The Suffolk & Norfolk PGCE Primary SCITT programme offers you a real balance between hands-on classroom experience and the theory underpinning educational practice.
In 2009/10 the PGCE Primary SCTT Programme was awarded 'outstanding' by Ofsted.
Over the years Primary SCITT has moved from strength to strength. It has done this by constantly seeking improvement and development and by responding to national and local initiatives.
When and where will I train?
The training follows the school year and totals 190 days. You will have 110 days placement experience in two primary schools, usually near or within a reasonable distance of your home. These are complemented by 80 centre-based training days wrapped around the beginning and end of each term. Every single day of training is vital. Teaching placements are available in schools across the whole of Suffolk and the south and east of Norfolk.
Where does the Centre-based training take place?
Centre-based training is duplicated in two training locations, one in Ipswich and one in Lowestoft with the exception of 8 specialism training days. The specialism training takes place in venues more central to the whole region as these groups are a mix of north-based and south-based trainees. Centre-based training covers not only the subject knowledge and the teaching methods appropriate to each subject but the important skills of behaviour management and classroom organisation. Planning learning and assessing children’s progress is also a central thread running through all elements of the course.
When will I learn the theory of learning and teaching?
Centre training is packed with theory. Important areas such as behaviour management, planning, assessment for learning and how to support children with additional needs are given great attention. In addition to this there is significant subject knowledge training in English, maths, science and ICT. Trainees learn how children learn to read, they observe good practice in the teaching of reading and they have regular opportunities to apply the theoretical knowledge they build up term by term. You will receive a laptop, a digital camera, a digital voice recorder and a USB pen for the duration of the training. ICT threads through all elements of the training enabling trainees to qualify with the knowledge, skills and understanding for teaching subjects across the primary and early years age phases. You will complete your training having practised your skills in behaviour management as well as developing strong subject knowledge in English, maths and science. You will also develop a deep understanding of how children learn and develop.
What support will I receive?
You will be very well supported throughout all elements of the training. You will receive personalised support both by your mentors in school placements and your SCITT keyworker allocated to them for the whole year. Your keyworker will communicate with you proactively through e mail, one to one tutorial in centre and short support visits whiles you are in placement. When you transfer to your second placement in term 2 your strengths and needs are shared with their new mentor in order to help you continue building your confidence and teaching skills. Centre trainers will also provide a level of tutorial support for your academic assignments. Group tutorials will be initially provided, followed by one to one tutorials on a needs basis.
You will also receive tremendous support from your fellow trainees. The trainee groups, north and south, form close support networks throughout the year and beyond. They often car- share and communicate electronically via email or text.
The programme’s virtual learning platform is also a useful way of both accessing information and resources and finding links to academics journals etc.
Why should I choose this training route?
The employability of our trainees is very high. Every year over 90% of trainees secure their first teaching post locally with some gaining posts in their placement schools. If you are successful in gaining a place on this popular initial teacher training course you will be find it fully prepares you for your first few years of teaching. There are now 58 allocated trainee places, a rise of 5 places. Each year people from all walks of life join the course. It is an intensive training programme but the individual needs of all trainees are fully supported so they may make the best possible progress through the year. The majority of our trainees gain teaching posts in the eastern region. Many of our ex-trainees are now mentoring trainees themselves in local schools. Many are now moving into leadership posts. Indeed we have our first ‘home-grown’ SCITT Headteacher!
What qualifications do I gain?
On successful completion of the programme you will gain Qualified Teacher Status and a PGCE (Professional Graduate Certificate in Education).
Can I gain M Level credits while training?
Yes! for the first time from September 2011 trainees are able to enrol for a Masters in Learning and Teaching at UCS (University Campus Suffolk). This will enable them to gain credits towards a MA in education at the same time as studying for their QTS and PGCE. Go to http://www.ucs.ac.uk/Courses/PG/LearningandTeaching/MALearningandTeaching.aspx to find out more.
Can I specialise in a particular age phase?
You may choose to be an early years specialist or a primary specialist, however the overall qualification of QTS enables you to teach in any age phase in the primary years from 3 – 11 years.
If you choose to be an early years specialists your teaching experience will be in the Foundation Stage (3-5 yrs) and in KS1 (5-7 yrs). You will follow exactly the same centre training as the primary specialists apart from an 8 day module focusing on the theory underpinning pedagogical and curricular approaches to young children’s development and learning.
For primary specialists your teaching experience will be in both KS1 (5-7 yrs) and in KS2 (7-11). You will follow exactly the same centre training as the early years specialists apart from an 8 day module focusing on the theory underpinning pedagogical and curricular approaches to primary aged children’s development and learning.
Where can I find out more?
You can find out more by attending one of our SNITT roadshows, details of which will be published on the News & Events pageof our website.
