Porthmadog teacher helps pioneer plan to upskill Welsh educators

A Porthmadog teacher has become one of the first in the country to complete a groundbreaking new training module aimed at making Welsh educators the cream of the crop.

Gwyn Owen, Head of PE and Assistant Head at Ysgol Eifionydd, took part in an extended pilot module under the General Teaching Council for Wales’ (GTCW) Chartered Teacher Pilot scheme.

The programme is being developed by the GTCW to give experienced teachers in the middle of their careers the chance to receive professional recognition and to help raise the status and standard of teaching in Wales.

After completing a year-long trial of the accreditation route, which enabled him to build a portfolio of evidence of his teaching career and experience, Gwyn volunteered for the extended pilot to further widen his knowledge and skills.

Entitled ‘Education for All’, the module was provided jointly by Bangor University and the North Wales Association of Special School Headteachers. Advising on the pilot was lecturer Jean Ware.

The aim was to develop teachers’ awareness of the challenges and barriers to delivering education for all pupils in a socially just and inclusive education system, and to give the teachers the opportunity to consider a range of creative solutions and innovative thinking in addressing these challenges.

Gwyn, 34, has been teaching for 11 years. His first post was at Ysgol Friars Comprehensive in Bangor, where he spent four years as Head of Department before taking up his current role at Ysgol Eifionydd.

His assessment included a project on improving inclusion for a group of Year 9 pupils. The school worked with the National Trust to provide an alternative curriculum for 10 pupils that were disengaged with the traditional curriculum.

Once a week over one term, the pupils went to Plas Craflwyn, Beddgelert, to build a yurt using traditional woodcraft skills. ‘Most of the pupils enjoyed the experience, gained new skills and showed an improvement in their achievement grades following the experience,’ said Gwyn.

’The project made me realise the importance of providing a curriculum that suits our learners and that we need to look at innovative ways to engage our students if we want them to achieve.’

He completed the module in February, passing with a distinction, and believes the training played an important part in his gaining promotion to Assistant Head this summer.

‘The module was thoroughly enjoyable and gave me an opportunity to improve my theoretical knowledge and understanding,’ Gwyn added. ‘The lecturers were very knowledgeable and there was a great group of teachers doing the chartered teachers module, which made for enjoyable and productive seminars.

‘I’m always looking for ways to develop professionally and saw this as a great opportunity. If there are any more modules, I'll definitely be trying to get on the course!’