ECP provides teaching placements for UK trainees
This term The English College welcomed six UK teacher trainees into our community, the first to join us since we established Teaching Together in Europe (TTE). This is a consortium of two UK pedagogical training centres and three top European Council of British International Schools (COBIS).
Teaching Together in Europe
Along with the British School of Brussels and St George’s British International School in Rome, The ECP offered UK teacher training placements in April and May with robust instructional programming and mentoring by our skilled teachers. ECP Programme Co-Coordinator and Lead Mentor Daniel Ibbitson said the scheme is highly beneficial. “The TTE further solidifies ECP’s links to the UK as well as our European partners. Hosting the next generation of teachers in our classrooms brings a positive wave of energy and new ideas to our faculties,” he noted.
The trainees, from the Pennine Lancashire and Nottinghamshire TORCH School-Centered Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) providers, spent a week observing lessons and then led classes themselves under the close guidance and care of ECP staff. They delivered on topics from Gothic literature to composite functions. They relayed they felt professionally enriched by the experience. “It’s been a terrific opportunity to experience a different way of teaching your own subject… the amount of different methods I’ve seen in teaching here has been amazing,” said Marcus Garnham, a Physics trainee.
Likewise, History trainee Elizabeth Barnett said she’d take away “just the courage and creativity from each of the classes; that’s something I’ll be able to bring back to England.”
ECP students
ECP students were often cited by the trainees as being especially commendable. Geography trainee Charlotte Morris appreciated being able to “have conversations about topical things and sensitive issues.” Furthermore, the Maths trainee Jack Jones enjoyed “being able to stretch his own subject knowledge.” He added that bringing content even from his own degree to use with the IB students had been really refreshing.
What a pleasure to watch @PLSCITT and @TorchSCITT trainees deliver lessons and discuss their journeys through teacher training. The future of education is bright 🌟#TeachingTogetherEurope #ITT @ECP_Prague pic.twitter.com/AnnFADKXKu
— Emily Rankin, Ed.S., FCCT (@TeachRankin) May 20, 2022
Along with observing and teaching lessons under the tutelage of Mr Tognini, Dr Athwal, Dr Young, Mr Cossins, and Mr Ibbitson, the trainees attended sessions on topics like Using Data to Aid Learning; Cultural Context and Sensitivity; and the International Baccalaureate’s (IB’s) Philosophy. They also took part in school events like our Graduation Ceremony at Betlémská Kaple. In addition, they travelled to parts of Czechia such as Národní park České Švýcarsko.
Future of education
Deputy Head Emily Rankin hopes the international connectedness of the experience will foster knowledge, empathy and collaborative critical thinking: “We should be working across systems and borders to develop these symbiotic competencies in our future teachers; they have the power to shape a more equitable and just society.”
Many thanks to The ECP community who welcomed our UK counterparts. Thanks go also to the trainees for such a positive first year of our innovative new TTE programme. It is the first of its kind in Europe!
“The opportunity to engage with the IB curriculum and to work with knowledgeable, experienced and passionate practitioners within an international context, has been a truly enriching and inspirational experience,” reflected English trainee Eliza Richardson. “I very much look forward to weaving everything I’ve learned into my own pedagogical practice.”