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Leeds Beckett’s International Montessori Institute launches first Undergraduate Programme
The Carnegie School of Education at LBU and the Montessori Group came together to announce the launch of the Institute last August on what would have been Dr Maria Montessori’s 150th Birthday and potential students can now apply for the first course after an official launch event.
The accelerated programme gives students a full BA honours degree in Montessori education in just two years, therefore incurring just two years of fees. As it is taught exclusively online, the innovative new course will allow students to gather from right around the world to explore and study the Montessori Method, distinguishing it from any other provision.
Speaking about the launch of the new course, leading Montessori academic, Prof. Catherine McTamaney said:
"The proposal offers a promising trajectory for preservice teachers, adapting the strengths of the traditional programme to consider with rigor applications within the Montessori environment. The integration of research, Montessori and the arts is especially thoughtful, reflective of what is unique to the Leeds Beckett experience, and distinguishes this pathway from other Montessori teacher preparation models.”
While the programme is new, it very much draws upon a rich history of Montessori education, speaking on this, Leonor Stjepic, CEO of the Montessori Group said:
"On 29th March 1954 Margaret Homfray and Phoebe Child, established the first correspondence course in Montessori education. Our founders were former students of Dr Montessori, and they established the St. Nicholas Montessori Centre with the support and approval of Dr Montessori herself. This legacy has seen the Montessori Group pioneering in Montessori education ever since.
"The innovative, distance learning offer from the International Montessori Institute therefore feels very in keeping with the work of our founders and a great tribute to their ground-breaking, original programme. We are therefore delighted to be a partner of the International Montessori Institute and are pleased that they continue to keep the pioneering spirit of our founders very much alive”.
The new Montessori programme will benefit from a range of voices, including current Leeds Beckett students to shape and develop the offer. One such voice is Dr Sue Hammond from Canterbury Christ Church University who provided the external academic input for the new Montessori programme. Summarising her thoughts about the course she said:
"This is an exciting new programme during which students will learn about the importance of children’s wellbeing, environmental awareness, and creativity, as well as their academic achievement. They will have the opportunity to spend extensive time in schools, guided by experts in Montessori education, and to consider the connections between theory and practice.”
At the launch event the Institute’s team Centre Director, James Archer and Senior Montessori Consultant Jez Clarke along with Dr Hammond explored the strengths and opportunities that this new programme offers. Following this Jez Clarke said:
“Having had the privilege of being involved in the training of Montessori practitioners for over twelve years I am delighted to have recently joined the International Montessori Institute and be part of the Carnegie School of Education at Leeds Beckett University. The new programme draws on the very best of Montessori training and has the added benefit of being online. The School of Education’s expertise in digital pedagogy along with my own experience at Montessori Centre International as Head of Digital Education, will ensure that students have a quality experience on the programme”.
Applications are being welcomed from across the globe for students to join together to form the first cohort on this exciting new programme.
End note:
If you're interested in applying for this new programme, visit our Montessori webpage.
You can contact the University’s admissions team by email: Direct-admissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk or by calling 0113 812 3113.
You can watch a recording of the programme launch on Youtube.