University of Glasgow and Irvine Royal Academy launch "Partner School" initiative

Irvine Royal Academy will be officially unveiled as a University of Glasgow 'Partner School' at 0915 on Tuesday 21 February 2012. The Principal of the University of Glasgow, Professor Anton Muscatelli, will join the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Michael Russell MSP, and North Ayrshire Councillor John Bell in launching the partnership. Building on the highly successful and pioneering pilot scheme currently operating in Glasgow, the Irvine Royal Academy initiative will see student teachers and academics based full-time at the North Ayrshire school. As well as studying and teaching, they will also take part in "learning rounds", similar to the long-established practice of teaching hospitals, at Irvine Royal Academy and its 'cluster' primary schools. The aim is to create an innovative, integrated and rounded approach to the theory and practice of teaching, breaking with the current tradition of classroom study within the university, followed by blocks of time on secondment at different schools. Professor James Conroy of the School of Education at the University of Glasgow said: "This is a new and hugely exciting model of teacher education that we are convinced will lead to more robust and dynamic links between the University and local schools. We are enormously grateful to colleagues in North Ayrshire Council but also to Glasgow City Council who supported and extended the initial pilot.