Education Outside the Classroom: Research to identify what training is offered by initial teacher training institutions

Key Findings

• The results from the survey suggested that there was substantial variation in the amount of EOtC training across courses and across institutions. The quality of provision during school placements was rated as variable by around a third of respondents.
• The findings from the survey indicated that EOtC was explicitly addressed in nearly 90 per cent of primary and secondary ITT courses.
• The majority of respondents indicated that there was an expectation that trainees had some practical experience of EOtC on their course, either as a course requirement or a preferred option.
• Schools played a major role in training for EOtC, particularly at the secondary level. Over four-fifths of secondary respondents reported that student teachers received training in EOtC when they were on school placements.
• Overall, three key issues emerged from the study: the variation between institutions in the provision of EOtC training; the possibility that some students may be inadequately prepared for EOtC; and the lack of quality assurance resulting from course and programme directors’ lack of knowledge of what happens on school placements.

Related Titles

Education Outside the Classroom , Education Outside the Classroom , Education Outside the Classroom , Impact of school gardening on learning , Education outside the classroom , Literature review in informal learning with technology outside school

Sponsor Details

DfESCountryside AgencyFarming and Countryside Education