Scotland announces extra funding for Catholic-school teachers

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a £127,000 funding boost for the Catholic Teacher Education Programme, which will enable 322 trainee teachers to get their Catholic Teaching Certificate (CTC).

The CTC is a prerequisite for teaching in a Catholic school.

The funding will mean that the training will be available at Aberdeen University for the first time, alongside Glasgow, Edinburgh and Strathclyde.

The First Minister said: “2018 is the centenary of the legislation that brought Roman Catholic schools into Scotland’s state education system. In that time, Catholic schools have made a tremendous contribution to Scottish education, and this is something we want to see continue.

“The Scottish Government is committed to ensure that all schools – both denominational and non-denominational - have the right number of teachers in place.

“I am therefore delighted that the increased investment I am announcing today will fund 322 training places – giving additional career choice for trainee teachers, and making it easier for Catholic schools to recruit.”

The Catholic Teacher Education Programme is delivered by the University of Glasgow in partnership with three other universities.

Last year, the Scottish Government co-funded the Catholic Teacher Education Programme with the University of Glasgow, providing £28,000 towards the training of 93 students at Edinburgh and Strathclyde Universities. A further 183 places were offered at the University of Glasgow itself.

The training will take place in Edinburgh, Strathclyde and Aberdeen, and Glasgow.