Fiona Triller and Julie Noble for Education Leeds, and Jonathan Ellis, Director of Policy and Development and Refugee Council, presented to a panel to promote the great work that has been done helping refugee teachers back into employment and training.
Education Leeds have been supporting refugee teachers in Leeds since 2004, and were subsequently partnered by Eddie Ralston as part of the Refugee Teachers Network through the Refugee Council in 2008. Schools, Initial Teacher Training providers, colleges and other refugee organisations have also been involved to offer a full package of support to teachers in Leeds.
To date, this wider partnership - also comprising TC21, RETAS, Leeds Metropolitan University, Trinity and All Saints College, B-NETT and others, has helped 90 refugees since 2004, of which 38 have found voluntary placements in schools, 23 have completed familiarisation courses on the UK education system, and six undertaking degree programmes. We are particularly pleased that 7 teachers have started PGCEs, and 7 have gained qualified teacher status (QTS). The work is ongoing, and we hope that the partnership will go on to enable many more teachers to realise their full potential in the UK.
