A PROGRAMME to ‘grow our own’ teachers in Argyll and Bute is proving a success.

Since a partnership with Argyll College to put students through a post-graduate education diploma started in 2015, 21 people have registered as teachers.

It’s one of a number of achievements in an Argyll and Bute Council initiative to train, recruit and retain high-quality teaching staff.

Policy Lead for Education, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, said: “We are committed to training, attracting, and keeping, the highest calibre of teaching staff in Argyll and Bute.

“We want to make sure we have the best trainees and the best teachers in all our schools.

“That’s why we have a range of programmes to make Argyll and Bute Council not only a great employer for potential and existing teachers, but the best place to educate and develop our young people.”

Among the initiatives introduced by the Council are:

• A support and induction programme for newly-appointed head teachers, including seminars, an experienced head teacher mentor and regular support from area education officers and managers
• High-quality support for probationer teachers – mentors based in their school, regular assessments with extra support for those who need it, and seminars and networking events with input from experienced officers
• Leadership training for teachers to help them progress into promoted posts
• Shared headships posts – where head teachers are in charge of more than one small school. It offers professional development as they are part of a larger team with a wider range of knowledge and skills. There are also a number of other benefits including more leadership time dedicated to taking forward the school improvement agenda, less disruption to teaching and learning as the head teacher does not combine management with a teaching role, and greater sustainability for smaller schools
• Growing Our Own – a programme in partnership with Argyll College to offer a post-graduate diploma in education. This allows people in Argyll and Bute to study for their teaching qualification without having to leave the area, and placements at the end of their training in local schools with mentors and supervisors on hand. A primary education diploma course has been available since 2015, and from last month students can also study for a post graduate in secondary education.

Councillor McNeilly added: “A particular success story has been our programme with Argyll College.

“This year 13 students successfully gained their diploma in primary education, 11 of them completed their placements in Argyll and Bute schools, and all 13 secured full registration to allow them to begin their teaching careers.

“Not only that, since 2012/13, 100 per cent of probationers in Argyll and Bute gained full registration.

“We are ‘growing our own’ here, from the best young teachers getting a great start to their careers, to developing great leaders in our schools.”

“The future of our young people is in good hands.”