Reshaping Primary Teacher Education in New Zealand: compressed courses and school partnership

In response to a serious shortage of primary teachers the New Zealand Government introduced competitive contracts for new and established providers to develop initial teacher education programmes which could be completed in a 12‐18 month timeframe. The University of Auckland reacted by developing a January to December post‐graduate programme taught in partnership with a consortium of primary schools. A mentor teacher from each of the selected primary schools was accredited at post‐graduate level to co‐ordinate and deliver the school‐based practicum component of the programme utilizing an associate teacher to host each student teacher. The programme was founded on a continuous placement model with student teachers attending one school per term for three days of each week, and university lectures for the other two days, throughout the year. Mentor teacher roles included in‐school seminars, assessment of the practicum component and assisting lecturers in planning and delivering university papers. Seven postulates which underpin the University of Auckland approach are advanced and the extent by which they can be generalized is discussed.