New course to encourage ESOL students into teaching

Organisers say that they want to offer more people a route into the teaching profession, and hope that the course can help to tackle a lack of diversity amongst teachers in Scotland.

The new programme is aimed at individuals who already hold an undergraduate degree in an area that is accepted for teaching in Scottish schools.

The course will include completion of a Higher ESOL and National 5 Applications of Mathematics, thus achieving the requirements in literacy and numeracy for entry to teaching in Scotland. Students will also be supported to manage placements, complete university applications, and engage in wider, sector-specific project work, including a potential link with students at other colleges.

In addition to possession of an undergraduate degree, minimum entry requirements include a National 4 Mathematics or equivalent qualification. Applicants must also already have a sufficient level of English language skills, and are expected to have already completely National 5 ESOL or otherwise be able to demonstrate their proficiency.

Those without specific qualifications proving their level of English can be given the opportunity to complete English language level testing.

Students will have timetabled, on-campus classes three days a week, and will also be supported to complete placements in schools to help prepare them for entry to a university Initial Teacher Education programme, known as a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).

Members of Glasgow City Council have recently raised concerns about a lack of diversity in the city’s teaching workforce, noting that while around a third of pupils come from an ethnic minority group, and more than a quarter speak English as an additional language, fewer than 4 percent of teachers identified as non-white.

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According to Joanne Kerr, Associate Dean for ESOL and Communities at City of Glasgow College, the course has been developed in order to help increase the diversity of the Scottish teaching profession, which has been identified as a key target both by the Scottish Government and universities involved in teacher-education.

“There was a bit of a gap that we saw where we could say: “Actually, if there could be something specifically targeting these groups to show them the pathway [into teaching[, then why not help with that?”

She also noted that while the course is open to those wishing to teach all subjects, it is hoped that it may help to attract more people with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering and mathematics into the profession.

Ms Kerr explains that, in addition to supporting students through the essential Higher ESOL and National 5 Applications of Maths qualifications, the college is also focused on ensuring that the placement components, which will be optional but strongly recommended, are successful. Those completing the programme will be responsible for securing their own school placements with local councils, which will also provide flexibility to ensure that the days and times of these sessions fit in with students wider lives.

“We will support them, and can help them communicate with the different schools, but the onus will be on them mainly because of availability reasons.”

More information on ‘ESOL into Teaching’, including details on how to apply, is available on the City of Glasgow College website.