University of Sunderland

What makes SUNCETT different?

The SUNCETT approach to the professional development of teachers in the sector is unique in its aim to demonstrate how collaborative enquiry, joint planning and shared practice can lead to real and sustainable improvements in teaching and learning and re-energise the creative capacity of teachers.  Members of the SUNCETT team are already recognised nationally and internationally as sources of expertise in relation to improving standards of teacher education, teaching, learning and research in the sector.

Through the national CETT initiative SUNCETT has extended the existing PCET team to include a dedicated full-time group of well qualified and highly talented teachers from across the sector from various subject specialist areas of expertise, including Skills for Life.  The SUNCETT team have developed dynamic and ground-breaking approaches to improving standards of teaching, learning, mentoring and work based learning which will advance understandings of how good practice in PCET can be best identified and shared.

Members of the SUNCETT team will work side by side with teachers in their own classrooms and learning environments within its Constituent Organisations and across institutions in its wider Membership.  Through this work SUNCETT will encourage teachers to become more creative in their teaching, critical in their thinking and careful and collaborative in developing and improving their practice.  In this way, SUNCETT will provide a range of embedded value-added services which will help organisations to improve standards of teaching, learning, mentoring and work based learning.  SUNCETT will provide staffing resources, materials and other support services which will help to:

• build capacity in PCET Teacher Education

• raise standards in PCET Teacher Education

• engage practitioners in action research and help them to get their work shared / recognised / published through a vibrant and proactive Action Research Network

• improve standards in placements, mentoring and work based learning in PCET through an active Mentoring and Work Based Learning Development Network

• increase employer engagement in the sector through a wide variety of initiatives and events.

In addition, SUNCETT will offer further support to FE Colleges, Adult and Community Learning Alliances, Providers of Work Based Learning and other Training Providers in the following areas:

• assisting organisations to review and ensure adequate systems are in place to support new and qualifying teachers and those working towards professional status within the new regulations for teacher qualifications, which were introduced in September 2007

• providing support in the workplace for new and qualifying teachers, such as initial assessment and development of Individual Learning Plans (ILPs), mentoring, lesson observations and feedback

• supporting the major reforms and regulations that came into force in September 2007 through services which include:

• access to and provision of the new Initial Teacher Training (ITT) pathways and qualifications leading to Associate Teacher, Learning and Skills (ATLS) status and Qualified Teacher, Learning and Skills (QTLS) status, including specialist routes for Skills for Life and Practitioners, vocational and subject specialist mentors
• support for organisations in fulfilling the requirement for all teachers, tutors, trainers and lecturers to undertake at least 30 hours of continuing professional development each year
• support for organisations to fulfil the requirement for all teachers, trainers, tutors and lecturers to be registered with the Institute for Learning (IfL), the professional body for the sector.