Teacher training programmes across the UK are adapting to significant shifts in curriculum and updated Ofsted frameworks. Alongside these changes, the logistics of supporting observations of trainees placed in schools across wide geographic regions are stretching staff time and department resources.
Plymouth Marjon University was facing this same challenge with trainees spread across multiple schools, often in hard-to-reach locations. Supporting these placements required significant travel for university tutors, limiting their ability to observe more than one or two lessons per day.
Beyond the strain on staff time, the travel also placed considerable pressure on departmental budgets. Mileage expenses, overnight stays for distant placements, and the inefficiency of allocating academic hours to travel instead of teaching or coaching added up quickly. As the programme looked for a more sustainable solution, they needed a way to maintain high-quality observation and feedback without compromising on trainee support or financial sustainability.
A video-based solution became a clear path forward, but only if it could meet the university’s strict requirements for safeguarding and data privacy. Some schools where placements happen had limitations on video in the classroom. Ensuring GDPR compliance and privacy features was a priority for Plymouth Marjon.
Recognising the need for a more efficient and secure way to support trainees, the Plymouth Marjon team chose GoReact, powered by Echo360, to simplify observations without sacrificing privacy. Instead of spending hours on the road, university mentors and tutors could now observe lessons on their own schedule, while using built-in tools to give precise feedback to help support trainees’ development. Implementation and training was smooth and simple, and the hands-on support made it easy for staff to get up and running with confidence.
The impact from GoReact was immediate. Tutors could complete more observations in less time, leaving precise, timestamped feedback without needing to travel between placements. Trainees gained flexibility too, recording lessons during their teaching using video and using the recording to reflect on what they did well and areas for improvement. With more time and insight, they developed skills faster.
| Before GoReact | With GoReact |
Observation visits per day | 2 | 5 |
Travel Time & Expense | High | Minimal |
Feedback to Trainees | Not timely or targeted | Immediate and precise |
To see how GoReact helps teacher trainee programmes around the globe support better learning and skill development, contact us today.
