The Origin Foundation has committed $2 million over 3.5 years to support the planned scaling of QUT’s Exceptional Teachers for Disadvantaged Schools program (ETDS) to six universities.
A vital element to improve outcomes for disadvantaged students is outstanding teachers. A reality, however, is that teacher graduates in the top quartile of academic scores are far less likely to accept positions in tough urban, regional, rural and remote schools. Further, because low SES schools can be challenging environments, these teachers are retained for much shorter periods of time.
In response to this challenge, Associate Professor Jo Lampert and Associate Professor Bruce Burnett designed QUT’s Exceptional Teachers for Disadvantaged Schools program (ETDS). It creates a pathway for the highest quality pre-service teachers to be fully prepared, professionally and personally, for roles within low SES schools.
The program identifies the highest-achieving pre-service teachers in QUT’s Bachelor of Education program, and offers them a specialised curriculum and supported practicum experience in a network of disadvantaged partner schools. By working closely with Education Queensland and partner schools, the program also works to channel these exceptional pre-service teachers into employment in schools where they will have the greatest impact.
Now in its fourth year of operation, the QUT ETDS program has graduated 43 students, with a further 18 teachers graduating at the end of 2013. Its initial results have been exceptional: 87% of graduates are now employed as teachers in low SES schools.
To date QUT’s ETDS was the only mainstream four-year Bachelor of Education program that overtly addressed teacher capacity in low SES schools.
However, QUT working together with SVA, identified the opportunity to share the ETDS approach with universities across Australia, and to develop a national resource of highly-qualified teachers committed to and prepared for improving outcomes for disadvantaged students.
The Origin Foundation has now committed $2 million over 3.5 years to support the planned scaling of ETDS program to six additional universities.
The proposal plans the implementation of a ‘National ETDS Program’, consisting of three core components that aims to expand ETDS’ reach, impact, and ensure its long term sustainability:
1. The scaling of ETDS to six Faculties/Schools of Education over 3.5 years, graduating up to 210 new high-achieving highly- prepared teachers to work in low SES schools;
2. The continued development of the QUT ‘flagship’ ETDS program including the extension of mentoring to graduate ETDS teachers; and
3. The development of a learning and sharing network that emphasises long term research and evaluation of impact and outcomes across the national ETDS network
This is an important, and exciting, development for the SVA Education team, QUT, and the Origin Foundation. It highlights the strength in SVA’s approach, our commitment to providing valued and impactful support, and reinforces that 21st century learning requires a new and emerging alliance across sectors – educators, corporates, philanthropists, social entrepreneurs and governments.
In addition to the Origin Foundation and Associate Professor Jo Lampert and Associate Professor Bruce Burnett, SVA would like to acknowledge the commitment and support from QUT’s Dean of Education Professor Wendy Patton to the project.
Download the Exceptional Teachers for Disadvantaged Schools fact sheet for more information (PDF, 4.5MB).
