FAQs

While Aotearoa New Zealand is well-served with a range of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes, we believe there is an opportunity to have a purpose-built schools-based programme, which is currently not available. The programme’s goal is to attract people who have not previously considered teaching as a profession.

Schools-based teacher education refers to programmes in which trainee teachers primarily complete their studies whilst being based day-to-day in a school. They are supported by a mentor and other members of that school community, providing a hands-on learning experience. This is different from campus-based programmes in which trainee teachers primarily work on a daily basis with a tertiary provider at their campus and then complete blocks of time in different schools.

Both schools-based and campus-based approaches have their merits. A distinct advantage of the school-based approach is that trainee teachers are able to apply their learning in a real-life setting every day, with children and classes they know well, while fostering a sense of belonging in the school community.

No. Although both types of teacher education involve trainee teachers being primarily based in a school throughout their studies, schools-based trainees are not employed by the school as teacher trainees like employment-based students are. Thus, in a school-based programme, the teacher trainee does not teach their own classes but works with a mentor and their mentor’s classes. As the year progresses, their teaching responsibilities will gradually increase, allowing them to grow and develop their skills in a supportive environment. Employment-based teacher trainees are allocated their own classes from the start and throughout their programme.

Not at all. As a country, we’ve broadened the pathways into teaching in recent years. The missing element remains a dedicated schools-based programme, which is why we’re launching this one. These programmes have proved effective overseas and will also help address needs here, especially ensuring more great people choose teaching as a profession.

Each school is contributing to the establishment of the Trust and the development of the new ITE programme. The Trust also receives philanthropic support. As with all other ITE programmes, the Trust will charge tuition fees.

Schools are already very involved in initial teacher education and development, such as by partnering with universities and other ITE providers to offer professional experience placements (often called ‘practicum’). The Trust and our community of schools think we can contribute more, and this research-informed programme is an example of us taking a lead to address teacher recruitment, development, and retention challenges.

Our schools-based programme will be fully approved and accredited by NZQA and the Teaching Council, which is the same standard as all other ITE programmes in Aotearoa. As a result, teachers coming through our programme will be registered and qualified to the same level as new teachers from all other programmes. Our aim is to be informed by global teacher education and research, and to build a world-class, schools-based approach to developing more outstanding and effective teachers for Aotearoa New Zealand schools.

While existing ITE pathways continue to serve us well, they don’t suit everyone. Our goal is to increase the number and diversity of people entering the teaching profession by attracting people who either haven’t previously been able to access the profession, such as for cost reasons, haven’t considered it, or who are looking for a more fulfilling career. In many cases, we think these candidates might have an existing connection to a school through their own experience, their whānau or because it’s close to where they live. We focus on mature trainees who may be changing from another career, returning to the workforce, or returning from an OE. However, those who have just completed their undergraduate studies are also welcome. For this reason, we believe that this programme will complement existing ITE pathways.

Our immediate focus is to work with our founding Auckland schools' group to finalise our ITE programme and get it up and running. However, we want to enable other schools from across Aotearoa to join if they wish to, and we encourage interested schools to get in touch with us.

There are a range of prospective teachers to whom we think our programme will be suited. Schools are looking to recruit for hard-to-staff subjects such as Science, Technology, Te Reo Māori, and Maths, as well as being able to bring on new teachers to their teaching staff that may have particular knowledge or expertise about the school and links to the local community. We think this pathway will be especially attractive to people who are changing from another career or returning to the workforce after a break to care for family or travel.

As part of the application process, prospective teachers will be assigned to one of the schools that are a part of our community. The programme is twelve months long, and during that time, our trainees will be based day-to-day at that school. Our teacher trainees will be matched to a mentor teacher, whose classes they will support, firstly by observing, and gradually taking on greater responsibility, such as supporting individuals or small groups, and gradually leading parts or all of a class, with their mentor still present for support and feedback. At the same time, our trainees will be completing academic papers with the Trust, working with our wider cohort from across the community, and visiting other schools.

Applications for the 2025 cohort will open in mid-2024. If you are interested in learning more, please contact info@teachersinstitute.org.nz or visit our website at www.teachersinstitute.org.nz.

If you already have a connection to one of our community schools, we recommend that you contact them directly to discuss whether they are able to support your application.

All offers of enrolment for the 2025 cohort will be subject to the programme being approved and accredited by NZQA and the Teaching Council.

Auckland Grammar School, Baradene College, Diocesan School for Girls, Liston College, Long Bay College, Macleans College, Massey High School, Manurewa High School, Mount Albert Grammar School, Rangitoto College, St Cuthbert’s College, St Paul's College, St Peters College, Westlake Boys High School, and Westlake Girls High School.

Whilst the inaugural 2025 cohort will be completed with students in the current community of Auckland-based schools, we hope that the Trust will be able to work with a wider range of schools across Aotearoa in the future. If you are interested, please get in touch at info@teachersinstitute.org.nz.