Shaw, Barbara, Ed.D. (2006) Primary teachers and professional development : the early years. Other thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This study is about teacher development for early career primary teachers,
undertaken at a time of particular interest in providing a coherent professional
development programme for teachers in the first five years of their career. It was
undertaken from my perspective as a primary headteacher with the desire to
improve the experience of professional development for these teachers.
The research was undertaken by means of questionnaires and interviews and
provides a picture professional development provision that is fragmented and
lacking in coherence. While enjoying a relatively wide range of activities and
experiences overall, early career teachers appear to have a more limited ongoing
provision. This seems to be only loosely linked to any personal needs that may
have been identified. A lack of rigorous evaluation procedures may well
contribute to the situation where there is little clarity about the outcomes of
professional development activities and experiences. Teachers are aware of a
wide range of outcomes and value those that support them in their teaching. It is
their own teaching that appears to be the focus of teachers' attention in relation
to professional development rather than children's learning. Teachers, aware of
pressures to meet exacting requirements in their work, appreciate opportunities to
learn from those who have experience of similar situations. Professional
development can result from meeting the challenges that teachers face in the
early stages of their career, but the climate in which those challenges are met can
be of crucial importance.
As a consequence of the research conclusions are drawn which can inform my
own practice, and also provide material for the consideration of others who have
an interest in, or responsibility for, facilitating and nurturing the professional
development of early career teachers.

Item Type:	Thesis (Other)
Subjects:	L Education > LB Theory and practice of education
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Career development, Primary school teachers -- Training of -- Great Britain, Primary school teachers -- Rating of -- Great Britain
Official Date:	August 2006
Dates:	Date Event August 2006 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Institute of Education
Thesis Type:	Other
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Crawford, Megan, 1957- ; Harris, Alma, 1958-
Extent:	vii, 258 leaves
Language:	eng

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