Meeting Expectations Focus For Council Chair

Meeting Expectations Focus For Council Chair

The new chairperson of the Wellington College of Education Council is well aware of the growing expectations placed on today's teachers.

Ian McKinnon, who took up the reigns of chairing the Council of the Karori-based College last month, says today's teachers faced a number of new demands.
"The challenge for the College is to continue to recognise the changes in the school sector, changes which obviously impact on teacher training.
Very simply, there are greater expectations on teachers today, in terms of both formal qualifications and teaching skills.

Not only must teachers be well qualified, they must also be able to deal with the rapidly changing curriculum and how best it is delivered, the increasing use of information technology, the various aspects of the assessment process and, of course, the nature of today’s children and young people.

“The teacher is still the number one asset in any school, the asset which can make a difference, and the aim at the Wellington College of Education is to produce that teacher who can and will make that difference."

Reflecting international requirements, the new, four-year teacher training qualification consists of a double degree – a Bachelor of Teaching (BTeach) to develop those necessary skills, and to ensure a sound subject knowledge, a choice of a Bachelor of Arts (BA/BTeach), Science (BSc/BTeach) or Commerce & Administration (BCA/BTeach) from which students select two specialised teaching subject areas.

Mr McKinnon, who works as an education consultant, has had a lengthy career in the independent school sector. He first taught at King's College in Auckland, where he was also a boarding housemaster, and then at Eton College in the UK, where he subsequently returned as Lower Master (Deputy Headmaster) in 1988. He was Headmaster of Wanganui Collegiate School from 1980–1988 and of Scots College, 1992–2002. During his time in the school sector he served on various government committees on education and also on both the Executive of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools, of which he was President 1998 - 2000, and the Executive of the Independent Schools Council.

Mr McKinnon is also on the Council of Victoria University, where he was a student in the 1960s, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Economics. He is a member of the ERO Advisory Council on Quality in Education.

For his work in the UK on the NZ 1990 Commemorations he was awarded the NZ 1990 Commemoration Medal. He received the QSO in 1991 for services to NZ in the UK. He is a Justice of the Peace.

Mr McKinnon replaces Forde Clark, who completed his term on the College Council.

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