Secretary of State for Education officially opens Institute of Education

Thursday, 21 June 2012

Vice-Chancellor, Sir David Bell; Right Honourable Michael Gove MP; Professor Andy Goodwyn, Head of the Institute of Education and Professor Viv Edwards, Professor of Language in Education/Director of NCLL

Right Honourable Michael Gove MP officially opened the University's Institute of education at London Road this week.

The Education Secretary was greeted by the Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell. During his visit Mr Gove met with Institute staff and students before touring the stunning new facilities.

Mr Gove called Reading a ‘premier league' university and said its Institute of Education represented the best aspects of the University of Reading.

He said: "There is a blend of tradition and modernity, a respect in this beautiful historic building for the best that has been thought and written in the past, and at the same time a determination to ensure that in the years and decades to come our young people can enjoy a better than ever standard of teaching, can benefit from teachers who have enjoyed cutting edge research, and who can use the most advanced technology and the most sophisticated means of learning in order to achieve everything of which they are capable.

"The University of Reading is consistently and by every measure a premier league university in this country. Firmly in the top 20 research institutions, envied across the world for the quality not just of undergraduate teaching but also deep research, and consistently and by any measure, recognised as an outstanding place of learning."

In addition to those who achieve awards at Master's and PhD level, every year, close to 500 or our students become newly qualified teachers (NQTs).  The University has excellent partnership arrangements with over 300 local schools which employ the majority of our graduates.  Graduates from the Institute have an excellent chance of finding employment - well over 90% of our NQTs found a teaching job last year.  With pay scales to match other industries, job security, an excellent teacher's pension and better work life balance, teaching is becoming one of the most sought-after professions of today.

The University enjoys excellent partnership arrangements with over 300 local schools giving students essential ‘on the job' experience.

Sir David Bell said: "For over 20 years, our Institute of Education has delivered exceptional teacher training and programmes of study in the field of education. Our prestigious London Road campus, the original home of the University, is now a first class environment for the Institute. Teachers in training, as well as those continuing their professional development, will benefit enormously from our new facilities."