Student Perceptions of a Secondary Postgraduate Certificate in Education Course

ABSTRACT

Recent proposals by the British government to radically reform initial teacher education have generated responses from both higher education and schools. The views of student teachers concerning their levels of satisfaction with current training have not been widely reported. This paper redresses the balance by collecting information from 122 Postgraduate Certificate of Education students who trained at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, in 1989 and 1990. Their responses are analysed in the context of the proposals for secondary courses which have moved from a recommendation that 80% should be school‐based to one which requires students to spend 24 out of 36 weeks in school. There is also reflection upon the arguments for reform put forward by various right wing institutions and individuals.