Training Routes
Thamesmead School Centred Initial Teacher Training can offer you a choice of routes into teaching:-
School Direct (Salaried)
Open to high quality graduates with at least three years’ work experience, who will bring valuable skills and experience to the teaching profession. The experiences of individual trainees will be utilized and a trainee’s existing skills and knowledge may be used to develop the subject knowledge and expertise of departmental colleagues. Trainees will start teaching 3 lessons in week 3 of the programme and build up to 15 lessons per week in the Summer Term. They will be employed as unqualified teachers by one of our partner schools and receive a minimum salary of £18,339. There is no tuition fee payable by the trainee. Trainees follow the same central training programme as the other training routes; they may be required to take on more duties such as covering lessons or occasionally acting as a Teaching Assistant in the Summer Term. School Direct trainees may take up a teaching post in the school following graduation, but this is not guaranteed.
School Direct Tuition (Fee)
Open to all graduates interested in teaching in either the primary or secondary sector. The tuition fee for this route is £8,250. This can be either be self-funded by the trainee or if applicable through the Student Loans Company. Bursaries may be available up to £28,000 dependant on the subject and degree level. Trainees will follow the same central training programme as the other training routes and will begin teaching in week 3; they will not be expected to take on any additional duties in the Summer Term. Trainees may take up a post in the school following graduation, but this is not guaranteed.
PGCE
Thamesmead SCITT is pleased to be able to offer PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) in partnership with the University of Roehampton or Sussex University (subject dependent). This qualification will enable you to teach in certain countries abroad and carries with it 60 masters credits as well as QTS.
This route will offer the graduate nine additional days of subject specific training throughout the academic year as well as extra support from the university.
Both universities offer high quality provision.
The tuition fee for PGCE is £9,250 and is available in most subjects.
SCITT Provider Led (Core)
Open to all graduates, who will follow a central training programme and begin teaching in week 3. There is a greater variety of subject training places available through this route. A tuition fee of £8,250 is payable by the trainee with support from the Student Loan Company (where applicable) or trainees can choose to self-fund; bursaries may be available up to £28,000 dependent on the subject and degree level. Although there is no guarantee of employment with this training route, historical data shows that the vast majority of our trainees are employed by our partner schools or take up a position in Surrey or Greater London following graduation.
All three training routes have the same core elements of theory and practice in the classroom. Each week, trainees spend the majority of their time in the classroom observing good practice and teaching their own lessons. They have a half day Professional Studies session every week at Thamesmead School or in one of our partner schools. The Professional Studies Programme covers topis such as 'Learning and Metacognition', 'Behaviour Management', 'Safeguarding & PREVENT', 'Differentiation', 'Use of Assessment', 'Collaborative Learning', 'Working with Teaching Assistants', 'Effective Use of Voice' plus many more. Sessions are underpinned by up-to-date educational research where relevant.
Trainees who embark upon teacher training with the Thamesmead SCITT can be assured that we will provide you with the best training possible. We will support, guide and challenge you as you become reflective, creative and committed teachers. Children deserve nothing less.