75 years of teacher training

The Centre for Teacher Education is celebrating 75 years of training teachers. The milestone symbolises the passion, ambition and commitment of the department to train generations of new teachers, helping them become the teachers they want to be with the expertise and support of staff in CTE behind them, from the day they begin their training to entering their teaching career and beyond!

A summary of the key impact that CTE has had on the university, local community and region.

The Centre for Teacher Education’s vision and ambition derive from a commitment to continue the long history of Teacher Education at the University of Warwick where generations of new teachers gain employment in schools to improve the life chances of the children they teach.

CTE offers an extensive range of programmes to educate aspiring teachers and professionals in education. The Centre is home to the University of Warwick’s teacher training programmes and has supported students to become excellent teachers over the last 75 years. CTE’s students are highly employable and have the choice of school in the local area due to the partnerships with over 500 schools. CTE’s teachers provide excellent teaching that is intellectual, creative and socially just, benefiting children and young people in the local community.

The schools in the local and regional community that partner with CTE benefit from trainees that have a well-rounded knowledge of research and theory of education. Many trainees go on to be employed by the partner schools. The school partners also benefit from working with CTE due to the high professional standard CTE holds itself to, with excellent communication, support and sharing of knowledge.

How did CTE begin 75 years ago

CTE has a 75 year history of training teachers. Predating the University of Warwick, the Centre for Teacher Education was establish post WWII in 1948 as an emergency institution to address the need for teachers. It then became a women only teacher training college, with several strong female leaders guiding the centre forward.

Over the years, a broad range of approaches have been adopted in training to become a teacher, but some things have remained the same for 75 years - At the heart of what CTE does are the children their trainees will ultimately go on to teach.

What does CTE do in the present day?

CTE continues to provide high quality, supportive and engaging teacher training courses to train the teachers of the future to be the best they can be. The links with partner schools are key to delivering excellent teacher training programmes. Many of the teachers who work in partner schools were Warwick trained, which nurtures the strong community within CTE.

CTE offers Primary and Secondary PGCE programmes, an MA in Professional Education and international qualifications for those teaching overseas. CTE has over 500 partner schools in the region, all helping to provide quality placements for trainee teachers.

What does the future of CTE look like

CTE’s passion is ensuring that every child has an outstanding teacher, and CTE strives to ensure it’s trainees are prepared, confident and well supported to become those teachers who are creative, curious and socially just. CTE is expanding internationally, with the PGCE iQTS programme growing each year and a digital offering for it’s home PGCE programmes in development.