Re-Visiting the Donaldson Review of Teacher Education: Is Creative Innovation Secured?

This paper evaluates Teaching Scotland’s Future, the Report of the Donaldson Review of Teacher Education in Scotland, from the perspective of an earlier paper by the author, written in anticipation of the Report’s publication. The current paper concludes there is greater depth and breadth to the Report than previous national reviews, particularly in advocating the principles of collaborative partnership. However, the Report does not yet provide the fullest basis for on-going innovation in Scottish teacher education. Attitudinal and resource issues in achieving collaborative partnership could be addressed more directly. Creative possibilities for innovation in ITE will be narrowed by any prescriptive move to a single model of primary undergraduate provision, with a fuller consideration of research and theoretical perspectives on the nature of ITE and education studies desirable. Not all opportunities are taken to achieve the fullest connection between innovation in ITE and the continuum into CPD. Significant work remains to be done by stakeholders within the governance of Scottish teacher education, if long-term creative innovation is to be secured.