We start recruiting in October 2023; don’t miss out!
Thorndown Primary School is a leading school facilitating the Lead Partner route (formally called School Direct route) into teacher training, in partnership with The University of Bedfordshire (UoB).
Due to the breadth of experience, knowledge and skills of schools and teachers across the Huntingdonshire area, but a lack of opportunities for those wishing to train in this vicinity, we decided to develop our own ITT programme specifically for schools and trainees in the local area of St Ives and Huntingdonshire. As our course has progressed and developed, we have made a number of links with schools further afield too who have expressed an interest in working with us.
Whether you’ve just finished a degree, or have been working in a career for many years, the Lead Partner route enables you to learn to teach, whilst actually doing the job, maximizing the time spent in school.
During your training with us, you will experience teaching and learning in contrasting settings which will give you a broad experience and deep understanding of different educational contexts. The majority of your training will be classroom based, working alongside highly enthusiastic, skilled, experienced and passionate teachers and you will be mentored and supported by a school-based mentor who has received the appropriate training from the University of Bedfordshire partnership. One day a week (normally a Friday) you will spend time learning the pedagogy behind successful teaching at the University of Bedfordshire during lectures and seminars which you will then be able to apply to your in the classroom context.
Your school-based mentor will meet with you weekly to provide support, guidance and meaningful targets to help you to grow and develop as a teacher. Starting with minimal teaching commitment, with mentor and class teacher support, your teaching experience will gradually increase throughout the year until you are teaching 80% of a full timetable.
A second, contrasting placement will be planned for across the spring and summer term. Here you will work with a different key stage and gain a breadth of experience working with different practitioners, children and learning styles. Across both placements, our ITT lead will be on hand to support both yourself and your mentor and ensure that you have access to the most relevant training materials and opportunities and that you have opportunities to network with other trainees and professionals.
Our Programme Aims:
- the majority of the school year (placement B) based in one main host school from our alliance of schools in St Ives and Huntingdonshire;
- a second school placement (placement A) in a school differing in context to your main host school;
- highly trained and experienced in-school mentors;
- strong support provided by the University of Bedfordshire and a trained mentor from Thorndown;
- networking opportunities with trainees from other schools;
- a personalised approach to your training;
- support to secure a teaching position on completion of the course within the local area or beyond.
If you are looking to gain experience in a school setting, or are trying to decide if teaching is a career path you would like to take, please contact us to arrange a visit – we would relish the opportunity to show you why we believe teaching is the best profession ever!
Once you have successfully completed the course, all trainees will be awarded QTS (Qualified Teacher Status), a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) and credits towards a masters degree too.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Emily Broadhurst, our ITE Lead and Assistant Headteacher on itt@thorndown.cambs.sch.uk or 01480 375103.
We will be recruiting through UCAS and Apply in October.
When searching for places, our primary places on Apply/UCAS will be found under the Lead Teaching School which is Thorndown Primary School postcode PE27 6SE. UCAS code 2LV.
