Bedford-Copenhagen Learning Exchange
B2 Group Preliminary Information Sheet
Name of school, postal address and website address:University of Bedfordshire
Polhill Avenue
Bedford
MK41 9EA
Brief description of school (size, age range, organisation):
The Bedford campus is part of the University of Bedfordshire with other campus locations in Aylesbury Milton Keynes, Putteridge Bury, Butterfield Park and Luton. The campus at Bedford has been training teachers since 1882 when it was a Physical Education Training College for Ladies. There are round 3000 students on the Bedford Campus, nearly 700 of these are involved in teacher education.
Key strengths of school (special features, pedagogic approaches, ethos):
Teacher training programmes:
Postgraduate Certificate in Education with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
Primary and Secondary
BA (Hons) in Physical Education with QTS
BA (Hons) in Primary Education with QTS
School Direct Tuition
School Direct Salaries
School Direct Self Funded
Assessment Only
Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (Post Compulsory Education)
Brief description of local community (social/ethnic/education context):
The partnership includes schools and colleges in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire
Key areas/questions for research and investigation: (what would you be interested in learning from your Copenhagen partner school?):
Currently researching Homework
What is the point of homework, Should schools set homework and if they do what should they be setting?
Also interested in teach Training and Professional Development
Details of staff attending (names, roles, age ranges taught, main curriculum areas):
Wendy Edwards
Partnership Coordinator for Primary and Secondary Teacher Education
Previous experience in schools:
Primary and Secondary - Physical Education, Leisure and Tourism and Religious Education
Other schools in your B2 grouping:
Mark Thompson - Wootton Upper School and Bedfordshire Schools Training Partnership SCITT
Karl Rivers - Biddenham Upper School
Bedford-Copenhagen Learning Exchange
B2 Group Preliminary Information Sheet
Name of school, postal address and website address:Biddenham International School
Biddenham Turn
Biddenham
MK40 4AZ
Brief description of school (size, age range, organisation):
Age range 13 – 18 years
Approximately 900 students
Key strengths of school (special features, pedagogic approaches, ethos):
Sports college
Student learning support
Innovative use of ICT
Brief description of local community (social/ethnic/education context):
A very ethnically diverse community.
Key areas/questions for research and investigation: (what would you be interested in learning from your Copenhagen partner school?):
I’m very interested in ICT, technology, and eTwinning. I would like to see ICT being used in the classroom and speak to people responsible for developing and managing technology.
Details of staff attending (names, roles, age ranges taught, main curriculum areas):
Karl Rivers
IT Network Manager
ICT Development and support
Other schools in your B2 grouping:
University of Bedfordshire
Schools Initial Teacher Training (with Wootton Upper)
Bedford-Copenhagen Learning Exchange
B2 Group Preliminary Information Sheet
Name of school, postal address and website address:Brief description of school (size, age range, organisation):
- The Bedfordshire Schools Training Partnership is a school based teacher training organisation which trains graduates to become teachers on behalf of a consortium of local schools.
- We have been in existence for 20 years and next year will train approx. 50 secondary teachers and 30 primary teachers based in local schools – many of whom will go onto work in local schools.
- All training is provided by practising teachers and the programme is managed by three coordinators – all of whom with senior roles in local schools.
Key strengths of school (special features, pedagogic approaches, ethos):
- PGCE Course validated by University of Bedfordshire though delivered by our own staff.
- Secondary subjects offered include: -
Geography
History
Modern Foreign Languages
Art
Music
Drama / Mathematics
Science with Biology
Science with Chemistry
Science with Physics
Design Technology
Psychology
Media Studies
Brief description of local community (social/ethnic/education context):
- Trainees are recruited nationally through a national recruitment portal – but many of our trainees do have links to the local areas – especially mature ‘career changers.’
- The Partnership works with three local authorities
Central Bedfordshire – mainly rural schools serving affluent villages but with some urban schools in the south (again including some areas of deprivation and under-achievement)
Luton – a large urban conurbation with schools which have become very successful working with a range of urban communities – some of which are deprived and pose significant challenges to the education system.
- Recruitment of teachers is very difficult in these authorities – and particularly so in Luton.
Key areas/questions for research and investigation:(what would you be interested in learning from your Copenhagen partner school?):
- How is teacher training structured in Copenhagen? What qualifications do trainees need?
- How is it funded? How is the quality of the training assessed?
- How are trainee teachers supported and assessed during their training?
- What are the retention rates in the profession after they have qualified?
Details of staff attending (names, roles, age ranges taught, main curriculum areas):
- Mr Mark Thompson -Joint Coordinator-responsible for leadership of the programme
Other schools in your B2 grouping:
- University of Bedfordshire – teacher training provider
- Biddenham International School & Sports College
BBLE/BCLE Preliminary Information Sheet Revised - MD / May 2014