of all teachers is reviewed annually in accordance with a structured framework, the Performance Review and Staff Development Scheme (PRSD), which aims to ensure that training and development needs are identified and that corresponding opportunities for professional development are made available.¹⁵

The competencies expected of teachers that underpin all teacher education programs are set out in Teaching: the Reflective Profession and The Teacher Education Partnership Handbook. ¹⁶