Following a controversial review of teacher training in England, Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), is the only new university provider in the Higher Education (HE) sector accredited to awarded Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) from 2024. Launching with what is considered in the sector, by students and employers particularly, as the ‘gold standard’ in primary teacher training a BEd (Hons) Primary Education with QTS degree. Although, an historically traditional route into teaching in England, ARU is the only new university provider due to its innovative shared futures approach to teaching and learning preparing trainee teachers for teaching generation alpha and beyond. Against a backdrop of post pandemic life, a retention crisis in the sector with the highest number of working age teachers leaving the profession in 2022 and growing fear around AI, the new BEd is embracing hybridities of all forms, starting by removing the ‘sage on the stage’; to provide trainees with innovative authentic assessments and real-life classroom contextual knowledge supported by ‘the guide on the side’. The multiple opportunities to revisit, deepen and broaden trainees understanding and skills in placement classrooms, allows the spiral curriculum to widen and deepen at a carefully measured pace, across the BEd. In their most recent report published in 2020, the World Economic Forum stated that according to employer’s, core literacies will be in demand by 2025. The embodiment of core literacies throughout the BEd curriculum ensures sustainability of the teacher workforce to develop critically independent trainees and subsequent children and workforce of the future.
Jenny Fogarty is Director of Initial Teacher Training at Anglia Ruskin University and is responsible for establishing ARU’s course portfolio to award Qualified Teacher Status from 2024. An experienced teacher, school leader and teacher educator Jenny has taught in a range of formal and informal contexts using her extensive expertise in teacher training and academic development to empowering students and colleagues to create high quality learning environments. She is passionate about using education as a tool for personal and societal transformation.
Leanne Gray