Trainees will be expected to work in school throughout the entire academic year. The majority of their time will be spent in the lead school, where they will become part of the school community, and six weeks in an alternative placement. 

For the recommendation of QTS, all trainees will be placed in 2 consecutive Key Stages:

Primary (5-11) Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2

Secondary (11-16) Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4

Trainees will have the opportunity to experience adjacent Key Stages and a Special School setting in the autumn term and have five intensive practice weeks, each looking at an area of the core curriculum. Trainees work in a second placement school in the spring term.

In the lead school, trainees will be introduced to the practice of teaching in a structured way, with appropriate support from their mentor and other colleagues to build up their teaching experience at a pace which matches their readiness, while continuing to observe experienced practitioners.

They will also experience pastoral responsibilities and have opportunities to contribute to the life of the school which will include staff meetings and parents’ evenings. Trainees will use the school experience to provide evidence that they have met the Teachers’ Standards.