Teacher Secondment Opportunities
Scotland’s new Centre for Teaching Excellence (CfTE) has been established ‘to support teachers, including those in Gaelic Medium Education, to actively lead and engage with research and evidence to help inform and develop their practice.’ Further information about the Centre, including its purpose and operation, is available on the Centre’s website. We are now seeking to appoint experienced teachers on a part-time basis to take forward the Centre’s research priorities.
Secondment opportunities of up to 0.4fte are available for teachers across Scotland to coordinate and lead Centre activities through a series of online and in-person opportunities in regionally based hubs, where teachers can come together to engage with, generate and disseminate research and enquiry with a focus on pedagogy and classroom practice.[1] The secondments will be effective from August 2025 - March 2026.
These teacher-researcher groups will enable teachers to collaborate with university-based and school-based colleagues sharing similar interests, supporting both research design and the sharing of research outcomes through, for example, research-practice partnerships and communities of enquiry.
Successful candidates will be seconded from their current teaching roles to join our team, with positions supported by government funding and facilitated by local authority endorsement. This is an opportunity not only to enhance professional development but also to play a pivotal role in supporting the advancement of peers, thereby contributing significantly to the broader educational community.
Applications are now invited for secondments to three core hubs which will focus on:
1. Teaching-focused Research
The teaching-focused research hub is located at the University of Glasgow in the School of Education (Gilmorehill campus). It supports all other hubs by producing materials, facilitating activities, and providing strategic support for all research-related activities within CfTE. Research briefs, expert panels and sessions, and activities will focus on research practice partnership development and support, communities of practice around supporting teacher research activities, practitioner enquiry focused on research engagement, and the facilitation of the sharing of experiences and findings across all hubs.
2. Rural Education and Learning for Sustainability
The Rural Education and Learning for Sustainability Hub is based in the Dumfries campus of University of Glasgow, at the School of Social and Environmental Sustainability. It provides in-person and digital support for teachers across rural areas of Scotland to engage in and with research through practitioner enquiry, communities of practice and research-practice partnerships. Podcasts, webinars, teacher blogs and panel discussions will be used to share research evidence and innovative practice in rural education and learning for sustainability. The hub strives to ensure that the work of the Centre is accessible to and appropriate for teachers working in rural settings, including islands.
3. Gaelic Education
The Gaelic Education Hub is based at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye and provides research-informed support and activities – in-person and digitally – for teachers working in Gaelic education throughout Scotland. With a focus on national and international research on immersion education, the hub will offer research briefings, communities of practice, professional conversations and research partnerships to support engagement in practitioner enquiry and the sharing of evidence with other professionals to enhance Gaelic education outcomes. The hub also facilitates access in Gaelic to research-related materials generated by the Centre’s other hubs.
Secondees will be appointed to the hub most appropriate to their experience and expertise and, while attached to a core hub, will be able to work from the hub closest to their own place of work and / or online. In-person attendance at key meetings and events will be communicated in advance.
Application process
Application is by submission of a covering letter and CV. The covering letter should address the essential criteria and suitability for the role and confirm endorsement by the applicant’s Headteacher and local authority. Applicants are also encouraged to indicate any professional learning interests aligned with the core hubs referenced above.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interview with a panel including representatives of the Centre for Teaching Excellence Advisory Board.
Applications should be submitted to the email address below by 17.00 on Friday 6 June. Interviews will be held during week commencing 16 June.
Email: centreforteachingexcellence@glasgow.ac.uk
Essential Criteria
- Minimum of three years of full-time teaching experience, post probation (or equivalent), and/or sustained experience of leading/supporting others with enquiry.
- Demonstrable track record of engaging in own professional learning related to research/inquiry.
- Portfolio of career-long professional learning.
- Experience of leading / mentoring other teachers through extended professional learning activities.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to present to a range of stakeholders.
Role Specification
Bridging Research and Practice
- Act as a liaison between schools and the Centre, ensuring that professional learning initiatives are relevant and practical for teachers in real classrooms.
- Help translate research findings into actionable strategies that can be implemented in diverse school settings.
Supporting Professional Learning Initiatives
- Contribute to the development and delivery of regional hubs and online professional learning opportunities, as outlined in the CfTE model.
- Facilitate communities of practice by leading teacher engagement in practitioner enquiry, action research and professional development sessions.
- Help design online and in-person activities that align with teachers’ needs and system priorities.
- Contribute to the development of professional learning materials and resources.
Gathering and Disseminating Evidence
- Participate in and contribute to research on teaching, learning, and assessment, ensuring that they reflect the realities of classroom practice.
- Support the development of synthesis reports, ensuring they are accessible and applicable across different school contexts nationally.
- Assist in creating evidence briefs, digital content, and social media engagement to share insights with teachers nationwide.
Strengthening Partnerships
- Work with local authorities, schools and universities to ensure the work of CfTE is embedded in Scotland’s education system.
- Facilitate collaborations between teachers and researchers, supporting co-constructed professional learning experiences.
- Build networks across and between education sectors in Scotland to embed a culture of research-informed and enquiry-based teaching.
Promoting Equity and Inclusion
- Ensure that professional learning is responsive to the needs of different communities, particularly in rural and Gaelic settings.
- Ensure that all teachers are made welcome, and their voices heard in the development of the hubs, particularly those teachers from currently under-represented groups.
- Help shape inclusive practices by drawing on their own experience in diverse educational contexts.
Key Dates
Closing date: 6 June 2025
Interviews: 16 June 2025
Notification of outcomes: w/c 23 June