Pioneering Teacher Education partnership launched in North Wales

Bangor University and the University of Chester are delighted with the announcement today that their proposed new courses for Initial Teacher Education, which will be delivered from 2019 onwards, have been accredited by Welsh Government.

All Universities across Wales were invited to bid for this accreditation, and our unique new partnership – called CaBan (Caer and Bangor) – was successful in this venture. CaBan is an innovative partnership comprising Bangor University, the University of Chester, networks of schools, GwE (North Wales Regional School Effectiveness & Improvement Service) and CIEREI education research institute, working together to educate high quality, highly capable and ambitious teachers for the future.

All partners have played a significant part in devising the new teacher education programmes and the accreditation demonstrates a clear vote of confidence in CaBan’s ability to meet the high aspirations of the education reform, outlined by the Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams, in Our National Mission.

The new programmes on offer include PGCE Secondary, PGCE Primary (3-11 years) and a three year BA Primary Education (3-11 years), and will provide high quality experiences across a network of different and challenging learning environments including a wide variety of schools.

Pro Vice-Chancellor of Bangor University, Professor Oliver Turnbull, said: “The collaboration between students, Universities, regional consortia, Local Education Authorities, external partners and schools will be instrumental in raising standards of education in Wales.”

Professor Tim Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chester, a Bangor University graduate, added: “Being located on the border, we very much see North Wales as a significant part of our local and regional community.  We are proud to embrace this joint opportunity to address the Welsh Government and the Education Workforce Council’s agenda for teacher education and school support and improvement together.”

Arwyn Thomas, Managing Director of GwE, said: “This development is critical to support excellence in all our schools. It is imperative that our schools are populated with students/Associate Teachers who will reflect on their lifelong journey of Continuing Professional Learning.”

All CaBan’s partners are committed to delivering high-quality education, with its focus on the preparation of student/associate teachers able to serve the linguistic, cultural, educational and well-being needs of our children across north Wales, both through the medium of Welsh and English, and putting the learner at the heart is central to CaBan’s vision.

Publication date: 29 June 2018