Council and Uni Link Up For Teacher Education Programme

Up to 100 teachers a year are to be ‘up-skilled’ by Wrexham County Council thanks to a new partnership with Glyndwr University.

Primary and secondary school teachers working in Wrexham’s local authority will be sponsored to attend the university’s MA Education programme. The Council have said the course, designed in consultation with headteachers, Wrexham council and other local authorities, will be flexible and tailored to respond to the needs of teachers working at schools in Wrexham.

Wrexham Council is the first local authority in Wales to offer all of its teachers the time and financial support to undertake Master’s level study.

Dr Phil Bassett, Dean of Education at Glyndwr University, said “We’re delighted to be working with Wrexham Council once again on what is an extremely progressive move for education in the Wrexham area.”

“We want to recruit and develop the best teachers in the country in this part of Wales and by showing this level of commitment to teachers’ professional development hopefully we can achieve this.”

“All teachers working in Wrexham schools will now have access to a master’s level qualification, in line with the ambitions of the Welsh Government, and that can only be good for both pupils, teachers, parents and the education sector as a whole.”

27 teachers are currently enrolled on the programme and study at the University on a Saturday, alongside working full-time at school.

Cllr Michael Williams, Lead Member for Children’s Services and Education, said “I am very pleased that Wrexham council is continuing to develop its links with Glyndwr University. This particular project demonstrates our continued commitment to the importance of continuous professional development for staff in our schools and emphasises our continued focus on raising standards for all learners.”

Dr Helen Paterson, chief executive of Wrexham Council, said “I’m thrilled about this new development for everyone involved in education in Wrexham.”

“Investing in our teachers and young people is really important for us as a council and the partnership that we have here with Glyndwr University is a triple win.”

“Teachers are going to get an opportunity to develop their own skills and knowledge, they’re then going to share that knowledge with their pupils in the classroom – and everyone across the borough will benefit from having a more highly educated workforce.”

Glyndwr University and Wrexham Council already work in partnership through the Children and Young People’s University Cymru, now a nationwide scheme which accredits young people’s activities outside school.

For more information about the MA Education at Glyndwr University visit www.glyndwr.co.uk