Connecting research and teacher education : quality enhancement for ITE Partnerships

As part of the Welsh education reform programme, the relationship between research and teacher education has been identified as an important component for improving Welsh education and meeting the aspirations of the new Welsh Curriculum. The new ITE accreditation criteria (Welsh Government, 2017) seek to contribute to meeting the challenge to move towards matching internationally excellent practice in research-rich teacher education in a form appropriate to Welsh contexts. Quality enhancement is a change process in which ongoing evaluation is embedded and used to inform development. It is informed by both theory based (Weiss, 1997; Rogers, 2008) and realistic evaluation methodologies (Pawson & Tilley, 1997) adapted for improvement planning. The quality enhancement tool presented here is designed to support ITE partnerships to meet the ITE accreditation criteria and engage in ongoing quality enhancement. It will support providers and potential providers to set aims and goals, articulate change mechanisms and identify resources needed and actions to take, use both external and institutional evidence to review the current situation, plan the monitoring of progress. The intended users of the tool are those responsible for planning and leading ITE programmes in ITE partnerships. The tool will be used most effectively through a process of dialogue and collaboration with all stakeholders within institutions and with school and other external partners. This collaboration with schools is essential in relation to areas where responsibility is shared for the quality of ITE.