Shrewsbury College and RAF Shawbury Forge Innovative Partnership to Develop Military Trainers.
Shrewsbury College has partnered with RAF Shawbury to deliver a pioneering professional development programme aimed at enhancing the teaching and training skills of military trainers. This collaborative initiative has already supported two cohorts of RAF trainers, equipping them with modern educational strategies and tools to elevate their instructional practice.
The first phase of the programme focused on Air Traffic Control trainers based at RAF Shawbury. These trainers participated in observed teaching sessions with detailed feedback from Shrewsbury College’s Education team and gained insights by observing lessons on the Postgraduate Certificate in Education course.
Building on this success, the latest phase welcomed five Air and Space Operations trainers to the Higher Education Centre at Shrewsbury College’s London Road Campus. Over four tailored sessions, the trainers explored key themes in contemporary education, including:
· Planning and preparing for inclusive learning experiences
· Understanding memory and how people learn (metacognition)
· Assessing trainee progress and integrating AI into session planning
· Supporting revision, recall, and retrieval of learning
The bespoke course was co-designed by Shrewsbury College and RAF Shawbury to meet the specific needs of the Air and Space Operations team. Sessions were led by Jane Owen, Director of Higher Education and Professional Qualifications, whose extensive experience in teacher development and education theory brought depth and relevance to the programme.
Flight Lieutenant Hodgson, who coordinated the initiative at RAF Shawbury, shared: “The sessions provided a valuable space for our trainers to reflect on their teaching approaches and develop new skills in a supportive environment.”
Participants praised the interactive nature of the sessions, particularly the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions and explore practical teaching strategies. Corporal Ratcliffe noted: “I enjoyed the teaching practice, it was a great way to receive honest and open feedback from the group.”
The use of microteaching and peer observation proved especially effective in fostering reflective practice and skill development.
Looking ahead, the partnership between Shrewsbury College and RAF Shawbury is set to grow. Plans are underway for college students to visit the base and learn more about RAF operations, and further bespoke training sessions for trainers are scheduled over the coming year.
Do you have trainers or educators in your organisation who could benefit from professional development? Contact Jane Owen, Director of Higher Education and Professional Qualifications, to explore how Shrewsbury College can support your team: