Teacher training program a winner

How to train the teachers of the future is always a contentious issue but one South West primary school is getting proactive and has been recognised for its work with a national award.

Kingston Primary School’s internship program was awarded the Society for the Provision of Education in Rural Australia award in September.

The internships place fourth year students from ECU South West, ECU Mt Lawley and Murdoch University into classrooms to prepare them for their future careers.

The program began four years ago and started with 10 teaching students. It has now expanded to 13 students per year.

Kingston deputy principal Darryl Owen said everyone who completed the program had gone on to teach in schools throughout the State and were already equipped with essential practical skills related to behaviour management, literacy and numeracy.

“The feedback we get from the principals where our interns are now is outstanding,” Mr Owen said.

The school was chosen unanimously by a panel of three judges from about 30 entries in the competition.

“The recognition as the leading model across Australia for teacher education is a pretty exciting prospect,” Mr Owen said.

Intern Sarah Samuelson said the program helped her feel prepared for teaching in the future because she had been involved in planning, teaching, assessment and relief teaching in classrooms at the school.

“If I didn’t do the internship I don’t know where I would be,” she said.

“There’s not a better environment you can be in when you’re a fourth-year education student.”