Learners First Secondary ITT (Initial Teacher Training)

Initial teacher training led and delivered by outstanding practicing teachers

Do you have a passion for teaching?  If so, the Learners First ITT programme will:

• Offer an authentic and high quality training approach which allows you to be immersed in school life from the start, fully preparing you for life as a full-time teacher.
• Be led, quality-assured and delivered by experienced practicing professionals who work in high-performing schools, academies and Multi Academy Trusts.
• Provide mentoring and support from outstanding teachers, who focus on ensuring that you develop your knowledge, skills and professional attributes.
• Give you a different experience in a second placement school with an opportunity to explore specialist settings.
• In partnership with our partner Universities, we provide a powerful, bespoke experience to launch your teaching career. We work to ensure that all our trainees have the potential to be outstanding at the end of the programme.
• Offer a programme of academic learning and high quality training. You will cover all aspects of education and pedagogy in your training. This is supported by professional development in areas such as managing behaviour, how to prepare, plan and structure lessons, questioning techniques, demonstrating progress and co-operative learning strategies. This is also a fantastic opportunity to network with like-minded colleagues, share good practice and engage in peer coaching.
• As well as securing your QTS, you will achieve a PGCE with credits towards a Masters qualification.
• Offer excellent support, every step of the way from providing advice about funding, to a comprehensive induction process, you will be guided from application to employment.
• A key part of our programme is also helping you to understand how you can achieve a work-life balance and helping you to become a successful – and healthy – member of a school team.

This programme is delivered jointly by Learners First Schools Partnership (LFSP) and Sheffield Hallam University. You will spend 85% of your time in one of our partner schools, with the other 15% spent attending training sessions facilitated by highly experienced Learners First Partner School senior colleagues or university tutors. 

As a trainee teacher, you would be able to apply for student finance (for trainees on the tuition-fee route and subject to eligibility) and tax-free bursaries of up to £28,000 are available (subject dependent).

All school placements are arranged and organised by LFSP, and you will spend time in at least 2 contrasting schools, as well as gaining additional post-16 experience if required. 

You’ll have the support of mentors in schools who will help you to develop your practice through observations, planning meetings, weekly tutorials, reports and in-depth lesson evaluations, all based around the ITT Core Content Framework.

Your university subject tutor will visit you in school to guide, support and evaluate your progress. There is an emphasis on practical engagement with the curriculum whilst developing your understanding of the theoretical perspectives which underpin the best models of classroom practice.

Qualifications needed

• An undergraduate degree at class 2:2 or above, or equivalent (you can be in the final year of your degree, but any offer made would be conditional to you completing your degree at 2:2 or above before the programme commences in September 2024).

If your degree is not directly relevant to the secondary subject you'd like to complete your ITT year in, then you may need to complete a Subject Knowledge Enhancement prior to commencing your Initial Teacher Training year. This can be discussed with a member of the Learners First team.  If you'd like to discuss the qualifications that you already hold and whether or not you'd be eligible to apply, please don't hesitate to email teachertraining@learnersfirst.org. 

• Grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths, or equivalent qualification.

We’ll consider candidates with pending GCSEs/equivalents.

We’ll consider candidates who need to take a GCSE equivalency test in English or Maths.

Any outstanding GCSE’s must be completed prior to commencing the course in September.  Any offer made at interview would be subject to successful completion. A member of the Learners First team would be more than happy to sign post you to relevant equivalency testing sites if you are unsure.

Personal qualities

• High level of motivation
• Strong work ethic
• Potential to become an effective classroom leader
• Good communicator and listener
• Patience, adaptability, resilience, team-work, imagination
• Positive expectations
• Be organized, and have good time management
• Passion for your subject.

Let us know why you want to teach, and provide evidence that you understand the rewards and challenges of teaching. Previous experience is not compulsory, but if you do have relevant work/voluntary experience, please include this on your application. Tell us about the range of relevant abilities and skills you can bring to teaching.

Other requirements

Satisfactory enhanced DBS clearance

TO APPLY VISIT Apply for teacher training - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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