Perceptions of pre-service and graduate early childhood and primary teachers regarding their confidence in teaching Religious Education in Catholic primary schools

ABSTRACT

This research reports an exploratory study of 22 pre-service teachers involved in the Religious Education courses offered by The University of Notre Dame Australia, as part of the university’s accreditation to teach religious education. The study examined the influence of key factors on how confident these pre-service teachers perceived themselves to be to engage with the necessary knowledge to effectively teach religious education in a Catholic school. The pre-service teachers were surveyed pre and post their final-year internship, and subsequently, six of these were interviewed at the end of their first term of employment. Results indicated that out of the five compulsory courses, the two teaching method courses were found to be most influential in developing confidence to teach. Family, religious background, schooling, and mentoring were found to be influential in confidence development. In addition, confidence improved across the timeframe.

KEYWORDS:

• Teacher confidence
• initial teacher education
• early career teachers
• religious education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sharon Law-Davis

Sharon Law-Davis is the Deputy Coordinator of Primary Programs and Religious Education (Early Childhood and Primary Programs) at the University of Notre Dame, Australia (UNDA). Sharon taught within the Catholic Education system where she has held the positions of classroom teacher, art specialist and assistant principal: Religious Education and Early Years. Sharon has a master’s degree in religious education (UNDA). She specialises in teaching within the religious education and visual arts courses across the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

John Topliss

Dr John Topliss is the Coordinator of Religious Education at the University of Notre Dame, a senior lecturer and is Coordinator of Faith and Renewal at the Catholic Institute, Western Australia. John has taught within the Catholic Education system for the last 30 years where he held positions of classroom teacher, Assistant Principal Religious Education and Principal. John’s PhD was on Mentoring Beginning Teachers in Catholic Schools.