Island can now train own teachers

Teachers currently have to train in the UK

Students will be able to train on the Isle of Man to be become fully qualified teachers for the first time.

The Isle of Man College is to offer a full Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) from September.

Trainee teachers currently have to travel to the UK in order to gain the qualification.

Prospective primary school teachers will study for their PGCE entirely on the island. They will now be awarded Manx Qualified Teacher Status (MQTS).

The award will be a recognised equivalent to QTS status in the UK.

The college learned it would be authorised to deliver the training last week after passing an evaluation conducted by the University of Chester.

Academic content

College Principal Dr Ian Killip said: "We wanted to give local people who couldn't travel off-island to study the opportunity to complete their teacher training courses here."

Education Adviser Howard Green, a former primary school headteacher, worked with the college to put together a team to deliver the academic content of the degree.

They will study full-time, with 16 weeks in college working on the academic requirements of the programme and 18 weeks in local schools, developing their teaching skills.

Dr Killip said: "With the commitment and expertise of the teaching team, and the very high quality of the students, we fully expect to produce some of the best primary practitioners in the world."

Education minister Anne Craine MHK said: "This is a very exciting step. We now have the ability to 'grow our own' teachers and give opportunities to those who, for various reasons, cannot commit to study off the Island."