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We are a genuine Partnership run BY and FOR schools who passionately believe that teacher training can and should be delivered with the student at the very heart of why and how we deliver training.
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Teach Yorkshire – Information Event (4th Mar 2019)

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As one of the founding members of the Teach Yorkshire Network of schools-based teacher training providers, we’re really pleased to invite you to come along to one of our local Information Events.

Our next event is:

Teach Yorkshire – 4th Mar 2019 (Sheffield)

  • On: Mon 4th March 2019
  • From: 4pm – 6pm
  • At: All Saints Catholic High School, Granville Road, Sheffield, S2 2RJ
  • Just 10 mins walk / less than 1/2 mile from Sheffield’s Train Station

Click HERE to register to attend

 

A few of the Teach Yorkshire Team at one of our recent events!

You’ll get the chance to meet with and discuss your application with a number of local schools-based teacher trainers offering School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) & School Direct programmes.

You can chose three providers when you apply for teacher training on UCAS, so chose which 3 best suit your schools-based training needs with Teach Yorkshire.

A big thank you to our hosts and fellow Teach Yorkshire colleagues at Learning Unlimited TSA – we look forward to seeing you there!

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Applications, Hints & Tips

Talk to your Referees now!

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Don’t let the Snow fall while you wait for a reference to come through!

The UCAS recruitment system requires applicants to nominate two Referees – one should be your current (or most recent) employer or perhaps your course tutor, if you’re still at Uni.

Whoever you nominate, we advise you to speak to them NOW if you haven’t done so already, as your application will not be able to be sent on to us from UCAS until both references are back in their system.

So speak to them NOW so that they can agree to provide a reference, know to look out for a reference request for you soon and understand how important it is to you that they complete it as soon as possible.

Good luck with your applications!

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Applications, Events, Information, Support

*** ‘Drop-in’ sessions in Doncaster***

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Need to talk to someone about your application?

It’s always great to meet with and talk to potential applicants wanting to apply to train to teach in Doncaster, so if you have queries about our training programme or if you want to discuss any aspect of your application, then please come along and see us at one of our school  / centre ‘Open Day’ / ‘Drop-in’ sessions or local Events:

2019

Confirmation of dates/times and details of further Open Days will be posted here once finalised.

Although it does help us to know (by email) if you are coming, there’s no need to book a slot at an open day / drop-in session, so please just turn up at the school’s or centre’s Reception and we’ll be on hand to help you with any queries you may have regarding schools-based teacher training or making an application etc.

We look forward to seeing you!

Meadowhall Event (2)  

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Previous Events:

2018/19:

Also look out for other posts with details of the DfE (Department for Education) ‘Train to Teach Roadshows’ taking place in the Region (Doncaster – 13th March 2019!)and our own ‘Teach Yorkshire’ Events, which are held in Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster & Barnsley .

 

  

Information, Providers

For ITT and NQT Mentors in all Doncaster schools

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Exciting opportunity for ITT and NQT Mentors in all Doncaster schools

PiL – Enhance your mentoring skills

Partners in Learning – Teaching School Alliance & the Doncaster ITT Partnership are working in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University to offer FREE online Mentor training and accreditation.

Mentors have a key role supporting the professional development of Trainees and Newly Qualified Teachers and this programme has been designed to further support your development and provide accreditation for the significant expertise and skills that Mentors have.

All Doncaster Mentors were invited to the launch of the online programme at Castle Park on Tuesday 20th Nov 2018, where we were delighted that Richard Pountney from Sheffield Hallam University delivered the session.

But don;t worry if you weren’t able to make that event, you can still apply to join the on-line programme.

 

Applications, Information, Support

*** Apply NOW – Search for ITT places for 2019-20***

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To apply for Schools-based ITT in Doncaster for 2019-20:

Please go to the DfE’s “Find Postgraduate Teacher Training” to search for training places, then go to www.UCAS.com to apply for SCITT & School Direct places with the Doncaster ITT Partnership  for 2019-20.

Search for ‘Doncaster‘ then, for:

SCITT – ‘Doncaster ITT Partnership’ (Primary & Secondary)

Or for School Direct:

Primary* – ‘Doncaster Partners in Learning Teaching School Alliance’
Secondary – ‘Doncaster Regional Alliance For Teacher Training Secondary’ (‘DRAFTTS’)
apply-now-button

We’ve been allocated our places for 2019-20, so we are especially interested in receiving applications for certain ‘Priority‘ Secondary subject areas:

  • Physics;
  • Chemistry;
  • Computing;
  • Design Technology (esp. Resistant Materials);
  • Mathematics
  • Modern Languages (French & Spanish – possibly German, if with Spanish / French);
  • Geography.

And we are also be looking to fill a number of Secondary subjects (in addition to the above) inc:

  • Art & Design;
  • Biology;
  • Dance;
  • Drama;
  • English;
  • History;
  • Physical Education – see notes below*;
  • Religious Education (Not yet open for applications);
  • Social Science;

And of course:

  • Primary!

Good luck with your applications!

*NOTES:

Please note that PE is always very heavily over subscribed and places are always quickly filled, so please consider if you have the relevant skills, experience or degree (i.e. Sports ‘Science’) to perhaps consider applying for another subject (e.g. Biology or Primary etc.).

*PE & EBacc subject:

The DfE have again committed to supporting a limited number of additional PE places where the applicant has: a good A-Level pass in a relevant EBacc subject; can demonstrate an ability to develop their subject knowledge (SKE may be available) and train to teach ‘some’ of that subject in addition to PE. All assessments for the award of QTS will still be based on the PE element of training, but will enable the trainee to be considered for a teaching timetable that included the EBacc subject in future. 

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Applications, Hints & Tips, Information, Support

GCSEs – ‘Equivalency Tests’ and Level 2 Qualifications

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GCSEs:

You’ll need your GCSEs (Grade C  or above/equivalent* – New GCSE Grade 4 or above) in Maths & English [and a Science if you want to teach Primary], but make sure that you have them BEFORE you apply.

If you don’t have them yet, you can consider doing an ‘Equivalency Test’ before you apply for teacher training. A simple internet search will bring up a number of organisations who deliver Equivalency Tests.

Level 2 Qualifications:
Please note that Level 2 Qualifications (e.g. GNVQs etc.) are NOT equivalent, as they do not have the ‘breadth or depth’ of a GCSE or a recognised equivalent.

If you do apply and only have Level 2 qualifications, your application will not be progressed further, so please look to take a GCSE resit, alternative qualification or an Equivalence Test before applying for a place on one of our ITT programmes.

Equivalency Tests:

Please enter an internet search for ‘Equivalency Testing‘  and select which organisation’s course you wish to apply to.

Once you have passed the test, we would accept this as an equivalence to the GCSE.

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Applications, Events, Information, Support

*** Train to Teach in South Yorkshire – Doncaster (13th March 2019) ***

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To find out more about schools-based teacher training in South Yorkshire and to discuss your application to the Doncaster ITT Partnership, visit us at the next Train to Teach Event in Doncaster, organised by the Department for Education (DfE).

Train to Teach Spring Flyer

We’ll be at:

The Mercure Doncaster Centre, Danum Hotel, High Street, Doncaster, DN1 1DN , from 4.30 – 8pm on 13th March 2019

Who is this event for?

This event is designed for anyone who has a degree and is interested in teaching – particularly those who are considering starting teacher training in September 2019. 

 What to expect:

If you attend the event you’ll be able to:

  • discuss the different teacher training options available, to help you decide which would best suit you;
  • meet representatives from our own and other schools/universities that deliver teacher training in this area, and find out about their courses and entry requirements;
  • receive advice on submitting a successful UCAS application;
  • talk to practicing teachers, including those who have changed career to teach, about what a career as a teacher is really like;
  • find out about bursaries, scholarships and funding available for teacher training.

AND . . . . (hopefully) you’ll be able to attend a Get into Teaching Skills Workshop (at the Mercure, probably from 2.30pm – 4.30pm), so register for a place once they’ve confirmed the full details of the event.

Register for your free place today at: Train to Teach

 So ‘Save the Date’ and we’ll look forward to seeing you there if not before!

And, if you couldn’t get to the Sheffield Get into Teaching event last year and you can’t wait to see us at this event in Doncaster in March, then please see all of our school / centre ‘Open Days‘ and come along to discuss your application for teacher training in Doncaster.

We look forward to meeting you at one of these these events.

 

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Applications, Information

*** Financial support while you Train ***

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Find out about the ITT Bursaries, Scholarships and School Direct (Salaried) grants for the academic year 2019 to 2020 at the Department for Education (DfE): Get Into Teaching website.

Get up to £28,000 (TAX FREE) to train to teach!

And you may also be entitled to Additional Financial Support while you train.

The DfE provided bursary awards for 2019-20 are as follows:

Graduates with top degrees training to teach in ‘priority‘ Secondary subjects may be eligible for a Bursary Grant or a Scholarship of up to:

  • Mathematics* -£32,000 Scholarship or  £30,000 Bursary
    • This is made up of either a £22k Scholarship or £20k Bursary with two additional payments each of £5k after the 3rd & 5th year in teaching (*see below as ‘Doncaster’ gives you even more!).
  • £28,000 Scholarship or £26,000 Bursary in other high-priority subjects for Trainees with a 1st, 2:1, 2:2, PhD or Master’s for:
    • Physics
    • Chemistry
    • Computing
    • Languages (Scholarships for French, Spanish & German ONLY)
    • Geography

And other subjects have Bursaries of:

  • £26,000 (1st, 2:1, 2:2, PhD or Master’s)
    • Biology
  • £15,000 (1st, 2:1, 2:2, PhD or Master’s)
    • English
  • £12,000 (1st, 2:1, 2:2, PhD or Master’s) for:
    • Design & Technology (D&T)
    • History
  • £9,000 (1st, 2:1, 2:2, PhD or Master’s)  for:
    • Music
    • RE

*Mathematics: The new bursaries for Maths teachers (unveiled by the then Secretary of State, Justine Greening, in early October 2017) gives Maths graduates up to £32,000 on top of their teaching salaries in exchange for joining and remaining in the teaching profession.

All Maths graduates will get an upfront payment of £20,000 (£22K for Scholars) when they become Secondary school teachers, with those who stay on in the profession then receiving two subsequent payments of £5,000 in each of their 3rd & 5th years of their teaching career.

However, an increased incremental amount of £7,500 will be available “to encourage the best maths teachers to teach in more challenging schools”. Teaching in Doncaster will entitle you to this increased amount.

Other subjects which are not otherwise listed above (e.g. Primary or PE etc.) do not have a bursary, so if you’re not sure if you’ll be eligible, please contact us to discuss your application, at:

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Hints & Tips, Information, Support

Skills Tests – How NOT to fail them!

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The recent changes to Skills Tests is excellent news, but you still have to pass them, even if you do now get 3 FREE attempts and no ‘lock-out’ for 2-years if you do fail the 3rd test anymore.

Since the changes, if you had failed a 3rd test sometime over the past few years and were ‘locked-out’, you no longer have to wait for 2-years and so can reapply on UCAS and start taking tests again now. If this is YOU, we’d love to hear from you ASAP about reapplying for this year.

So clearly we’d like you all to pass the Skills Tests as soon as possible and preferably not have to pay for a test, so we’d rather you were properly prepared to take and pass them , hopefully first time, so please read this carefully:

Firstly it’s important that you take the right documents when attending the Skills Test centers. Anyone that doesn’t follow the process (below) might be turned away, and may lose their first free attempt at taking the Skills Tests.

Booking the skills tests:

You can book your Skills Tests once you have submitted your application through UCAS Teacher Training. You can book in advance of this, as long as your application is submitted before you attend the test centre.

You can complete a fully interactive online test before you attend – simply follow the instructions on the page and use this activation key: jhULiqgX

What you need to bring:

  • Two forms of identification – a primary ID such as a passport, and a secondary ID (e.g. a debit card). More information can be found on the STA Website
  • You also need to bring proof of your teacher training application – e.g.:
  • a welcome email from UCAS Teacher Training;
  • correspondence from your school or university provider;
  • a copy of your completed UCAS Teacher Training application form;
  • confirmation of, or an invitation to, an interview from your school or university.

For more information please visit: www.sta.education.gov.uk

We run coaching sessions for applicants who have been offered a place to train with us, but other organisations also offer helpful advice or on-line guidance, such as TES – Get help preparing for the Professional Skills Tests – Register for FREE on-line sessions.

So, once you know what you’re taking with you, please consider that:

In our experience, many applicants take the first one without any real preparation thinking “how hard can it be?” and are then surprised by the test and fail it. Then they do some practice tests, but think we need them to pass the tests ASAP, so re-book without really taking the time they need to be ready to pass and so fail again, perhaps just by an odd mark.

So, be one of those who doesn’t take it lightly, be very well prepared for your first attempts and you’ll more than likely pass them both first time. But if not, make sure that you are totally ready for the 2nd attempt and then you’ll not be putting yourself under the pressure of having to take it for a 3rd time, even if you can now go back for a 4th or 5th etc. as after the 3rd test you will have to pay.

Almost everyone passes by the 3rd attempt, very few fail and most pass 1st or 2nd time.

Take and pass the ‘easier’ of the two first. If Maths is your ‘thing’ do that one and then take the literacy later on. If English is your strength, do that one first then take the numeracy later.

Don’t book to take them both on the same day just to save travel time and costs – it could put you under too much pressure and end up costing you far more in the long run!

For applicants offered places with us, we run coaching & support events in the Spring & Summer Term, so there’s no mad rush having to take them just yet.

And . . . you might want to go to one or more the following – other websites & services can be found from a simple Google search (other search engines are also available!), but these have been recommended by some of our former trainees:

Numeracy Ready & How to pass the Numeracy test (Quote ‘NST20’ for a Discount)

FREE online sessions (TES)

How to pass the Literacy test

Literacy Skills Test (spellings)

Creative Openings (Numeracy & Literacy support)

QTS Skills Tests

Good luck with your Skills Tests!

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Applications, Information

Is all Schools-led ITT the same?

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NO!

We’re all the same in many respects, but very different in others. We all have to meet the same ITT Entry Criteria, but we go about it in very different ways and it’s the same with how you’ll be trained.

Even the 2nd ‘S‘ in ‘schools‘ is a key difference – will you get a chance to train in a range of contrasting schools [plr] or mainly be based in just one school (sgl), with just a short placement in a quite similar school?

See what one of our Trainees thought about his training with us.

So what should you be looking for?

  • Training with an Accredited ITT Provider at the very heart of the programme, not just a distant university linked to a group of schools;
  • Alliances with a broad range of contrasting schools, not just a few similar schools who’ve set-up to do Schools Direct;
  • Having a choice about doing a PGCE or not and making sure it’s a full PGCE with 60 Masters Credits all at Level 7, not just a ‘PG Cert’ or with credits only at Level 6;
  • Training provision with a history of delivering high-quality Trainee Attainment, not just a small group of schools who don’t have any real experience of delivering their own ITT;
  • A Provider with a range of significant partner organisations (e.g. Local Authorities, Teaching School Alliances, Universities etc.);
  • Not having to pay £9,250 if you don’t have to!
  • Schools benefiting from being in a Social Mobility Opportunity Area (SMOA);
  • A collaborative approach to professional development through the ‘Partners in Learning‘ Teaching School Alliance (TSA);
  • A real focus on research in teaching through the recently established ‘Research School‘ as part of the Research Schools Network
  •  Government supported recruitment and retention initiatives

Teach Doncaster!

The Doncaster ITT Partnership is an Accredited School Centred ITT Provider with nearly 15 years experience of delivering ‘Outstanding Trainee  Attainment’ (Ofsted 2012); working with a wide range of Schools, Academies, Special Schools and PRUs, the Local Authority, Teaching School Alliance and the University of Hull (to deliver an optional PGCE) and all for far less than most ITT courses.

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