Music Teacher Training in Scotland

I. Background / Organisation

There are separate Music teacher training courses in Scotland for those teaching in primary schools (children aged 4-11years of age) and secondary schools (children aged 11-18). One must successfully complete a primary or secondary teaching course, by a recognised training provider, in order to be awarded the Teaching Qualification (TQ) – the mandatory professional qualification needed to teach in Scotland.

The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), established in 1965, is statutorily responsible for maintaining a register of qualified teachers in Scotland and for the establishment and monitoring of professional teaching standards. It also has responsibility overseeing standards of entry to the profession, accrediting and reviewing courses of initial teacher education, exercising disciplinary powers in relation to registration, supporting probationer teacher and advising on the supply of teachers.

Traditionally, the Scottish education system has emphasised breadth across a range of subjects, from the secondary phase onwards. As such, Scottish universities generally have courses a year longer than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK – typically 4 years in length – though it is often possible for students to take more advanced specialised exams and join the courses in the second year. In most institutions, students study a broad range of subjects in the first two years and specialise in the third year.

Classroom primary school teachers are expected to teach music and the majority have gained a general primary school qualification through a 4-year course leading to a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed). This requires at least 30 weeks of school experience over the whole course. A music-focussed B.Ed course – Bachelor of Education in Music is offered at the University of Glasgow.

This course prepares students for teaching in either the primary or the secondary sector and is taught jointly with the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama (RSAMD). Music studies are taught at the RSAMD and education studies take place at the university. Applications are made through the conservatoires admissions services to the RSAMD which also awards the degree and RSAMD is entirely responsible for selecting and interviewing students.

The University of Aberdeen offers a 4-year B.Mus (Education) course which leads to a qualification to teach in secondary schools. Professional competencies are developed in continuity with the progressive acquisition and application of subject and content skills. Students spend a total of 20 weeks in schools over the programme: In Year 2, four weeks are spent in a secondary school and its associated primary schools and community groups and in Years 3 and 4 students undergo 8 week blocks in secondary schools.

Other prospective secondary school teachers qualify by completing their first degree in music and then studying for the one-year Professional Graduate Diploma of Education (PGDE) for which they apply through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR). At least 18 weeks of the course must be devoted to school experience which must take place in each school term with a block of at least 4 weeks taking place towards the end of the course. In the case of students seeking a qualification in more than one subject, the arrangements for school experience must reflect the need for students to be competent in teaching each subject. There are currently three Music secondary teacher training courses offered in two institutions: at the University of Edinburgh and at the University of Strathclyde.

A number of Higher Education Institutes which offer music and music education courses in Scotland are “ancient universities” which came into existence in medieval and renaissance times (Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow). They have a number of distinctive features in common – being governed by a series of measures laid down in the Universities Scotland Acts 1858-1966 – and are still administered in a different way to new universities. One unique aspect is that they issue a Master of Arts (MA) as the first degree for fine arts, humanities, social science and theology. The degree course usually lasts four years, although it is possible to finish a course after three years and be awarded an "ordinary degree".

II. Curriculum

Curriculum: Undergraduate Studies

Most entrants to PGDE music courses come from university courses although some have trained in the Scottish music conservatoire: The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Here, aside from focussing on traditional, classical instruments, it is also possible to study jazz, Scottish Music (including the Scottish harp, the highland bagpipes, button accordion and Scots song) and musical theatre. Applications to conservatoire courses are made through the conservatoires admissions services - whereas applications to undergraduate courses are via the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR).

There are currently eight Scottish Universities that offer courses which include music; the courses are so different in their focus and design that it is impossible to present a picture of the main curriculum areas. All are listed below with links to the websites where one can see the make up of the curriculum for each. The concern to foster and promote indigenous music and to educate musicians in traditional Gaelic music heritage and its history, performance and styles is apparent in some of these courses. Courses which include languages are five years in length to enable students to spend a year developing their language skills within the particular country.

The University of Aberdeen offers 17 courses (all Master of Arts courses lasting 4 years, except where indicated otherwise): Divinity with Music Studies, English with Music Studies, French with Music Studies, French with Music Studies (5 years), Gaelic Studies with Music Studies, German with Music Studies, German with Music Studies (5 years), Hispanic with Music Studies, Hispanic with Music (5 years), History of Art with Music Studies, History with Music Studies, Law and options in Music (leading to a Bachelor of Laws), Music (Bachelor of Music), Music Education (Bachelor of Music), Music in Scotland (Bachelor of Music) Philosophy with Music Studies and Religious Studies with Music Studies

The University of Edinburgh offers courses (all 4 years in length) in: History of Art and History of Music (Master of Arts), Mathematics and Music (Bachelor of Science), Music (Bachelor of Music), Music Technology (Bachelor of Music) and Physics and Music (Bachelor of Science).

The University of Glasgow offers 41 courses (all Master of Arts courses, lasting 4 years, except where indicated otherwise) in: Archaeology/Music, Art & Media Informatics/Music, Celtic Civilisation/Music, Celtic Studies/Music, Central& East European Studies and Music; Classical Civilisation/Music, Comparative Literature/Music, Computing/Music, Czech/Music (5 years), Economic & Social History/Music, Economics/Music, Electronics/Music (leading to a Bachelor of Engineering), English Language/Music, English Literature/Music, Film & Television Studies/Music, French/Music (5 years), Gaelic/Music (5 years), Geography/Music, German/Music (5 years), Greek/Music, History of Art/Music, History/Music, Italian/Music (5 years), Latin/Music, Mathematics/Music, Music (B.Ed), Music (Bachelor of Music), Music/Philosophy, Music/Physics, Music/Polish (5 years), Music/Politics, Music/Psychology, Music/Public Policy, Music/Russian (5 years), Music/Scottish History, Music/Scottish Literature, Music/Slavonic Studies, Music/Theatre Studies, Music/Theology & Religious Studies and Spanish/Music (5 years).

The Glasgow Caledonian University offers a 4-year Bachelor of Science course in Audio Technology with Electronics.

The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), Inverness offers 5 courses in Gaelic and Traditional Music (3-year BA course), Music (1 year Higher National Certificate - HNC), Music (2-year Higher National Diploma- HND), Music Business (1-year HNC) and Popular Music Performance (2-year).

Napier University Edinburgh offers courses in Music or Popular Music courses which are 3 or 4-year, Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts courses, respectively. It also offers 2 Customised Programmes, including Customised Programme (Music), which are 2 or 3-year courses that allow students to build their own individual study paths to achieve their degree.

The University of Strathclyde offers a 4-year Bachelor of Arts course in

Applied Music.

The University of the West of Scotland offers courses in Commercial Music (Bachelor of Arts) and Music Technology (Bachelor of Science). Both are either 3 or 4 year courses.

Curriculum: PGDE

PGDEs are offered at The University of Edinburgh and at

The University of Strathclyde. The former offers Music and the latter Music and Music in the Gaelic medium. There is no prescribed curriculum for teacher training courses although providers must ensure that courses comply with regulations set out the document The Standard for Initial Teacher Education in Scotland and that trainees attain the competencies set out in The Guidelines for Initial Teacher Education Courses in Scotland. These are organised into four interrelated sections:

1 Competences relating to subject and content of teaching;

2 Competences relating to the classroom including:
Communication and approaches to teaching and learning,
Class organisation and management and Assessment;

3 Competences relating to the school and the education system;

4 The values, attributes and abilities integral to professionalism.

Competence 1.3 states that the trainee must “demonstrate the ability to use information and communications technology (ICT) and appreciate how to apply it effectively in learning and teaching, taking account of legal, ethical and health and safety issues”. The need to support trainees in their use of Music technology for learning and teaching is also highlighted in the document Guidance on the use of ICT with Courses of Initial Teacher Education (Scottish Office Education Industry Department – SOEID –1998).

III. Learning and Teaching Approaches

Learning and Teaching Approaches: Undergraduate Studies

A wide variety of learning and teaching approaches are used and again these vary from course to course, depending on the nature and focus of each. Since the majority of courses are very practically based, the use of workshops, seminars, practical classes and tutorials is widespread.

Learning and Teaching Approaches: PGDE

Within university PGCE programmes, there is usually a mixture of lectures, smaller group seminars and workshops and individual work and trainees are prepared for their teaching in school through use of micro-teaching. The lengthy periods of teaching in schools allow concentrated time, with the support of school teachers, for the development of practical aspects of teaching.

IV. Assessment / Examination

Undergraduate Studies

Scottish Qualifications Authority Higher examinations are the general acceptable level for entry to University. Universities usually request a minimum of three Highers, all above C level but many expect four. Some specify at least a B grade in Music and others require a certain level of expertise in piano playing. Again, according to the nature and focus of the subject being studied, there is a range of assessed written, practical and project work. Universities award on a credits basis.

PGDE

To gain entry on a PGDE course in secondary teaching in Scotland, candidates must have a degree from a UK university or college or an equivalent that contains sufficient breadth and depth in the subject(s) they intend to teach and a National Qualifications Course award in English at level 6 or above in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) or an equivalent. A qualification in mathematics is not required for secondary teaching in Scotland but for primary teaching students must have a National Qualifications Course award in mathematics at level 5 or above in the SCQF or an equivalent qualification. Training providers for primary work will also normally look for evidence that the candidates have studied at least two of science, social studies, expressive arts, religious and moral education, technology or modern languages.

Selection procedures vary from course to course but always include an interview to determine suitability for teaching. Institutions must also check physical and mental fitness to teach, although they have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for trainee teachers with disabilities. All applicants must disclose previous criminal convictions and agree to a criminal record check through the Scottish Criminal Record Office Disclosure Service.

Assessment is based upon the The Standard for Initial Teacher Education in Scotland. Assessment is continuous with each of the major programmes having assignments that are linked to School Experience. In cooperation with your assigned schools, university staff assesses practical teaching in co-operation with staff in assignment schools. By the end of all teacher training courses, trainees must have demonstrated that they have acquired the Teaching Qualification (TQ).

Before becoming fully registered as a teacher with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) those passing initial teacher education courses must successfully complete a two year probationary period in school. Full registration is granted to teachers who have satisfactorily demonstrated to the General Teaching Council Scotland that they have achieved the Standard for Full Registration (SFR).

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