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Peninsula Centre for Excellence in Teacher Training

Introduction and context

The Peninsula CETT was a three year project led by the University of Plymouth and involved key organisations in the South West participating in initial teacher training (ITT) and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for the Lifelong Learning Sector (a full list of members can be seen in the table below). The University of Plymouth is the largest provider of teacher training in the South West. At the heart of the CETT was the University’s partnership with eight Further Education colleges, who are contracted to deliver the University’s DTLLS programmes. To enhance this existing partnership the CETT sought to involve employers who have teachers on the University’s DTLLS programmes. From the outset the CETT was successful in involving large public service organisations such as Adult Education Services, Devon and Cornwall Police, the Health Service, and the Military. The CETT also has membership from other work based learning providers. The aim of bringing these organisations together within the CETT was systematic and sustained engagement between the ITT providers and trainees’ organisations in the South West to improve the quality of ITT in the Lifelong Learning Sector.

In addition to the University of Plymouth’s DTLLS programmes, many of the members of the CETT also provide City and Guilds’ PTLLS and CTLLS programmes and City and Guilds were also a member of the Peninsula CETT. The second aim of the Peninsula CETT in bringing these organisations together was to share good practice between a range of ITT providers in the South West to improve the quality of ITT in the Lifelong Learning Sector.

What was planned?

At the bidding stage the CETT formed a Board with one member from each organisation to determine the strategy and activities. The University felt that this was important to ensure that ITT providers and trainees’ organisations had an equal say in how to improve the quality of ITT in the Lifelong Learning Sector. The CETT also planned a series of forums that would bring different people from the member organisations together.

The CETT Board looked carefully at the OFSTED Inspection Survey of FE ITT (2003), Equipping our Teachers for the Future (2004), and the annual programme monitoring reports from the University of Plymouth’s partnership. The following three objectives were formulated:

1. Broadening the current partnerships and networks to share resources and disseminate good practice in ITT and CPD
2. Better on-the-job support for trainee teachers in the workplace
3. Better links between the off-the-job support and on-the-job support for trainee teachers

Member Organisations: