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Teachers in the initial stages of their career need support. The quality of their development will depend strongly on the kind of support that is given to them during induction. In this chapter, the author explains how the induction years need to be seen as a distinctive part of the teacher education continuum, building on initial teacher education (ITE) and feeding into continuing professional development (CPD). The University of Malta's Faculty of Education proposed national strategy for induction of newly qualified teachers (NQTs) stresses the need for an effective design of induction programs in terms of the type of activities, the involvement of teacher education institutions and the role of the mentor – all of which can vary, depending on the learning needs of the NQT involved. Such programs will ensure that the support provided creates opportunities to relate back to initial teacher education and to prepare teachers for career-long continuing professional development. The aim of this discussion is to evaluate the current state of professional opportunities available for beginning teachers in Malta, and to discuss an effective approach which facilitates experienced teachers to build their capacities to play a key role, through mentoring, in their new colleagues' professional learning journey.

The purpose of this paper is to focus on a partnership-based mentoring model and the learning experiences of participant mentees and mentors. As part of the project, newly qualified teachers (NQTs) were supported to develop and implement a practitioner enquiry (teacher/action research) in a learning community involving two local authorities and an initial teacher education institution.

Qualitative data were collected from five semi-structured focus group interviews with key participant groupings to uncover perceptions and experiences of the partnership and professional learning therein. Analysis using an inductive and iterative approach pinpointed a number of emerging themes used to frame key elements of the findings.

Findings suggested that the partnership-based model promoted the professional learning and development of NQTs and their mentors in various ways. The nature and shape of the partnership had an influence on the quality of mentoring and support experienced. The community effectively supported the implementation of meaningful enquiry projects, which had clear connections to the enhancement of professional practice and pupil learning. However, specific tensions and conflicts emerged as hindrances to successful partnership-based mentoring in the specific context.

New insights into the role of a partnership-based mentoring scheme supporting practitioner enquiry-based learning of NQTs emerged. The local, layered community defining the partnership, and operating within the frame of a national induction scheme, was analysed. Benefits for partners were identified and specific challenges and tensions highlighted, both providing new evidence with potential to impact policy and practice. Policy developments supporting teachers to be mentors and enquiring professionals need to recognise the structural and support tensions that exist in contextual practice.

Newly qualified teachers (NQTs) seek advice from more experienced colleagues and are considered as learning through participation, including observing other teachers and receiving feedback. In many education systems around the world, induction programmes are developed to support these new teachers in needs ranging from pedagogical to the practical. The induction programme in Malta has been in place since 2010 and offers support to NQTs through their mentor, a member of the school management team, and their college principal. The purpose of this paper is to examine the benefits of mentoring as experienced by a group of NQTs and their mentors in select Maltese schools.

Through a grounded theory approach (Glaser and Strauss, 1967; Strauss and Corbin, 1994), the reflections and online conversations with 15 mentors from 10 schools, who were given the role of supporting an NQT in their school for one scholastic year, informed this study. This approach was used because grounded theory seeks to derive its explanations from the data of the phenomenon itself and encourages systematic, detailed analysis of the data. Codes were developed from the transcripts, which were then compared against the research questions, using an inductive approach. Themes emerged, helping the researcher to construct meaning.

The data strongly suggest that a mentoring approach based on reflection and dialogue promoted positive relationships between the mentors and the mentees and led to professional growth. Moreover, the school and social environment played a crucial role in the way the participants interacted and defined their challenges. It is thus recognised that the NQT induction programme needs to be adequately understood and acknowledged by schools and the education authorities in order for it to reach its aims of supporting beginning teachers. Physical spaces and opportunities for collaboration can enhance what the mentors are trying to achieve.

This research is the first of its kind in Malta as it explores the perceptions and experiences of mentors who are actively participating in the induction programme for NQTs.

The purpose of this paper is to understand, from principals’ points of view, how a teacher registration reform is enacted by examining the potential changes in the relationships between principals and newly qualified teachers (NQTs). The reform entailed principals performing an aptitude assessment of new teachers in their probationary year.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five principals from two Swedish municipalities on three occasions in one academic year. A third follow-up interview was conducted one year later with four of the principals, the fifth no longer being in post.

The assessment appears to be downplayed by the principals, whereas the supportive dimension and the facilitation of NQTs’ professional development seem to be acknowledged and made explicit. For some of the principals, their creative translation of the reform’s intentions transformed these relations and strengthened their leadership.

The study is small-scale and was carried out in a specific period of policy implementation from the principals’ perspectives. Future studies would benefit from involving both principals’ and teachers’ perspectives.

Policymakers appear to have underestimated the structural aspects of the reform, even though in general the reform enactments had some kind of positive effect on these relations.

For some principals, their creative translation of the reform’s intentions transformed relations and strengthened their leadership.

The data are from a unique period when a reform was implemented and later partly withdrawn. The study deepens the understanding on how principals tries to enact and balance their roles as evaluators of NQTs and pedagogical and instructional leaders.

The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss contrasting perceptions regarding “leadership and mentoring” among leaders of Norwegian early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres in their mentoring practices with newly qualified early childhood teachers (NQTs).

Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with eight leaders in Norwegian ECEC centres.

Leaders in dual roles as leaders and mentors have varying orientations in mentoring NQTs. The paper presents the findings as two main orientations: an individual and an organizational orientation. Individually oriented leaders as mentors focus on individual needs and support of the NQT. Organizationally oriented leaders as mentors emphasize collective reflection and learning in the staff group and include NQTs in various learning processes in the ECEC centre.

The study is a qualitative research inquiry in a specific context and may not be representative for larger groups. Further studies could include larger samples of leaders and NQTs. Such studies could focus on the balance between NQTs’ individual needs and organizational needs, and how NQTs are included in the organization’s collective reflection and action.

The study provides insights into how leaders as mentors in their dual roles try to meet both the needs of the individual NQT and the needs of the organization. It also identifies and highlights some of the challenges that leaders must cope with in their dual roles. The paper benefits those working in such dual roles and in the education of mentors and leaders.

The study contributes to increased knowledge on how leaders’ views on leadership and organization influence their mentoring with NQTs. The study is relevant for leaders in other educational settings such as schools. In ECEC centres, the leader is responsible for mentoring NQTs and other staff members. This study shows different ways of conceptualizing mentoring with NQTs in the role as leader.

The purpose of this paper is to report on a research project concerning a web-based (online) course for mentors of newly qualified teachers (NQTs).

A mixed-method approach with questionnaires and interviews was used to collect the data.

Positive attitudes towards online education were discerned and initial concerns about the use of technical tools were dissipated during the course. It was found that the mentoring-related content of the online course could be mediated. The most significant difference in the participants’ meaning making and ability to “connect theory and practice” with “concrete knowledge” was between those with experience of mentorship before or during the course and those without.

The study focuses on one cohort of mentor participants (n=18) attending one mentor education course.

The paper contributes to the value of online education for mentors of NQTs and includes some practical recommendations for mentor education providers.

This paper reports on an under-researched area. Research on professional development programmes for mentors in general is limited, and even more so when it comes to online education for mentors.

This chapter describes the development and use of a framework, based on a set of theoretical principles that can support teachers, teacher educators and researchers make informed judgements about inclusive pedagogy in each unique setting. This chapter will address the concept of inclusive pedagogy; how the framework was developed; and will provide an introduction to the framework. Discussion will focus on how the framework was used by researchers to better understand how the ideas of inclusive pedagogy were enacted by newly qualified classroom teachers and how it was used to support experienced classroom teachers and specialist support teachers to challenge and alter some existing practices.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce this special issue focussing on the mentoring of beginning teachers which supports the professional learning of not only mentees but also mentors. The paper identifies the varied aims of beginning teacher mentoring programmes, some of the reasons for mentoring and an introduction to the six research papers published in the issue.

The papers in this issue examine different perspectives relating to the mentoring of student teachers and newly qualified teachers (NQTs). Different types of mentoring relationships are examined in various international contexts. The research, from Australia, the Republic of Ireland, Malta, Norway, Scotland, the USA and Wales, addresses the challenges that can occur in mentoring relationships, and enables us to better understand the professional learning that takes place in successful mentoring relationships.

The authors of the papers delineate how critical reflective practice, inquiry into professional practice, collaboration and professional learning for both mentees and mentors are key aims for many mentoring programmes. The six studies used different methods to investigate external and/or school-based mentoring programmes for student teachers and NQTs.

A snapshot of current research into professional learning is provided with most studies being small qualitative ones. However, common themes can be identified across countries and contexts. The authors of each paper outline the implications for teacher education for their own contexts, as well as for international contexts.

Teacher education programmes employ mentoring pairs and triads in order to develop particular traits and reflective practices in teachers. Research shows how mentor programmes provide classroom experience and professional learning for student and NQTs as well as professional learning for teacher mentors. University tutors play a key role in supporting not only the mentees and mentors but also the mentoring relationship.

Aims to examine current debates about the recruitment and retention of teachers and explore the views of Local Education Authority Human Resource Advisors, governors and teachers.

Addresses the issue of whether the Government is actually achieving its stated aims of best value in selecting, recruiting and retaining the most effective teachers in primary and secondary education.

The conclusion for the appointment of teachers in schools is that structured panel interviews, with trained panel members, and preferably including an HR professional, would represent best practice.

Raises serious concerns about the delegation of HR practice.

The history of Catholic Teacher Education is linked to the growth and development of Catholic schools that began in the early nineteenth century. The Catholic Church struggled to recruit enough certificated teachers and relied heavily on pupil teachers. This began to be resolved with the opening of Notre Dame College, Glasgow, in 1895 and St Margaret's College, Craiglockhart, in 1920. The two Colleges would merge into the national St Andrew's College in 1981. This national college would undertake a further merger with the University of Glasgow in 1999 to become part of the newly formed Faculty of Education, later School of Education. The School of Education continues to discharge the mission to prepare teachers for Catholic schools.