Source: Alamy

¡®Highly regarded¡¯: but PGCE ¡®judged to be a poor strategic fit¡¯ with Bath¡¯s vision

Academics at the University of Bath have called on the institution to look again at the decision to close its ¡°highly regarded¡± postgraduate teacher training programme.

Thirteen members of staff in the department of education are facing redundancy in August 2014 as a consequence of the decision, made in July. A petition protesting against the closure, organised by the University and College Union, has attracted more than a thousand signatures.

In agreeing a motion on 9?October, Bath¡¯s academic assembly says it is ¡°concerned¡± by the closure, adding that it wishes the decision to be brought to the attention of the university senate for ¡°further scrutiny¡±.

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Steve Cooper, PGCE partnership coordinator and science tutor, said that Bath¡¯s academic programmes committee had judged the PGCE to be a ¡°poor strategic fit¡± with the university¡¯s vision.

This was in spite of the programme being ¡°still judged outstanding¡± by its most recent Ofsted inspection and deemed an important part of Bath¡¯s future plans in a review by Geoff Whitty, former director of the Institute of Education, University of London and professor of public sector policy and management at Bath.

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Mr?Cooper said that Professor Whitty¡¯s review had found that the PGCE was good and that Bath ¡°ought to invest in it¡±.

¡°He submitted that to the university and the university chose to ignore it. We feel we¡¯ve been very shabbily treated,¡± Mr Cooper said.

He added that other reasons given for the closure, such as the programme not being research-led, were unsatisfactory.

¡°Ten years ago the university made a decision to appoint teaching fellows ¨C we¡¯re not supposed to do any research,¡± he said.

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Mr Cooper added that the committee had quoted the impact of the government¡¯s School Direct policy in its decision. The scheme has been widely blamed for some universities being granted fewer PGCE places. However, despite this, ¡°we still break even, so we don¡¯t cost anything¡±, he said.

Mr Cooper added that he believed Bath¡¯s management ¡°has taken against us¡± and was looking for evidence to justify its decision.

A university spokeswoman said that ¡°appropriate steps are in place¡± to protect the interests of students enrolled on the PGCE programme.

¡°Consultation with the¡­staff who will be affected by the decision to close the programme¡­and their trade union representatives has taken place and in accordance with the university¡¯s policies, attempts to find suitable alternative employment will continue over the course of this academic year,¡± she added.

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john.elmes@tsleducation.com