A global citizen ITE module and science ite: supporting confidence and competence of beginning teachers

In the Science Religion Encounters (SRE) research project, focus groups with primary student teachers and the survey findings from primary ECTs revealed many aspired to teach science/religion encounters or other sensitive issues, but felt various barriers stood in the way of planning such lessons. Barriers included fears over negative responses from parents, or poor reactions from mentors/senior leaders and also a concern over how to respond to issues of diversity in religious beliefs.

Student teachers can be prepared for such challenges, though, if they are given time to discuss them in university sessions, with roleplaying and rehearsing opportunities to practice appropriate responses to challenging situations and learning how to establish a classroom ethos of respect. Time is needed to understand why overcoming barriers is necessary.
One university primary ITE team has chosen to tackle this issue through making Global Citizenship one of the core themes of their teacher education vision, threaded from a core module to influence the teaching in subject sessions.