Secondary ITT

Application for Secondary School Direct 2018 opens on UCAS towards the end of October 2017.

Why train with us?

We are the Cotswold Edge Teaching Alliance (CETA) – a partnership of schools and institutions sharing our skills, experience and capacity to help improve learning and achievement in schools across Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire. The Cotswold Edge Teaching Alliance members have a shared vision to work together to provide excellent provision and outcomes for all students in their schools and to support other schools to do the same. Working in partnership across the primary and secondary sector is central to our ethos.

CETA is an inspirational place to work and learn. It provides a high quality school based learning opportunity for trainee teachers in partnership with the Gloucestershire Initial Teacher Education Partnership (GITEP). We have a strong track record of working with trainee teachers for many years and fully embrace the energy, enthusiasm and drive they offer to a school community. Within our alliance there are five secondary schools working collaboratively to provide support, challenge and a diverse and exciting experience for our trainees.

Students across the partnership are well-motivated and are at the heart of everything we do. In CETA we believe that our staff are the most valuable resource and therefore they have access to on-going training and professional development. Our teachers are excellent practitioners and they are eager to share their skills, knowledge and practice with the next generation of teachers.

  1. Entry Requirements

    You should be a graduate, preferably with a 1st or a 2:1 degree although we may consider applicants who have a 2:2 who can demonstrate a passion and aptitude for teaching and learning.

    The content of your degree should allow you to demonstrate strong subject knowledge in your chosen subject area.

    You will also need a grade C or above in GCSE English and Maths.

    If you have studied outside the UK, you should visit the National Academic Recognition Centre (NARIC) website to find out whether your qualifications are of an equivalent level to UK GCSEs, A levels or an undergraduate degree.

    Please note that all applicants are required to pass the NCTL literacy and numeracy skills tests prior to entry onto the training programme.

  2. What we are looking for?

    General guidance

    Along with an awareness of educational issues, a desire to excite, stimulate and engage young people with the possibilities and pleasures open to them in studying this subject is a good starting point for an application. We are looking for ambitious trainee teachers who are passionate and enthusiastic about their subject and have a desire to share that with students in the secondary age range. Your commitment should be demonstrated by meaningful experience of working with young people of this age. For example, you may have been involved with some work with students in previous jobs or on a voluntary basis. You may have direct experience in schools through visits which you have organised or through some other scheme.

    We expect applicants to come from a wide range of backgrounds and, therefore, with a wide range of skills. This is a strength of the programme as it allows us to use your differences so that you can learn from one another. CETA trainee teachers are resilient, have strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to lifelong learning.

  3. How We Select Our Trainees

    The Interview

    The selection process centres around an assessment day based at one of our alliance schools. If you are invited for interview, you will receive full details of what will be expected of you in a letter of invitation. You will experience a programme which will include: you working with a small group of students, time spent with subject specialist staff, an opportunity to talk with students and a formal interview in which GITEP and representatives from our partner schools will be involved.
    You will be expected to be familiar with key issues and developments in secondary education as well the challenges facing schools today- especially those in your subject area. It will help you to read the educational press and to talk to teachers and those currently undertaking teacher training.

    Our interview procedure is a rigorous and thorough process, designed to get the best match of applicant to the School Direct places available.

    The School Visit
    The best preparation for interview is a visit to a school. We would encourage you to do so and would suggest that you contact any of our partner schools. When you visit the school be sure to talk to teachers and students and participate if you are encouraged to do so. Try to evaluate what is being learned and the way in which the teacher encourages this learning. This would be valuable preparation for the interview process.

  4. About This Training Programme

    Course structure
    The training provider is the Cotswold Edge Teaching Alliance with Marling School as the lead School. Our accrediting partner is GITEP. There are four other secondary schools involved in the delivery of the programme. For further information on all the partners check out their websites:

    GITEP

    Marling School

    Bournside School 

    Severn Vale School

    Stroud High School

    You will be trained in a highly supportive and aspirational environment and will develop the rigour, professional knowledge, understanding and skills necessary for the delivery of creative, purposeful and challenging teaching and learning.

    Placement in School
    With a School Direct place at CETA you will be selected by the alliance from day one. You will spend two terms in your parent school (which will be one of our five partner schools) not only developing your classroom skills but also attending regular professional development sessions run in school by colleagues. You will be offered two mentors to support you throughout your journey; this is a wonderful opportunity to ‘learn on the job’. In the spring term you will be offered a contrasting placement in another partner school.

    PGCE
    Trainees recruited to the School Direct programmes follow the same course as other GITEP trainees if they choose the PGCE route (subject to validation).

    The course is highly interactive, challenging and stimulating and will require you to be committed, energetic and reflective. We aim to train and grow outstanding teachers who are inquisitive about the issues surrounding teaching and learning and who are creative yet resilient and meticulous in their approach.

    The Subject Pathway course (run by GITEP) is divided into four modules and their purpose is to introduce, develop, broaden and extend trainees’ knowledge. Subject Pathway workshops are highly valued by trainees and provide a weekly opportunity to learn more about the subject. Overall, the course is a highly demanding yet enjoyable one. Most importantly, it will make you feel confident and highly prepared for your future role as an outstanding teacher in the secondary classroom.

    Assessment
    Formal assessment for the School Direct programme takes place throughout the year. There is no final written examination.

    Assessment takes the form of assessed practical teaching against the Teachers’ Standards and course work assignments set by GITEP.

    Successful completion of the programme requires passes in practical teaching and in all assignments; the marking criteria for both scales are against a comprehensive range of criteria explicitly linked to the standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

  5. About this training provider

    Accommodation
    We are unable to provide accommodation for students.

    Child Care Facilities
    Unfortunately we are unable to provide any child care facilities however there are many local providers within close proximity to our main placement schools.

    Disability Access
    We welcome applications from students with disabilities. We would however recommend that you contact us at to us at Marling Amanda emaildiscuss your needs prior to making an application.

    GITEP
    Our secondary Schools Direct places are supported by GITEP. Click here for more information on their role.

    Public Transport
    All of our main placement schools are well served by public transport and also easily accessible from the M5.

CETA offers cross phase CPD and leadership training which is collaboratively planned and delivered by partner schools. Through this model our CPD is developed by teachers for teachers.

Here at CETA we offer Initial Teacher Training. To become a qualified teacher in state maintained schools across England and Wales you need to have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). This is gained through training known as Initial Teacher Training (ITT).

CETA can support other schools by drawing on skilled and qualified leaders, teachers and school practitioners from our partner schools.