Teacher education: Partnerships in pedagogy?

Initial training partnerships between schools and universities can appear to be driven by the demands of external accountability. Resultant managerial models of partnership support simplistic interpretations of application of subject knowledge: competence-based assessments and reflective practice in initial teacher training. A consequent focus on ''performativity'' (Ball, 1994) seems to militate against an emphasis on how student teachers best learn. A Neo-Vygotskian model which incorporates understandings of teaching and learning is offered as a possible framework for initial training partnership. Data collected from an early years teaching school-university partnership programme illustrate discussion of the framework. The complexity of roles and responsibilities in training partnerships is emphasized.