Train To Teach
Teacher Training opportunities 2024-25
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So, you've decided to take a step towards becoming a teacher..... Good for you!Unity Teaching School Hub is proud to be working alongside a number of high-quality Initial Teacher Training providers via school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT). Unity Teaching School Hub is a Lead Partner of CTSN SCITT, an accredited teacher training provider offering primary and secondary training routes in a range of teacher training centres in different school locations across Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. |
>Why Us? |
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Every Lesson Shapes a Life
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Every kids needs a champion (Rita Pierson)
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Click here to download the DfE's Every Lesson Shapes a Life information document.
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>Why Us? |
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Why Choose Unity Teaching School Hub?
Unity Teaching School Hub is one of 87 Teaching School Hubs in the country designated by the Department for Education to deliver high-quality teacher training and development. We have many years' experience of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and are proud to work in collaboration with CTSN SCITT, an accredited teacher training provider with outstanding Ofsted inspection gradings, high-quality school placements and committed and professional mentors. CTSN SCITT are well-established providers of ITT (Initial Teacher Training) and respected in our local area.
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Unity Teaching School Hub, as a Lead Partner for CTSN SCITT, offers a range of teacher training routes at both Primary and Secondary levels, including salaried, fee-paying, and flexible part-time training routes. We work in collaboration with all primary and secondary schools within the areas of West Suffolk, East Suffolk, Mid Suffolk, Babergh, Ipswich, Colchester and Tendring. You do not have to be located in one of these areas, but will need to be able to travel to one of them easily. We understand that everyone's situation is different. Whether you are a graduate, an under-graduate or want a change of career, we can offer you impartial advice and support you on your journey into teaching, an exciting and fulfilling vocation. If you haven't yet investigated routes into teaching, the requirements for teacher training or want more background information, we would recommend using the DfE's Get into Teaching website so you can align your situation with your training requirements. As a trainee teacher you will undertake most of your training within a school environment in one of our supportive and well-established school partners, with a training day each week, led by our experienced facilitators, to learn the theory of teaching. You can also undertake a PGCE alongside your QTS Teacher Training course, and in some courses, we can offer flexible training routes to support those returning to work or pursuing a career change. (See FAQs for more information) The areas we cover are diverse and there are plenty of opportunities to gain experience and work in different types of schools in different contexts within the Unity Teaching School Hub areas. With close links to London, many outstanding-rated schools, excellent career opportunities once qualified and a plethora of Initial Teacher Training providers and routes to choose from, there will be something that will work for your unique personal circumstances. Once you have completed your Initial Teacher Training, we can continue to support you (via your school) with Early Career Teacher support for the first two years of your teaching career, and, when you are ready, National Professional Qualifications to hone your expertise and teaching skills, and further your career development. |
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>Our Partners |
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Our Partners
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Cambridge Training Schools Network (CTSN SCITT), incorporating Essex Primary SCITT, is a collaboration of Teaching School Hubs, MATs and local schools working together to provide the capacity to deliver effective teacher training throughout Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Peterborough to generate its own high-quality teachers for their schools. Further information about different routes and course options can be found by:
You can also find out about getting school experience with CTSN SCITT here. |
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What does CTSN SCITT have to offer me?
- CTSN SCITT has approachable, friendly and supportive staff who really get to know our trainees, offering fantastic, personalised support. Each trainee has a Senior Tutor who will not only track your progress across the course, but also support any pastoral needs, including applying for your first teaching post.
- CTSN is a highly reputable school network with three Teaching School Hubs and a Research School, alongside its wider school network of excellent schools, many of whom are rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. This provides the perfect opportunity for those looking to qualify whilst learning to teach in a school setting. As a result, our employment record is excellent with most trainees offered teaching posts in our partnership schools. This is a real strength of our course.
- CTSN is currently working closely with Anglia Ruskin University to deliver the PGCE element of the course (necessary for those who wish to teach in other countries in the future.)
- CTSN has links with a wide range of research and support organisations, such as The Chartered College of Teaching, Unity Research School, Anglia Ruskin University and many more. This makes our courses research-led with practical application of this research seen in the classroom.
- You will have access to weekly Core Training sessions led by experts from within our many partnership schools.
- You will have the support of a subject-based Mentor in your placement school setting and the addition of a Subject Specialist Link for another school, who will offer personalised subject-focused support.
- All trainees have a package of core texts provided and we offer a well-stocked library to support your professional development, including access to Anglia Ruskin’s online library.
Unity Teaching School Hub works in collaboration with all primary and secondary schools within the areas of West Suffolk, East Suffolk, Mid Suffolk, Babergh, Ipswich, Colchester and Tendring. You do not have to be located in one of these areas, but will need to be able to travel to one of them easily.
We can offer impartial advice and support you to explore what your teacher training options are and can signpost you to the relevant teacher training providers in the area where you live or may want to work.
All teacher training providers within our Hub area collaborate with each other and with Unity Teaching School Hub to ensure our trainees are given the best quality training and support to make them into the best teachers they can be for our local schools. We also work closely with other Teaching Schools Hubs in the East of England to promote Teacher Training opportunities in the wider region and ensure all initial teacher training in our area is high quality.
>Information Events & Experience Days
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ITT Information Events & School Experience Opportunities
Information Events
The DfE and our ITT partners hold 'Get Into Teaching' information events across the year, some face-to-face and some online.
By attending an event, you will be able to find out about what each ITT provider in our hub has to offer you as you start your career in teaching. You will be able to speak to course leaders who will answer any questions you may have.
- Advice on next steps into teaching and how to apply
- Hear from different training providers in the East of England
- Additional support for those applying for shortage subjects
- Support for school experience visits
Read more: Why Attend an ITT Information Event?
Getting school experience
To support your application to train to teach you can visit local schools to get unpaid experience in the classroom before you start your initial teacher training (ITT).
It can help you:
- Decide if you want to train to be a teacher
- Discover which setting you’d like to teach in (primary or secondary)
- Build a relationship with a school you might want to work for later
For school experience days, you'll need:
- the right to work in the UK
- a degree (or to be studying for one)
- to be aged 18 or over
What to expect
Your experience will either be in a school or joining classes and meeting teachers online. Placements usually last 1 or 2 days, but some can last up to 3 weeks.
During your experience, you will get to do things like:
- Observe lessons
- See how teachers manage a classroom
- Find out how specific subjects are taught
- Speak to teachers and interact with pupils
- Learn more about teacher training - including the application and interview process
Find school experience
The Department for Education has a website where you can search for and request school experience in England:
www.schoolexperience.education.gov.uk
Alternatively, contact us to ask about a school placement in the Unity Teaching School Hub areas of West Suffolk, East Suffolk, Mid Suffolk, Babergh, Ipswich, Colchester or Tendring.
We strongly encourage potential candidates to take up the offer of school experience, especially if you have not had much previous school experience. It can give you lots to refer to in your interview too.
Some schools may ask you to have a DBS check before attending, others will ensure you are always accompanied during your visit to avoid this.
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Funding & Bursaries - Financial support while you train
There is plenty of financial support available during your teacher training depending on the subject you want to teach and your chosen training route.
Funding is available to help you train to teach. You can apply for:
- A tuition fee loan of up to £9,250 to cover your teacher training, so you do not need to pay course fees upfront
- A maintenance loan of up to £13,022 to help with living costs
You can apply for a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan if you already have a student loan, and regardless of whether you get a teaching bursary or scholarship.
You will only have to make loan repayments once you are earning. Your repayments will not increase if you already have a student loan and take an additional loan for teacher training.
Training to be a teacher can be a big investment. You need to consider course and living costs, which can vary between programmes and regions of the UK. Find out what financial help is available by visiting the Department for Education’s funding page.
Across the UK, Initial Teacher Education Trainees (ITET) are entitled to the same student finance as undergraduates.
The amount of funding you receive for teacher training depends on:
- Your chosen route
- Your degree classification or highest relevant academic qualification
- The subject you have chosen to teach
- Where you live and plan to study
- Your personal circumstances
- Teaching bursaries for training in England
Employment-based teacher training courses, including salaried and Teacher Apprenticeships
If you are a trainee on an employment-based training route, such as a salaried route or a Teacher Apprenticeship Route, you are treated as an employee from the beginning. This means that you will earn a salary while you train, and so will not be entitled to other financial support packages.
For salaried teacher training and the Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship route, you will be paid as a member of staff and training costs to gain QTS will be covered by the school. This may also include a PGCE element. Your salary will depend on the school you train in and what subject you are teaching. This all must be agreed in your contract of employment with the school. Not all schools will offer this route for all subjects, so you will need to do your research or speak to an expert advisor. A training programme will be part of your employment.
Bursaries
To encourage graduates to teach certain subjects, bursaries of up to £27,000 are available in England. To be eligible for a bursary you will need the following degree requirements: a first, 2:1, 2:2, Masters or PhD. Certain eligibility requirements depend on the subject and age range you plan to teach and your degree class. Bursaries are only available if you are on a course leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and are not currently employed as a teacher. For information on Bursaries for individual subjects click here.
There is also the option to calculate your funding based on your personal circumstances here.
Scholarships
An alternative to a bursary, teaching scholarships of £29,000 are available to fund your teacher training for some subjects only. This is set up in partnership with highly regarded professional subject associations. These competitive scholarships are aimed at those with a first or 2:1 degree. Applicants with a 2:2 and extensive experience can apply. Scholarships are only available for some subjects.
For more information, click here.
Student loans and Tuition fees
Tuition fee loans are paid directly to your university, college, or ITT provider - it does not matter if you already have a student loan from your undergraduate degree. You can still apply for this student loan to support your teacher training. You will not need to make any repayments until you are working and earning. Use the DfE's student finance calculator to check your eligibility.
Is there any other financial help?
Maintenance loans
You may also be eligible for extra support to help with living costs. Students with children or a disability can apply for further funding from Student Finance - this could include the Childcare Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance, Adult Dependents' grants and Disabled Students' Allowance, which do not have to be paid back.
Details about these grants and the funding arrangements for trainees can be found here.
Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)
DSA is paid in addition to other student finance to help pay the extra costs you may incur because of your disability. It does not have to be repaid, depends on your individual needs, and is not assessed according to your household income. Find out more about Disabled Students' Allowance here.
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>How to apply |
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How do I apply for Initial Teacher Training with Unity Teaching School Hub from Sept 2024?
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Applications for teacher training for the academic year 2024-2025 are now open. All applications for teacher training happen through the Department for Education's Apply for Teacher Training service. 1) Click on the blue button below to go the Department for Education Apply for Teacher Training website.
2) Once you have registered on the DfE 'Apply for Teacher Training' website, search for 'Unity Teaching School Hub' as the Lead Partner and apply for teacher training places in either Primary or Secondary routes through our accredited provider CTSN. We find the best way to support candidates is to talk to them directly and find out their unique circumstances. We pride ourselves on our personal service - please contact us at Unity Teaching School Hub, to arrange a phone conversation or meeting to discuss your situation itt@utsh.org
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Find out more
Explore more by clicking on the links below or why not attend one of our Initial Teaching Training information events to find out more from those that deliver the SCITT courses?
FAQs
What can I expect from the CTSN SCITT course?
- Provider-led training one day a week and then school-based training with an expert mentor to support you. Weekly timetabled mentor meeting slot allocated to each trainee to allow you to reflect on your learning against the curriculum.
- PGCE offer in addition to the QTS teacher training qualification offered on all routes.
- You will train in two contrasting school settings.
- You will have access to subject specialist mentors offering bespoke subject training days throughout the course and a subject ITT training curriculum.
- The course is one academic year and the possibility of part-time over two years.
How will I be assessed?
Assessment is against the curriculum you are taught, and evidence is created against this curriculum. This might take the form of a range of evidence including lesson plans, lesson observations by expert teaching professionals, assessment data for your classes - all of which you collect throughout the course. This evidence feeds into three reports, all leading to QTS.
What routes are available to me when training with Unity Teaching School Hub as a Lead Partner for CTSN SCITT?
Unity Teaching School Hub as a Lead Partner for CTSN SCITT has three routes:
- Fee paying routes
- Salaried routes
- Flexible-part time routes
Not all routes are available for our courses, so check carefully or talk to us.
What subjects are available to train in with Unity Teaching School Hub as a Lead Partner for CTSN SCITT?
SCITT General Primary Non-Salaried (fee paying route) in age 5-11. Primary courses also offer a flexible/part-time option.
SCITT Secondary subjects include Art and Design, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Computing, Design and Technology, Drama, English, Geography, History, Maths, MFL in German and French, MFL in French and Spanish, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology and RE. Some of these subjects will be offered as salaried and part-time options and all will be offered as non-salaried options.
What qualifications do I get if I pass the course?
If you successfully complete the course, you will be awarded Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). This professional qualification is required to teach in state schools in England and Wales. Both the QTS and PGCE routes are equally valued by schools who want to employ the absolute best teachers in their schools.
Those trainees on the PGCE route work with Anglia Ruskin University on a PGCE which includes conducting a classroom-based action research project.
Other useful links and information
Initial teacher training providers in our area
NESTT (previously Suffolk and Norfolk SCITT)
CTSN SCITT
EAST SCITT
Colchester Teacher Training Consortium
Links to Guidance from the Department for Education
How your DfE Teacher Training Adviser Helps
You'll receive advice with:
- getting school experience
- funding your course
- choosing the right training
- writing your personal statement
- interview tips
What to expect from personalised guidance
Get one step closer to the classroom with guidance tailored to you, including how to get:
- a taste of teaching
- funding to train
- one-to-one support
- advice from trainees or newly qualified teachers
Unity Teaching School Hub Initial Teacher Training Team will be delighted to offer guidance, support and signposting to you regarding initial teacher training providers (itt@utsh.org).
Additional Resources
Deans for Impact - Slides from March 23 Mentor Conference #3
Download the slides from this presentation.
