St Thomas Aquinas Teaching SchoolsInstitute

Offering a uniquely Tasmanian approach to a teaching degree

in Catholic education

Catholic Education Tasmania acknowledges and pays respect to

the original and ongoing custodians of the land. We acknowledge the

continuing connection to land, seas, air and waterways and commit ourselves to the ongoing journey of

reconciliation. We honour Elders, past, present and emerging.

Catholic Education TasmaniaSt Thomas Aquinas

Teaching Schools Institute

Partnering with Alphacrucis College and Campion College to provide excellence in teacher formation

Cover image courtesy of Alphacrucis College

© Catholic Education Tasmania 2020Not part of NEALS

Most Rev Archbishop Julian Porteous DDArchbishop of Hobart

A teacher in a Catholic school has a significant role in the mission and life of the Church. In partnership with parents, pastors and the broader Catholic community, a teacher contributes to the formation of students not only in the intellectual sphere, but at all levels of their life. The mission of the Church is to propose the way of Jesus Christ as the means to achieve full human maturity.

A Catholic school brings faith, life and culture into harmony to ensure the integral formation of students. Catholic education, grounded as it is in the example and teachings of Jesus Christ, offers students a way to come to full human flourishing.

The St Thomas Aquinas Teaching Schools Institute is an exciting step in offering prospective teachers a pathway to become fully qualified to teach in a Catholic school. It offers not only the necessary professional preparation, but enables the student teacher to have immediate experience of the teaching environment in a Catholic school. At the heart of the program is the offer to each cadet teacher to mature in their faith and personal gifts.

For Tasmanians who experience a call to serve in Catholic schools this program offers a means to achieve the goal and be well prepared to offer their contribution to the noble enterprise that is Catholic education.

I wholeheartedly endorse this very promising initiative and pray that those who follow this program will benefit not only in being prepared for the vocation of teaching, but also experience significant personal growth.

May God abundantly bless this work.

“The Teaching School provides us with a level of emotional, spiritual and educational support that you wouldn’t find elsewhere. We are supported as much as possible in order for us to succeed.”

St Philip’s Teaching School Student

The Teaching Schools model 1

A uniquely better approach to teacher training 2

What does the scholarship offer? 4

Your Teaching Schools journey 5

Characteristics of a Teaching Schools trainee 6

The application process 7

How to apply 9

Contents

After spending time at St Philip’s Christian College in NSW, (pioneer partners with Alphacrucis College of the Teaching Schools Model) and following extensive research and consultation, CET leadership decided to adopt the concept for Tasmania.

With the formation of the St Thomas Aquinas Teaching Schools Institute, Tasmanian school leavers and young adults who seek a vocation in Catholic education will now be able to commence their careers as Catholic teachers – working in Tasmanian Catholic schools while they study for a teaching degree – from day one of their course.

Degrees offered include: Bachelor of Education (Primary) and Bachelor of Education (Secondary) - four years full-time, and a Master of Teaching (Primary) and Master of Teaching (Secondary) - two years full-time.

Each successful applicant will be placed as a cadet teacher in a CET Teaching School from the very commencement of their study and will be paid as a part-time worker. Each successful scholarship applicant’s fees will be subsidised by $2,500 annually as they undertake a blend of on-line and face-to-face intensive learning each week.

We begin the journey...

Catholic Education Tasmania has embarked on an innovative

journey as we partner with Alphacrucis College and Campion

College to provide innovative high-quality teacher education

right here in Tasmania.

The Teaching Schools Model flips the conventional model of teacher training, by bringing fully accredited higher education onsite to our very own Tasmanian Catholic schools.

St Thomas Aquinas Teaching Schools Institute partners with two Commonwealth accredited tertiary Colleges to provide a range of deeply Christian accredited tertiary courses, including Alphacrucis’ Bachelor of Education and Campion College’s leading programs in Catholic theological formation. These colleges will partner with CET to provide an innovative and dynamic in-school placement program.

The Teaching Schools model

Dr Gerard GaskinExecutive DirectorCatholic Education Tasmania

The immediate on-the-job application of learning and teaching theory as part of the degree is extremely beneficial in the formation of successful teachers. Beyond this, we are educating teachers in a tertiary setting which is Christ-centred and student-focused, and offered here in Tasmania. The Teaching Schools will produce teachers who have had up to four years of in-classroom teaching experience, teachers educated in evidence-based pedagogy founded on the Catholic worldview.

The Teaching Schools model offers cadet teacher positions to a cohort of pre-service teachers each year. Under the guidance of a mentor teacher, these teacher trainees study together for this degree in a Christ-centred environment, working from day one of their degree in the classroom. The Teaching Schools Model provides on the job practical teacher training, and one-on-one personal and academic support that inducts our trainees into the art and craft of teaching, embedded within the beliefs and practices of Catholic education, and results in a preferred employment track.

I believe that the Teaching Schools model is a way forward for teacher education in this country.

1

School-Based TrainingYou will be in the classroom, supported by your Mentor Teacher, from the commencement of your four year Bachelors or two year Masters degree. You will have the opportunity to engage with teachers and students, and experience the life of a teacher in a Catholic school from the beginning of your training. In fact, you’ll spend at least 12 hours a week with your Mentor Teacher.

A Dedicated Mentor Regular meetings with your Mentor Teacher will help you to reflect on your classroom observations and practice, and to guide your development as a teacher. Your Mentor Teacher will support you to ensure that your time in the school is a rich and rewarding experience, with a Christ-centered approach.

A Broad Experience Engaging with other schools is crucial to your development as a teacher. Throughout your journey as a trainee, you will spend time at a number of different schools. This will include the St Thomas Aquinas Teaching Schools, as well as time at other schools in the CET network. It is our desire that all trainees will also engage in national and international mission and service programs.

A Community of Support You will be supported on your journey by the staff of the Teaching School, lecturers from Alphacrucis and Campion Colleges, and school-based and CET staff, who are dedicated to your spiritual growth, well-being and development as a teacher.

A Teaching Position at the End of your Training ProgramWe are invested in your development. We want you to stay and teach with us at the end of your training program and graduate to become a qualified teacher with Catholic Education Tasmania. We will endeavour to secure eligible graduates a role at your school or within Catholic Education Tasmania. After you complete your training, we will continue to offer you support in your development as a new teacher.

The Scholarship Program St Thomas Aquinas Teaching Institute offers scholarship positions to a select number of successful applicants. These scholarships are comprised of a school-based part-time Teacher Assistant position, a $2,500 annual reduction in course fees, a four-year lease of a MacBook to assist your studies and the offer of on-going employment at the successful completion of your course.

A uniquely better approach to a Catholic teacher degree

2

The Regional Coordinator will support you with anything relating to your Bachelor or Masters of Education program, and for all in-house obligations and commitments.

The Teaching Schools Regional Coordinator

Head of St Thomas Acquinas Teaching Schools

Teaching Schools Coordinator

Mentor Teachers

Mentor Teachers are experienced teachers who demonstrate a clear level of understanding of the distinctive nature of Catholic education. The focus of their responsibility is personally to support and guide you each day in all aspects of your development as a teacher.

Teaching Schools Coordinators in each school are excellent practitioners of Catholic education. The focus of their responsibility is to support and guide your Mentor Teachers as they work with you towards your degree in an applied Catholic school setting.

The Head of the Teaching Schools will liaise and work with Alphacrucis and Campion Colleges and each of the teaching campuses to ensure that we offer you a caring, nurturing and supportive program.

3

• $2,500 annual contribution to your fees by Catholic Education Tasmania.• One to two days a week paid Teacher Assistant work in a CET school or college

each year of your degree.• Four-year-lease of MacBook.• Offer of placement in a CET school or college at the successful completion of

your degree.

The student undertakes the theory units with the St Thomas Aquinas Teaching Schools cohort, however undertakes the classroom placement component through any participating Tasmanian School.

A Teaching Schools enrolment and school placement without any financial contribution.

What does the scholarship offer?Scholarship

Non-Scholarship Placement

Non-Placement Trainee

4

Your study pathway is harmonised with your

online study.

Study is full-time and is undertaken in conjunction with

your school placement.

Your Teaching Schools Journey

One to two days per week working as a Teacher Assistant

with a Mentor Teacher

350 days of school-based experience by the completion

of your degree

One day per week face-to-face lectures/

intensives at the Teaching schools

A number of intensive lecture weeks each

year delivered at the Teaching schools

5

Strong Catholic faith, and involvment in your parish community.

Committed and reliable.

Dedicated and determined in the face of challenges.

Ability to prioritise effectively.

Empathy and great interpersonal skills.

Passion for innovation and excellence.

Commitment to course work and attendance.

A desire to grow and learn.

Works collaboratively with peers.

High standards of literacy and numeracy.

Passion and commitment to improving the lives of young people.

Professional presentation and behaviour.

Strong belief in and calling to Catholic Education.

Understanding of the role and responsibilities of an educator.

You as a Person You as a TeacherYou as a Student

St Thomas Aquinas Teaching School Trainee

6

The application process

Your decision to embark on this journey is an important one, and we consider the selection of Trainee Teachers to be a two-way process. It is just as important that you embrace the Teaching Schools vision, as it is for us to hear why you are applying for a scholarship.

The selection process involves:

• The opportunity to meet with the Head of the Teaching Schools to find out more about the St Thomas Aquinas Teaching Schools program.

• An interview with The Teaching Schools Director and representatives from the Teaching Schools campuses and Alphacrucis and Campion Colleges.

• An oportunity to interact with students in a school setting.

• A written task.

Our aim is to support you through the application

process, so please contact us if we can help in any way.

Step 1 - Expressions of Interest

Register your interest in the Teaching Schools via the Catholic Education Tasmania website: catholic.tas.edu.au/teaching-schools-institute

Once we have received your expression of interest, we will send you an enrolment application pack.

Once your have received your application pack, you will be guided through the process of enrolment with Alphacrucis and Campion Colleges and the Teaching Schools.

Once we have received your application, you will be contacted to arrange an interview.

Once admitted to the degree, you will be offered a conditional position with the Teaching Schoool, on the proviso that you meet the Tertiary entrance requirements for the Bachelor Degree. This will generally happen by the end of November.

At this point you will have the opportunity to visit your potential placement school and meet with the Principal late-January. Lectures/intensives will be held one day each week throughout the school terms in additional to your online studies.

You will have the opportunity to visit your school of first appointment, and to meet your Mentor Teacher in early December. This will enable you to prepare for the year ahead.

Your first intensive will be held.

How to apply

Step 2 - Apply

Step 3 - Interview

Step 4 - Offers

Step 5 - Meet your Mentor Teacher

Step 6 - Commence your Study

9

5 Emmett Place • New Town • 7008

PO Box 102 • North Hobart • 7002

TEL: (03) 6210 8888

teachingschools@catholic.tas.edu.au

catholic.tas.edu.au/teaching-schools

St Thomas Aquinas Teaching Schools Institute

Forming quality teachers for Catholic Education Tasmania