Primary
Our primary training programme consists of four days spent in school and one day, Thursday, at Core Training. School experience and core training go hand in hand to enable our trainees to get the best possible experience of what it is like to work in a Primary school. Core Training will look at aspects of learning & teaching. There is specific training on systematic, synthetic phonics (SSP), behaviour for learning, questioning and assessment, as well as a focus on quality first teaching across the curriculum. Within the core training programme there is subject specific training across the Primary Curriculum.
Our Core Training facilitators are experts in their field and most of them are currently teaching, or leading, in one of our partner schools and consider it a privilege to pass on their knowledge to the next generation of teachers.
Obviously, when in school, trainees will spend some time teaching. However, in addition to teaching a class, there are other training tasks which our trainees are directed to undertake. Our weekly curriculum plan gives our trainees the opportunity to …
- Observe experienced teachers as much as possible;
- Work with children 1:1 and sometimes in small focus or guided groups;
- Have time for assessment and planning;
- Research effective learning and teaching techniques.
We believe the best way to learn to be a teacher is by having the opportunity to observe, and be in the classroom with, an experienced teacher. In each of your placements you will have an in school mentor who you will meet with weekly. Your mentor will support you as you gather evidence to show you are meeting the Teacher Standards by the end of your training year.
There is an incredible tutor team with lots of primary experience between them. Each trainee has a Senior Tutor who will visit them in their placement school, oversees all aspects of the training year and be the first port of call for trainees, and their mentors. Trainees will also be assigned a SCITT Tutor, who will quality assure the judgements of the mentor and the progress the trainee is making. You can meet our dedicated senior tutor team by clicking [here].
From September to December our non-salaried trainees will begin their school experience at their Placement A school. Then from January to June they move to a new school where they will complete placement B. Each trainee will have a placement in Key Stage 1 (5-7) and Key Stage 2 (7-11) as our course is designed to enable our trainees to confidently teach any year from Year 1 to Year 6 (some of our trainees do get jobs as Reception teachers).
The non-salaried course leads to the award of both QTS and PGCE, with Anglia Ruskin University.
Why train with us?
CTSN is a large network of teaching schools. Our schools look to develop research alongside being a part of development, training and support for teachers at every stage of their career, including their training year. We have a great relationship with our schools and are passionate about training great teachers to teach in our local schools.
We are really proud that most of our trainees get jobs working in the local schools at the end of their training year. We are passionate about training great teachers for our local schools.
One of the key benefits of training with us is having the opportunity to become part of a school community and develop a really secure understanding of how our local schools operate.
Much more than a training year
Training with CTSN SCITT is so much more than a training year. Your training year is just the beginning of your journey as a teacher. During your career you will have many opportunities for continued professional development.
We have two training hubs, one in Cambridge and one in Bury St Edmunds. If you chose to apply for a place on our course you can apply to three TSAs (Teaching School Alliances). It does not matter which TSA you apply through. However, as we try to place you in a school which is local to you, it is best to apply through whichever TSA is nearest to you.