Prospective primary school teachers can study in Kirkwall

From this August, subject to approval, prospective primary school teachers will be able to study for a postgraduate diploma in education (PGDE) at Orkney College UHI.

Orkney College’s Issy Grieve explained: “Becoming a Teacher Education Institution is strategically important to UHI and the geographical social and linguistic constituency which the university serves.

“The Scottish Funding Council have allocated 20 funded places for 2013/14 and initially four local authority areas, including Orkney, have been chosen to take the initiative forward.”

The full-time course, which is being run across the Highlands and Islands, consists of 18 weeks study at the university, plus 18 weeks in professional practice in schools.

“Not only do we envisage the course making a direct contribution to the supply of good quality primary teachers to each local authority, but we will rely on the active involvement of the local authorities in the delivery of the course.” she added.