Rationale, Aims and Objectives

Rationale

To provide an appropriate training opportunity for those seeking to teach in a Catholic Primary School, at the end of their course.

To provide high quality, well resourced training within a Christian environment which has the support of a Catholic community.

To ensure a future supply of well-qualified teachers who are able to deliver effective teaching based on a Catholic philosophy of education.

To enhance the on-going professional development of staff within the participating schools.

Aims

The Primary Catholic Partnership aims to provide:

1. a high quality route into primary teaching for graduates of different backgrounds using Catholic schools, where the religious dimension is given a high priority, together with St Mary’s, Strawberry Hill and the Catholic diocese of Portsmouth.
   
   
2. a supportive environment for trainees, mentors, tutors and teachers, which will enable them to attain their individual potentials and develop the personal and professional qualities necessary for effective teaching.
   
   
3. teachers of high quality, who possess the understanding, knowledge, skills, attitudes and responsibilities necessary for the achievement of best primary practice within the philosophy of Catholic education at Key Stages 1 and 2.
   
   
4. particular attention to the knowledge and skills required in teaching and assessing the National Curriculum core subjects as stated within 2/02 and an emphasis within the core subjects on the teaching of literacy, numeracy and ICT.
   
   
5. trainees with the opportunity to study towards the Catholic Certificate of Religious Studies which will strengthen their ability to teach Religious Education in Catholic schools.
   

Objectives

In partnership, tutors, mentors and teachers in schools aim to provide trainees with the opportunities to demonstrate that they have achieved the following:

1. DfES Circular 2/02 “Qualifying to teach” sets out the learning and educational outcomes in the form of Standards that trainees must demonstrate to be awarded QTS:
   
   1. Professional Values and Practice
      
      
   2. Knowledge and Understanding
      
      
   3. Teaching
      
      
      1. Planning expectations and targets
      2. Monitoring and assessment
      3. Teaching and class management
   
   By the end of the Programme trainees must have demonstrated that all the standards identified above have been met before Qualified Teacher Status can be awarded.
   
   
2. Additionally, the programme provides opportunities for graduate trainees to achieve and demonstrate the following objectives, which relate to the Catholic nature of the course.
   
   
   
   1. An understanding of the many elements which contribute to a Catholic ethos.
      
      
   2. Evidence of their experience of participating in the Catholic life of a school.
      
      
   3. Their ability to teach Religious Education in Catholic schools.
      
      
   4. Their ability to lead prayer and worship.
      
      
   5. Successful completion of two modules of the CCRS.
   
   
   
3. Additionally the programme provides opportunities for graduate trainees to achieve and demonstrate the following learning and educational outcomes:
   

1. Synthesise, analyse, interpret and critically evaluate primary and secondary sources of information;
   
   
2. Critically evaluate subject specific facts, theories, principles and paradigms;
   
   
3. Research and assemble data, identify patterns and processes and discern connections;
   
   
4. Apply knowledge and understanding to the solution of problems and use lateral thinking in the process.
   
   
5. Develop a reasoned argument and challenge assumptions.
   

1. Communicate effectively by oral, written or visual means;
   
   
2. Work effectively in a team and independently on a given task;
   
   
3. Make effective use of educational resources;
   
   
4. Use feedback and guidance effectively to influence future academic work;
   
   
5. Plan and manage learning and reflect on progress and practice;
   
   
6. Use a range of information and computer technologies effectively, including word processing, spreadsheets and presentation packages;
   
   
7. Apply basic statistical and numerical skills to project research activities.