PRIMARY teachers from across Glasgow have been hailed for their excellent practice in the classroom.

More than 120 teachers have taken part in the initiative, Improving Our Classrooms, designed to help teachers understand the impact they can have on children.

And now they have been rewarded by their professional body, the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTC Scotland), and Glasgow City Council.

Chris McIIroy, ex-HMIE chief inspector and Improving our Classroom course advisor, said: "We looked at some of the ideas – relevance, breadth of learning, coherence and how they apply in the classroom.

"When you ask a teacher what they mean and how they use them, you get different answers.

"In the course, we took time to understand this and shared ideas of what they mean and how it brings improvements to the child."

Primary teachers carried out the extra training in groups of 30.

Many of the teachers, from the primary and ASL sectors, took part in a number of daytime and twilight sessions over a 12-week period to complete the qualification.

One of the many benefits reported by the teachers completing the course is a deeper understanding of Curriculum for Excellence.

Officials are also currently exploring with local universities about the possibilities of recognising the course within a framework of Masters Learning.

The main focus of the programme is about encouraging depth of understanding and on promoting the professional role of teachers in the classroom and the impact they can have on their children.

Council bosses said they are delighted the course has now been awarded GTC Scotland recognition.

Tony Finn, chief executive of GTC Scotland, addressed the award winners at the ceremony in the City Chambers.

He said: "These teachers have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to enhancing their skills with a view to enriching the learning experience of the children they teach.

"To commit to this in addition to their already busy schedule is to be commended"

Councillor Stephen Curran, Executive Member for Education and Young People, said: "This is about investing in our teachers to improve outcomes.

"The Improving our Classrooms course is a very welcome addition to an already successful CPD programme that runs across the city for our teachers."

catriona.stewart@ eveningtimes.co.uk