Teacher Training

As a base for training, The Friary School is committed to developing the talents of the teachers of the future and as such has made a large investment in supporting new entrants into the profession.

An important part of the development of existing staff is working with and supporting our trainees, encouraging reflective practice and an open, professional dialogue about the dynamics of teaching and learning. Our students and teachers also benefit from the fresh ideas and energy that the trainees bring.

University Based Initial Teacher Training

We have long held links with several local university providers of Initial Teacher Training with course participants choosing PGCE or School Direct training at:

Equally, we work with a strong of other university providers on an as-and-when basis.

School-Centred Initial Teacher Training

As well as the more traditional routes, The Friary School also offers a School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) route to achieving Qualified Teacher Status working in partnership with The National Forest Teaching School, The Arthur Terry Teaching School, and The Sutton Park Teaching School Alliance.

Certainly, if you are interested in training to become a teacher, then The Friary School can provide you with a successful route into education.

The goal of the SCITT is to make participants more reflective, sharper and more highly engaged as a trainee teacher than you would be on any other programme.

This unique approach to initial teacher training, focused on each individuals’ professional development needs, is the pattern for the future and involvement in it will give trainees an edge in a competitive environment.

Essentially, by contacting The Friary School direct, we can provide you with a clear pathway into the fantastic career that is teaching.

Support & Development

A wide range of staff are involved in Initial Teacher Training and Early Careers Framework Training at The Friary School.

Departments have a subject mentor who has overall responsibility for trainees and in addition we encourage other subject teachers to become trained mentors.

A wide range of staff are also involved in delivering training to trainees and all staff are encouraged to share expertise or ideas in areas of interest with them.

The Friary School will provide each trainee with:

  • A supportive environment which offers a fair, consistent approach to the professional support and assessment of all trainees.
  • Time management support which takes account of individual training needs.
  • A wide range of experiences and developmental opportunities in the classroom, and in the school as a whole, appropriate to their programme.
  • A secure foundation for entry to the profession through facilitating the observation of a range of good and outstanding practice and the opportunity to apply those acquired skills themselves.
  • A graduated timetable, allowing increased teaching responsibility.
  • A programme of induction including access to key school documentation, resources and personnel.

Dedicated mentor support which will include:

  • Regular meetings to set and review targets.
  • Guidance for successfully meeting the standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
  • Informal lesson observations and discussion about good practice.
  • Formal lesson observations with written feedback and the opportunity for discussion and reflection and completion of any summative reports or references as required by the placement partnership.
  • Lesson observations with written feedback and the opportunity for discussion and reflection and completion of any summative reports or references as required by the placement partnership.

Benefits to the trainee of choosing to train with us:

  • Begin to relate training received from their provider into an academy context.
  • Observe examples of good practice in all areas of the teaching process.
  • Develop the skills and knowledge required for effective teaching in a supportive environment.
  • Reflect on their own practice through discussion and target setting with subject mentors and the senior staff.
  • Opportunity to gain from the knowledge and experience of current professionals.
  • Support from professionals who are familiar with the QTS standards and the expectations of their provider.

Further Information

If you would like any further information about training at The Friary School, please contact Sam Sullivan, Assistant Headteacher, via office@friaryschool.co.uk.