Cambridge Education partners GTC to support growth of Teacher Learning Academy
Cambridge Education, the education arm of management, development and engineering consultancy Mott MacDonald, has been appointed by the General Teaching Council for England (GTC) to support the expansion of its Teacher Learning Academy.
The Teacher Learning Academy is the first national scheme to support and recognise teachers’ professional learning. From September 2008 Cambridge Education will manage the day-to-day operations of the Academy, making it possible for more teachers and schools throughout England to enhance their professional excellence and gain further recognition.
The appointment of Cambridge Education follows a successful pilot of the Teacher Learning Academy and approval from the GTC’s governing Council to expand the Academy to a truly national system, accessible to all teachers registered with the GTC.
As the delivery partner for the Teacher Learning Academy, Cambridge Education will be responsible for the management of teacher enrolments and their presentations to the Academy. With over 20 years’ experience of providing expert education services to organisations around the world, Cambridge Education will also manage the licensing and training of the Academy-approved schools that provide guidance and verification to teachers in their own schools and their local areas.
Cambridge Education will provide training for accredited support partners – higher education institutions and other organisations that have aligned one or more of the four stages of the Teacher Learning Academy with their own training and development programmes.
The GTC will retain responsibility for the overall strategy of the Teacher Learning Academy, quality assurance of the verification and award process, and engagement with national partners.
Marian Brooks, Cambridge Education’s Executive Director commented: “Cambridge Education is delighted to have been appointed as the retained logistics partner to support the further development and extension of the Teacher Learning Academy. We perceive the Teacher Learning Academy as being of fundamental importance to the standing and progression of the teaching profession, rooted in action research by teachers themselves and fully recognising the worth of rigorous peer assessment. We have no doubt that the Teacher Learning Academy plays a vital part in ensuring that our teachers have access to professional development models. Our company’s core focus is on school transformation and we welcome the opportunity to support the GTC in this vital aspect of their work.”
GTC Chief Executive Keith Bartley said: “More than 8000 teachers across England are enhancing their teaching practice through the Teacher Learning Academy. Our partnership with Cambridge Education, an organisation that shares our commitment to supporting the teaching profession, will make it far more widely accessible. Many more teachers will have the opportunity to build their skills and confidence and to gain recognition for their learning and development in the classroom.
He added: “Our close engagement with Cambridge Education will ensure that the schools and teachers who continue to drive forward the Teacher Learning Academy and derive significant benefits for them and their pupils will be supported by a robust, secure platform.” |