Teachers

The Department for Education provided funding from September 2007 to March 2011 through the Refugee Teachers Task Force to maximise the skills and experience of refugee teachers, and to promote their employment in schools and colleges.

Opening Doors for Refugee Teachers was an opportunity to put into practice the recommendations set out in the Refugee Teachers Task Force report (available to download here). The funding was used to support a network of organisations working with refugee teachers outside London, to raise awareness with employers of this untapped resource of potential employees and to establish a London partnership that worked collaboratively in assisting refugee teachers into the education workforce.

A key success of the project was the Diploma in Post-Compulsory Education, a unique course commissioned for delivery by the Institute of Education following success of the pilot stage at Birkbeck University. The course was constructed as a part-time, two-year course, and students were supported by a specialist agency, Reconnect, who also assisted in recruitment. We were delighted when the Instiute announced in January 2010 that it would be continuing the course as part of its mainstream offer, with the first new cohort of up to 20 students in September 2010.

Links: 

• London Hub
• Teacher Training
• For Employers
• For Support Organisations