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The Scottish Council of Deans of Education (SCDE) is the only body of its kind which represents University Schools of Education and Teacher Education Institutions in Scotland. Its 11 Higher Education members play a key role in Initial Teacher Education (which is accredited by the General Teaching Council of Scotland), educating Student Teachers in support of Scotland’s children and young people; and working in partnership, principally, with others within the education sector, nationally and internationally.
The Council member institutions also contribute to educational research and offer career-long professional learning for teachers and other education professionals, for example, in areas such as educational leadership and inclusive pedagogies. Collectively, our diverse programme portfolio covers undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications up to doctoral level; and a range of continuous professional learning courses and knowledge exchange opportunities. The Council represents these varied areas of expertise and activity, to inform education policy and practice.
Each Council member organisation has two representatives who are often Deans/Heads of School or leads for Initial Teacher Education with strategic responsibilities within their Higher Education institutions. You can find a full list of members on the Council Member page here – Council Members.
The Scottish Council of Deans of Education’s primary objectives are:
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To nurture high-quality teaching graduates equipped to engage critically with a range of education settings and diverse learner populations
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To contribute robust and relevant research that informs education policy and practice
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To raise public awareness of the contribution of the education profession, from early years to lifelong learning
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To provide a platform to debate and develop strategies for professional learning for education personnel
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To engage in, and build upon, international collaborations to advance educational discourse in a range of areas: e.g., educational leadership; curriculum; research; and policy
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To partner with diverse national and local organisations, to further advance equity and excellence in education
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To anticipate and to engage with developing political, economic, social, cultural and environmental concerns as they affect education
The Scottish Council of Deans of Education represented institutions receive their funding through a variety of sources, ranging from: government; industry; research councils; and voluntary and non-governmental organisations; to bequests and donations by alumni.
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Projects
2020 – ongoing:
2018-2020:
2018:
2017-2022:
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Networks
Current SCDE Networks
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Languages Group
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Attainment Challenge Group
Additional Council representation
We also have the following Council representatives:
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Dyslexia Scotland, Professor Teresa Moran, University of Dundee
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MyPL Working Group, GTCS, Professor Teresa Moran, University of Dundee
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Into Headship Development Group, Dr Valerie Drew, University of Stirling
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Scottish Advisory Group on Behaviour in Schools (SAGBIS), Scottish Government, Dr Gillean McCluskey, University of Edinburgh
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Stakeholder Group, SCEL, Professor Teresa Moran, University of Dundee
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Strategic Board for Education, Scottish Government, Dr Morag Redford, University of the Highlands and Islands
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Student Placement Management Group, GTCS, Louise Barret, University of the West of Scotland
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Teacher Workforce Planning Group, Scottish Government, Dr Rowena Arshad, University of Edinburgh and Dr Morag Redford, University of the Highlands and Islands
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Publications
Update to Student Teachers about the Omicron Variant | ADES, GTC Scotland, SCDE, SPMG | 17 December 2021:
Update to Student Teachers about the Omicron Variant | ADES, GTC Scotland, SCDE, SPMG (Published: 17 December 2021)
Covid-19 Further Guidance | Student Teacher Extension Placements in Scotland | September 2021:
Covid-19 Further Guidance | Student Teacher Extension Placements in Scotland (Published: September 2021)
Student Teacher Professional Progression in School Year 2021/2022 | National Guidance Advice Note | May 2021:
Student Teacher Professional Progression in School Year 2021/2022 | National Guidance Advice Note (Published: May 2021)
COVID-19 Guidance Student FAQ | Student Teacher Professional Placements in Scotland | 14 April 2021 (v3):
COVID-19 Guidance Student FAQ | Student Teacher Professional Placements in Scotland (v3) (Published: 14 Apr. 2021)
Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES), General Teaching Council of Scotland (GTC Scotland), Scottish Council of Deans of Education (SCDE) and Student Placement Management Group (SPMG) joint guidance (Version: 14 Apr. 2021):
COVID-19 Guidance | Student Teacher Professional Placements in Scotland (Published: 14 Apr. 2021)
COVID-19 Guidance Student FAQ | Student Teacher Professional Placements in Scotland | 8 March 2021 (v2):
COVID-19 Guidance Student FAQ | Student Teacher Professional Placements in Scotland (v2) (Published: 8 Mar. 2021)
Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES), General Teaching Council of Scotland (GTC Scotland), Scottish Council of Deans of Education (SCDE) and Student Placement Management Group (SPMG) joint guidance:
COVID-19 Guidance | Student Teacher Professional Placements in Scotland (Published: 19 Feb. 2021)
Scottish Universities Inclusion Group Background and Annual Report| January 2021
General Teaching Council of Scotland (GTC Scotland) and Scottish Council of Deans of Education (SCDE) joint guidance:
TQFE (Only) Virtual Observation Framework | Academic Year 2020-21 (Published: 22 Oct. 2020)
Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES), General Teaching Council of Scotland (GTC Scotland), Scottish Council of Deans of Education (SCDE) and Student Placement Management Group (SPMG) joint guidance:
Virtual Observation Framework: Academic Year 2020-21 (Published: 15 Oct. 2020)
Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES), General Teaching Council of Scotland (GTC Scotland), Scottish Council of Deans of Education (SCDE) and Student Placement Management Group (SPMG) joint guidance:
Enhanced Support and Alternative Assessment Approach: Academic year 2020-21 (Published: 05 Oct. 2020)
Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES), General Teaching Council of Scotland (GTC Scotland), Scottish Council of Deans of Education (SCDE) and Student Placement Management Group (SPMG) joint guidance:
Supporting the next generation of Scotland’s teachers in academic year 2020/2021 (Published: 01 Oct. 2020)
The Scottish Council of Deans of Education’s National Framework for Digital Literacies In Initial Teacher Education:
National Framework for Digital Literacies In Initial Teacher Education (Published: 26 Aug. 2020)
Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES), General Teaching Council of Scotland (GTC Scotland), Scottish Council of Deans of Education (SCDE) and Student Placement Management Group (SPMG) joint guidance:
On the 19th of May 2017, Prof. Ian Menter presented his report commissioned by the SCDE:
‘The Role and Contribution of Higher Education in Contemporary Teacher Education’
The following lecture slides were also presented: Lecture notes
Paper prepared by Dr Stephen Parker and Professor Trevor Gale (University of Glasgow), June 2016 to inform discussions for the Council of Deans
[All material is copyrighted to SCDE 2017]
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Media
For all media enquiries, please contact Professor David Smith, Chair of the Scottish Council of Deans of Education and Head of the School of Education, University of Aberdeen, by emailing davidsmith@abdn.ac.uk.
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