NEW EFFORTS ARE being made to encourage people who have ambitions to become teachers to take the important first steps.
Working in partnership with Aberdeen University, Moray Council is to offer an online-based post-graduate diploma in education from early next year.
Applications are now opened for those wishing to register with a closing date set as August 18, for a course that is structured in such a manner that those taking it up will be able to study in their own time to fit around existing commitments.
E-Learning methods will be used with face-to-face Saturday workshops, self-study, collaborative group work and school placements. These will develop the academic, personal and professional skills required in teaching.
Director of Education and Social Work for Moray Council, Laurence Findlay, said the council was endeavouring to ‘grow it’s own’ teachers to meet demand for staff: “This has to be the way forward to encourage more people to take up teaching.
“Teaching is a rewarding career with lots of benefits, and I’m sure this new way of getting into it will suit many candidates who have existing work or family pressures.”
The course will be taken over 18-months and that will include 18 weeks placed in a Moray primary school in four-week blocks – there is a guaranteed probationary year with Moray Council at the successful conclusion of the course.
Conditions are that applicants must live in Moray and have competent ICT skills to engage in online distance learning. Applicants much also meet the same entry requirements as the full-time PGDE Primary course, will are required to have a degree and relevant experience of working with young people either formally or informally.
They will also be required to have gained Higher English at grade C or above, Mathematics National 5 at grade C or above, Standard Grade at grade 2 or above and Intermediate 2 at grade C or above.
Course fees are expected to be £1820 over the two academic sessions, although applicants may be eligible for funding from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland.
More information is available on our website www.moray.gov.uk/dlite.