Research
The development of the Centre for Commonwealth Education provides initially for a two year programme of work with the primary purpose of building sustainable capacity in Commonwealth countries in the areas of School Leadership, Pedagogical Expertise, and Initial Teacher Education.
1. Advanced Leadership for Learning Network
This programme relates centrally to the current work of the Cambridge Leadership for Learning Network. The establishment of an Academy for Leadership in Education will be premised around the development of educational leaders with commitment and influence to effect change, to create conditions for learning which energise colleagues and impact in tangible ways on classroom learning. The central purpose of the proposed programme will be to build capacity for learning at classroom, school and system levels in different countries of the Commonwealth. Within three or four years, the CCE envisages contributing to the development of a powerful network of educational leaders, at policy level and across schools, who will not only impact in their own countries but have the potential to work together as a vital international Commonwealth network.
The Programme Leader is Dr Ciaran Sugrue, working with Professor Maurice Galton, Professor John MacBeath, Ms Sue Swaffield and Dr Alicia Fentiman.
For details of current projects
2. Initial and Continuing Teacher Education
The Faculty's international and national position as a leading provider of teacher education places it in a very strong position to initiate and support teacher education projects in different parts of the Commonwealth. Initially, this programme's work will be focused on East Africa, exploring how Cambridge-led experiences and initiatives might be adapted, modified and tailored to best meet the challenges involved in increasing the supply of new teachers and enhancing the quality of existing teachers and teacher educators, as the countries work to widen educational participation throughout the schooling system. Crucially, this programme will, in collaboration with national governments and teacher education leaders, plan and deliver new practical research-informed initiatives which enhance the quality of teacher education, in areas such as health education, literacy, ICT and equal opportunities / gender. As this programme develops, so it will be expanded in the second year, exploring the themes in contrasting locational contexts such as in West Africa and in the Caribbean, as well as in East Africa.
The Programme Leader is Dr Colleen McLaughlin, working with Dr Dominic Wyse, Dr Ciaran Sugure, Dr Sara Hennessy, Dr Molly Warrington, Mr Mike Younger, Dr Susan Kiragu and Dr Alicia Fentiman.