About our teacher training
Our training programme has several different strands, which all come together to give you the best possible start for your teaching career.
Your own personalised independent development plan
After your successful interview you will meet your Course Director or Course Tutor to discuss your strengths and development needs and plan to prepare effectively for the training year. If appropriate, we may offer you access to an online Subject Knowledge Enhancement course to ensure your academic knowledge is fully up to date. You will be given an initial reading list and pre-course tasks to complete and you will be registered for a full day of induction in July.
An inspiring programme of seminars
In your seminars you will cover all the educational theory you need to begin your teaching career. Sessions cover a wide range of fascinating topics from child development and how children learn to safeguarding and the law. For more details about session content, click on the link to our Primary or Secondary Courses.
Teaching practice in school
Your teaching placement is where you put what you have learnt into practice in a busy school environment. As soon as you start the course, we will place you in one of our excellent partner schools in Essex, and we’ll also give you an opportunity to teach in a contrasting school in the partnership during the Spring term. From the beginning of your placement, you will have the opportunity to observe experienced teachers. As the first term progresses, you will gradually build up the number of hours you plan and deliver yourself and by the end of the course you will be planning and teaching close to a full timetable, taking full responsibility for your classes. You will also get involved with the pastoral side of teaching and with extra-curricular activities.
Weekly meetings with your mentor in school
While in school, you will be supported and guided every step of the way by your class or subject mentor, an experienced teacher of your phase or subject who helps you plan, watches you teach and provides regular tips and feedback to help you improve. You will find you develop a strong relationship with your mentor, meeting them formally every week to discuss how your lectures and workshops link to your classroom practice and relevant educational research, review your progress and set targets for development.
A programme of visits to expand your horizons
During your training you’ll work in two different schools, but you’ll also benefit from the opportunity to experience a wider range of educational settings with a programme of visits including Early Years Providers, Special Schools, Pupil Referral Units and schools with expertise in English as Second Language teaching.
Opportunities to reflect on your learning and progress
Throughout your training year you’ll reflect on what you’ve learnt in journals, written tasks, presentations and your own action research. These combine with our observations of your teaching to enable us to make a holistic assessment of your progress towards meeting the Teachers’ Standards by the end of the course. You’ll get regular feedback on your progress and a formal review every term.
A chance to complete a PGCE
As well as Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which enables you to teach in schools in the UK, we also give you the opportunity to earn the highly regarded Post Graduate Certificate in Education. With the support and guidance of academics accredited by the University of Suffolk, you complete two assignments at Masters Level one on Special Educational Needs and one where you complete action research on an aspect of education that really interests you.
“You will be immersed in school life from day one. You will be learning new things every minute of every day and the pace is fast. There is fantastic support to move you on the becoming an outstanding teacher”