A Warm Highland Welcome For Probationer Teachers

19th August 2019

One hundred and seventeen (117) probationer teachers were recently welcomed to Highland at an Induction course held at Millburn Academy in Inverness.

The probationer teachers' induction day is the first of a number of professional learning events throughout the year specifically arranged to support probationer teacher induction and their ongoing professional learning.

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Dr James Vance, Interim Head of Education, welcomed the probationers saying: "It's really good to see so many starting their careers in education here in Highland and I wish them all well. I passionately believe that teaching is a fantastic profession, exhausting but exhilarating. Highland is the best place to work as you will quickly become aware that our Highland communities greatly value the role that teachers play in the lives of our young people. Through your probationary year you will hone your pedagogy, develop your understanding of the expectations of GIRFEC and, I hope, come to appreciate what a rewarding profession you have entered. I look forward to working alongside you and improving the life chances of our young people."

John Finlayson, Chair of the Care, Learning and Housing Committee added: "This is an exciting day for all of our new probationers, and it is also an exciting day for the Highland Council as we welcome new teachers into our authority. Each and every one will be an asset to our Highland communities, and to the schools, children and families they will be working with over the next year. I am confident that they will enjoy working in their new schools, and I hope that they take advantage of the unique opportunities that await them and they choose to continue working in Highland for many years to come."

The new teachers start working in schools across Highland tomorrow (Tuesday 20 August 2019) when primary and secondary pupils return to school following their summer break.

Of the 113 probationers on the Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS), 50 have been allocated to secondary schools and 63 to primary schools in Highland. We also have 4 Flexible Route probationers starting in August, 2 at primary and 2 at secondary level.

The 63 Teacher Induction Scheme primary probationers are located in each area as follows - 10 North, 18 Mid, 27 South and 8 West. The 50 TIS probationer teachers in secondary schools are located in each area as follows: 11 North, 10 Mid, 21 South and 8 West.

The 50 TIS secondary school probationers will be working in the following subjects areas: Art and Design (5), Biology (5), Business Education (1); English (6), French (3), Gaelic (2); Geography (3), Geography/Modern Studies (2); History (3), Home Economics (1), Mathematics (3), Music (3), Physical Education (8), Physics (1); Physics/Maths (1); Spanish (1) and Technological Education (2).

The new probationer teachers on the Flexible Route to Full Registration are working across Highland schools in Primary and Secondary. Secondary subjects being taught by this group include Biology and Technological Education.

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