Professional Learning Hubs: Strengthening School Partnerships 2025/2026

During the 2024/2025 academic year, the PGCE team introduced a new model of collaboration through the creation of Professional Learning Hubs across a range of special, nursery and primary schools. This model has been expanded even further for 2025/2026, offering student teachers richer opportunities to learn from expert practitioners in real school environments.

Harberton Special School

At Harberton Special School, PGCE students took part in classroom observations and a series of expert-led sessions delivered by school staff. These sessions focused on key areas of practice within a special school setting, including:

• Communication, Speech and Language with Mr Troupe, Head of Communication
• Behaviour Management, Classroom Structure and Routines with Mrs Devine, SENCo
• Services within and linked to Special Schools with Mrs MacDonald, Vice Principal

Students greatly valued the opportunity to gain first-hand insight from knowledgeable staff over the three-week placement. They particularly appreciated exploring the school’s specialist approaches and the range of resources used to support pupils’ diverse learning needs.

Mrs MacDonald (VP) praised the students for their enthusiasm, commenting that it was “great to have the students in Harberton as always!”

Hardy Memorial Primary School, Richhill – Our Newest Professional Learning Hub

This year also saw an exciting new extension to the Professional Learning Hub model when PGCE students were welcomed into the Year 1 classrooms at Hardy Memorial Primary School. Teachers Mrs Hannah Irvine and Mrs Leanne Erskine provided a hands-on learning experience that highlighted the school’s commitment to high-quality play-based pedagogy.

Students engaged with children in their playrooms, not traditional classrooms, before taking part in an outdoor forest school session. Activities included:

• Acting out the Nativity story in the sand tray
• Cooking potatoes and apples in the mud kitchen
• Hammering real nails in the Three Little Pigs Building Area
• Toasting bread on the firepit
• Creating traps for the Big Bad Wolf
• Building wolf-proof dens

A surprise visit from the “Big Bad Wolf” delighted both the children and the student teachers! Students left inspired by the rich, imaginative and well-planned play experiences on offer.

They shared the following reflections:

•  “The visit to Hardy Memorial was so insightful. The space was homely and nurturing and the children appeared to be thriving in it. It was so encouraging to see the range of playful learning experiences on offer, including risky play to develop the children’s resilience. The outdoor learning was strategically planned, fun and engaging for everyone involved. The children were confident and self-sufficient throughout – a reminder of how easy it is to underestimate our children’s capabilities and shows what can be achieved through considered vision, planning and teamwork.” (Rebekah)

• “I really enjoyed getting to engage with the children and staff at Hardy Memorial Primary school and seeing the positive impact that playful learning makes. The children’s imaginations and enthusiasm during play showed how their playfulness is being nurtured and supported at school.” (Olivia)
• “Today showed me that learning does not sit still, it runs, builds, laughs and blossoms through play.” (Jennifer)

Teacher Hannah Irvine also reflected on the visit, saying:

“Welcoming Stranmillis PGCE students into our P1 setting was such a joy, with our children proudly sharing their playful learning indoors, outdoors and at Forest School! We hope the students gained inspiration from our playful approach at Hardy and we wish them all the best on their upcoming Foundation Stage placements. We are really excited about our new partnership with Stranmillis as a Professional Learning Hub and we look forward to continuing to share good practice while celebrating the curiosity and confidence of our children!”

Thank you to Hardy Memorial PS for hosting us on our visit.