Useful reading

To help you best prepare, your Programme Director has identified some pre-reading materials which will give you a head start on your programme.

You will need to become familiar with the General Teaching Council of Scotland (GTCS) Professional Registration Standards as you progress through the programme.  

More information related to you as a student teacher is available on the GTCS's 'Probationer Teachers' page. 

The Institute for Academic Development (IAD) resources on academic writing, taking notes, effective studying, critical thinking make a good foundation for preparing for your academic study:

Build your Scottish Education background knowledge by perusing articles in Scottish TES magazine.

Build your wider Education background knowledge by reading the BERA blogs.

Additional reading

If you would like to undertake additional background reading over the summer, these are the texts that we would recommend. When your university account is activated, these should be available through the library and/or digitally. We completely understand that students are in a range of different circumstances which make them more or less able to engage with reading prior to the start of the programme.

  • Bryce, T. G. K. ; Humes, W. M.; Gillies, D.; Kennedy, A.; Davidson, J.; Hamilton, T.; Smith, I. (Eds) (2018) Scottish Education. Edinburgh University Press
  • Capel, S., Leask, M. and Y. Sarah (2019) Learning to teach in the secondary school : a companion to school experience. London ; New York : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
  • Pollard, A. & Daly, C. (2023). Reflective teaching in secondary schools / Andrew Pollard and Caroline Daly. (Sixth edition.). Bloomsbury Academic.
  • Arshad, R., Wrigley, T., & Pratt, L. (2019)Social Justice Re-Examined: Dilemmas and Solutions for the Classroom Teacher. Stoke-on-Trent: Trentham Books Ltd.