Teach West Midlands | Train to Teach West Midlands | School Direct | Teacher Training Course West Midlands

Address

Seabridge Primary School, Roe Lane, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffs ST5 3PJ

Telephone

01782 432537

Email

enquiries@knste-shaw.org.uk

Partner

Keele University

TSA vision:

Promotion and development of quality Early Years education.

Catchment Area

West Midlands

Qualification

PGCE and QTS

Salaried / non salaried routes:

Non-salaried

Phases

Primary

Engagement in school experience programme or similar:

Although school experience is not required we do offer Back to School days and insight days within our partnership schools so that applicants have the opportunity to see if teaching is for them.

Unique selling point of your programme:

Keele and North Staffordshire Education is a School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) Provider with a partnership of over 80 schools who work closely with Shaw Education Trust and Keele University to offer high quality teacher education. Ours is an innovative course which is available as both a full and a 2 year flexible route. You will come to us with a wealth of experience, talents and attributes. We seek to develop these in relation to early years, primary and special school pedagogy. You will complete a Keele University Postgraduate or Professional Certificate alongside your Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). In 2017 we were recognised as being an 'outstanding' provider by Ofsted. They stated that, 'The partnership's strapline is 'rooted in evidence, reaching for excellence'. Leaders ensure that it does exactly that, by leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that trainees receive the high-quality training, support and challenge they require to be successful teachers.'

Our partnership is made up of primary, special and middle schools and comprises a mixture of large and small, urban and rural, faith schools, local authority and academy settings. Our schools are predominately located in Stoke-on-Trent, and across Staffordshire, not just the north of the county. A map of our current partnership is available at https://knste-shaw.org.uk/placement-schools/. We have a teaching base at Keele University, Seabridge School and a Midlands hub at Streethay Primary School.

How are we different?
We offer:

• a distinctive combination of subject specialisms rather than a purely generalist training;
  
• the opportunity to complete a full placement in a special school setting
  
• a strong emphasis on high quality school-based input;
  

We start the course in school and then you will join us for a two week induction delivered at Keele University and Seabridge School. In week four you continue with your first school placement, you will spend 3 days in school and 2 days at our teaching centres. In second placement you increase the amount of teaching time in school, but you are supported throughout by a personal tutor and two Teacher Educators (mentors).

Keele and North Staffordshire Teacher Education foregrounds evidence informed practice.
Centre-based sessions are, whenever possible led by school based colleagues in one of our teaching classrooms, either at Keele University (ST5 5BG) or at our Staffordshire Hub (new from September 2019) or Seabridge Primary School (ST5 3PJ). All our classrooms are set up for young children to be taught within it as well as yourselves. The rooms are fully equipped and you will have access to an extensive set of resources to support all curriculum areas within early years, primary and special needs education. Many of these can be loaned to you whilst on placement.

Programme participants are assessed through written assignments, presentations and portfolios. These are all based on classroom practice. Successful completion of these tasks enables candidates to develop into highly effective and caring teachers who are exceptional curriculum thinkers.

All participants undertake PGCE modules in:

• Learners and Learning
  
• Learning and Assessment
  
• Subject Identity and Pedagogy
  
• Effective and Outstanding Practice
  

Whilst our programme trains you to become a General Primary Practitioner, we are delighted also to offer
specialisms. Our specialisms include, Early Years (PGCE with QTS), English and the Connected Curriculum,
Foreign Languages, Geography and History, Mathematics, Physical Education, Science.

Primary Pedagogy and SEND
We also offer Pedagogy and SEND (5-11) programme with our subject specialisms (excluding Early Years). Trainees will benefit from experience across 2 placements, a combination of mainstream and special school settings. We are very excited by this highly innovative, successful and much needed programme. More information can be found on our website https://knste-shaw.org.uk/programme-information/#primary-pedagogy-and-send if you are interested in enriching your specialism with a Special Educational Needs focus then please have a look at our programme offered through the Blackfriars Teaching School Alliance (1JA).

2 Year Flexible Programme
Keele and North Staffordshire Teacher Education offer a 2 year flexible route for all its primary courses (including the SEND pathway). This route is directed particularly at career changers, or those with caring responsibilities and will offer the opportunity to phase in your Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programme, combining it with other commitments. Whilst this route will appeal to many and it is a great opportunity, it is a demanding option and one that will draw on your organisational skills and capacity to prioritise how you use your time.

How does it work?
On the 2 year flexible route you will receive one day per week of core, professional and subject knowledge training during your first year and one day of school experience. These will be on a Thursday and Friday. The proportion of time that you spend in school will increase in the Summer Term of Year 1, but never exceed two days. You will be in one school throughout the year. The course runs from the end of August through until the end of June. During your second year you will spend three days per week with us, during the Autumn and Spring Terms, two of these will be school based (Wednesday and Thursday) and Fridays will be SCITT based. In the Summer Term of Year 2 you will then need to commit to spending 6 weeks full time in a school. You will be in a different school in Year 2 to that which you were in for Year 1. The reason for being full-time during your final term is so that you can assure yourself and ourselves that you can sustain the demands of full-time teaching. This will enhance your employability as well as develop your passion for the profession. You can opt to complete your NQT and RQT Years on a part-time basis following your successful achievement of your ITE programme.

What qualifications will you achieve?
At the end of the two years of ITE you will gain QTS, together with a Keele University PGCE Academic Award worth 60 Master's credits (4 modules of 15 credits. The four modules are Effective and Outstanding Practice (EOP), Subject Identity and Pedagogy (SIP), Learning and Assessment (LA) and Learners and Learning (LL)) You will be expected to complete your first module during the Autumn Term of Year 1, and second in the Spring Term. The remaining two modules are completed in the Autumn and Summer Terms of Year 2. Additionally you will be required to complete school based professional enquiries. Details of these will be provided at the start of the course. You will receive the same amount of SCITT Tutor and academic tuition visits as the full time trainees, but spread across the two years. The table overleaf provides you with additional information.

Professional pathway beyond ITT:

• Opportunities for Philosophy for Children Training which is accredited by Sapere.
  
• Opportunities for Teacher Educator (mentor) training which is accredited by NASBTT.
  
• Professional development opportunities through Stoke on Trent Research School
  
• Masters in Education offered by Keele University.