This paper examines the establishment and operation of a number of new bodies -- variously called councils, boards, collaboratives, groups, forums and panels -- concerned with the development of Scottish education. What were the intentions behind their creation during the period 2016-20? Do they amount to a significant reshaping of the policy…

The Early Career Researcher (ECR) Network is a multidisciplinary network with membership open to anyone conducting educational research at an early stage of their career. This includes for example, teacher researchers based in schools, Masters and doctoral students, post-doc researchers, teaching fellows and lecturers. A wide range of research…

The concept of "Super-wicked" problems is attracting increasing attention and scrutiny through research and publication in wide-ranging interdisciplinary areas. The concept is being lionised in the literature to draw attention to the urgency that is required to act immediately on problems such as climate change and sustainability.…

A survey of 514 Scottish elementary teachers, 60 teacher interviews, and interviews with 30 staff at teacher-education institutions examined teacher understanding of scientific ideas, teacher self-confidence when teaching science, and the provision made during preservice and inservice education for the development of elementary teachers'…

Argues for more research into teacher education to form a basis for development of policy and practice. Identifies research networks related to teacher education in Europe. Provides an example of how teacher education research might contribute to practice: a study of different types of learning experience among student teachers and different types…

The Scottish Council for the Training of Teachers (SCTT) was established in 1959 to serve as a coordinating body during a major reorganization of the system of teacher education. Describes and assesses the way in which the SCTT functioned, especially as an advisory body, with respect to the construction of new colleges of education in the 1960s.…

Discusses proposed educational reforms in Ireland, highlighting components of the 1992 Green Paper, "Education for a Changing World." Six key aims involve greater equity in education, a broadening of education, better use of resources through decentralization, improvement of teacher training, a system of quality assurance, and greater…

During the 1960s, a review of higher education by a commission chaired by Lord Robbins led to the recommendation that the separate colleges of education be brought into the university sector. Compares and contrasts the pluralistic policy process of the Robbins period with the process of recent changes in teacher education in Scotland. (KS)

Examines aspects of initial teacher education and continuing professional development in Scotland against the backdrop of McCrone Report recommendations on teaching conditions. Discusses teachers' attitudes toward their own professional development; the nature of professional knowledge, skills, and values; and some principles to promote genuine…

Scottish teacher education was located in specialist institutions (monotechnics) until quite recently, but is now almost fully integrated into the universities. This change was related to government policies that promoted institutional collaboration, financial and other pressures that made merger with a university attractive to colleges of…