Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Team of probationers ready to teach across Aberdeenshire

The teacher probationer induction at Meldrum Academy, Oldmeldrum. 
Picture by Jim Irvine.
The teacher probationer induction at Meldrum Academy, Oldmeldrum. Picture by Jim Irvine.

Newly qualified teachers are ready to take up new roles in the classroom at schools across Aberdeenshire next week.

More than 100 probationers were welcomed at an induction event at Meldrum Academy yesterday to mark the beginning of their careers.

Probationary teacher Jayne Irvine, who has just graduated from the postgraduate PGDE primary teaching degree, is taking up the position of a primary 1/2 class teacher.

And although admitting she was “very nervous”, she said the induction event helped her prepare for the first day of term and gave her a chance to meet her mentor.

She said: “It was a welcoming day, very well set out and the speakers were great.

“It was good to speak to and mix with other people in the same boat who are as nervous as me.

“I’ve been on placements in schools through the course but this is my first teaching position.

“I’m teaching little ones so for the first week of classes I’m planning to stick to ‘getting to know you’ activities and hopefully it will all be fine.”

Councillor Gillian Owen, the council’s education and children’s services committee chair said: “Teaching is a hugely rewarding career and I hope the latest group of teachers entering the profession for their probation period thoroughly enjoy their first year.

“I am proud that in Aberdeenshire our probation programme is nationally recognised as one of the best in Scotland.

“This is because of its innovative approach and the support given to the probationers. I would like to wish all the probationers the best of luck.”

Aberdeenshire council’s teacher probation programme was inspired and developed by a ground-breaking initiative in Santa Cruz, California.

This year 153 probationers are taking up positions in schools across Aberdeenshire – 105 in primary schools and 48 in secondary.

A graduation ceremony will be held at the end of summer to congratulate the probationers on completing their first year as teachers.

Committee vice chair Councillor Mark Findlater said: “The probationers embarking on a teaching career this coming session will receive invaluable support and advice for the mentors.

“There are social events as well for those who have relocated to Aberdeenshire from other areas of Scotland to make them feel at home.”