SCITT 2024 Applications Now Open

Get in touch to find out more >> Lucie.Welch@servicesforeducation.co.uk

Are you a recent graduate and want to make a difference?

  services for education scitt feature image teacher training 3  services for education scitt feature image teacher training 4  services for education scitt feature image teacher training 5  services for education scitt feature image teacher training 2 services for education scitt feature image teacher training  services for education scitt feature image teacher training 6

Or are you looking for a rewarding, engaging
and fulfilling career change?

Then our School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) course could be the perfect route into teaching for you. This course offers the opportunity to gain in-depth school experience, to learn from expert teachers and mentors and gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) within the 12-month programme of study.

At Services for Education, our SCITT programme consists of four days spent in school and one day of core training. Immersive school experience and comprehensive core training enable our trainees to get the best possible experience of what it is like to work in a primary school.

The weekly core training sessions will look at all aspects of teaching and learning, with specific training on all of the national curriculum subjects, behaviour for learning, questioning and assessment, as well as a focus on quality first teaching across the curriculum.

Why choose to study with Services for Education and the Best Practice Network?

Our Services For Education Advisers are experts in their fields, previously working as teachers and senior leaders with vast and varied experience in schools.

   Best Practice Network is one of the UK’s leading training, development and support providers for education professionals.

   Gain access to the latest research and classroom techniques.

   Receive tailored support from your personal SFE tutor, in-school mentor and our ITT delivery team.

Read and hear what previous SFE SCITT students think about us:

you're shadowing and working with fantastic teachers that are current

  SFE SCITT eases you into school life and it gives you the chance to be full time in a school environment, and it helps you build up your confidence. The SCITT Programme ensures trainees have a broad knowledge of many different aspects of teaching. Some of these include phonics and early reading, maths, english and obviously the other foundation subjects.

One of the main attractions of the course was the fact that you’re shadowing and working with fantastic teachers that are current and they’re in the classroom right now implementing their best practice and you’re learning from them. You also get to work with current and ex-headteachers to help shape your practice and ultimately to make you the best teacher you can be.

Laura Cullen – Services For Education Teacher Trainee

Without a doubt this programme was the perfect starting place for my primary teaching career - go for it!

My experience with SCITT has been amazing! The support I received from mentors at SCITT was exceptional. With the help and support from the staff and lecturers at Services For Education they got me to where I needed to be.

Our training days were always interactive, engaging and gave lots of practical ideas we could use in the classroom. Much to any teacher’s dismay (especially a trainee) there were many tough days – to overcome this Lucie (my SCITT Tutor) continuously devoted her time to give me her full support and guidance so that I could succeed and be the best I possibly could. Without a doubt this programme was the perfect starting place for my primary teaching career – go for it!

Nedime Enver – Services For Education Teacher Trainee

you get a really thorough understanding of what school is and what teaching is

  I’d say its probably the most important year in my teaching career because a lot of the things that are developed during that year, prepared me for everything I was going to face in my future years. The fact that it was really robust, and really tailored to what you need to do, the amount of people you have to communicate and work with, it really develops your skillset and you get a really thorough understanding of what school is and what teaching is.

I spent eight to nine years in my training school, I moved through the ranks there to subject leader and phase leader, then training manager within the school, until eventually I decided to leave and found an Assistant Head post at another school.

Lee Wright – Services For Education Teacher Trainee

I’M SO GLAD I DECIDED TO TRAIN WITH SERVICES FOR EDUCATION AND I AM OVERWHELMED BY HOW IMPORTANT MY WELL-BEING HAS BEEN TO THEM

  I’d just like to take this opportunity to say thank Tricia for being such a supportive, friendly, caring, thoughtful and approachable tutor. It really makes things a lot easier having a tutor who knows how it feels to train as a new teacher. I’m so glad I decided to train with Services for Education and I am overwhelmed by how important my well-being has been to them. I’d also like to thank you for going out of your way to get me inducted onto the course as a late student… I truly believe that the decision to become a teacher is an amazing one for me and it wouldn’t have been possible if you hadn’t gone the extra mile to get me on the course. You are a credit to Services for Education.

Stacy Jones – Services For Education Teacher Trainee

THE EXCELLENT TRAINING FULLY EQUIPPED ME FOR THE WORLD OF TEACHING

  Overall my teacher training experience with SFE was a very positive one. The excellent training fully equipped me for the world of teaching. The ongoing care and support from my tutor, school mentor, programme manager and Martyn Collin were exceptional. I am so glad I have chosen this programme as I do not feel they are other programmes like this. The cohorts are relatively small which has its huge benefits also.

Therefore anyone comtemplating on whether to do their teacher training with SFE, I fully recommended you to go ahead. I promise you won’t regret it!

Miss Jibril – Services For Education Teacher Trainee

A FANTASTIC STEP INTO THE WORLD OF TEACHING

  I trained with Services For Education in the 2018/19 ITT cohort and found the training and experiences a fantastic step into the world of teaching. Coming from a non-school based background, the additional help and support of the tutors and mentors help guide me in the right direction. Now in my newly qualified teacher year, I can see how the different lectures and training days have supported my teaching.

“One of the main positives of training with Services For Education is the amount of time you are in school training directly with a class teacher. This proved much more beneficial than attending lectures. For those who want to learn teaching on the job, this is a course I would certainly recommend.

Kerry Williams – Services For Education Teacher Trainee

What are the benefits of training with us?

Placement experience:
Benefit from professional learning and teaching practice in our partner placement schools

Learning applied in practice:
Develop skills and techniques which can be immediately applied in your placement or employment setting

Fully supported:
Receive the support of a Services For Education tutor and in-school mentor and get help from our wellbeing and programme teams

Sequenced curriculum:
A curriculum deliberately structured to build on the previous term’s learning. Your classroom practice will improve as your knowledge builds

Research-informed:
Access the latest research & evidence of what works best in teacher training

National cohort:
Join a network of like-minded individuals across the country

Training with Best Practice Network means you can access the full ‘Golden Thread’ of teacher and leadership development as you build your career, from Initial Teacher Training (ITT) through to leadership

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SCITT Programme Structure

Our SCITT course is a school based full-time post-graduate teacher training programme, which allows our trainees a fully immersive experience into school life.

Our programme is focused on the primary age range and trainees will undertake placements in two separate schools- one in a key stage 1 class and another in key stage 2. Trainees will spend 4 days a week in a primary school setting and one day a week at a centre based training session, learning everything they need to know about classroom management, planning, assessment and more.

Programme Structure

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  • Pre-Autumn term: Induction– a one-week programme for all new trainees, when we’ll ensure that you have a smooth start to the programme.
  • Autumn term: You will have one main placement this term. You will be in your placement school four days a week and training in your campus one day a week.
  • Spring term: You will spend time in a contrasting school placement. This placement will be organised for you by our placement co-ordinators.
  • Spring and summer term: You will return to your main placement school. This will help you to strengthen existing relationships and to deepen your teaching knowledge, as well as giving you the opportunity to prepare for the recommendation of QTS.

You’ve decided that our SCITT course is for you, so what’s next..?

Applicants must hold:

Tick icon. Services For Education SCITT Course   A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent with a 2:2 or above

Tick icon. Services For Education SCITT Course   A GCSE grade 4/C or above in English, maths and science, or the recognised equivalent

Tick icon. Services For Education SCITT Course   School experience is not an entry requirement, however we strongly recommend this as a way of helping to confirm your chosen career.

Personal Qualities:

We look for candidates who genuinely enjoy working with children and young people; who support the vision, that every child should have access an excellent education regardless of background and who are committed to ensuring positive outcomes for children.

We are looking for candidates who:

Tick icon. Services For Education SCITT Course Can role model Services For Education and Best Practice Network’s values

Tick icon. Services For Education SCITT Course Have a positive outlook

Tick icon. Services For Education SCITT Course Are patient and adaptable

Tick icon. Services For Education SCITT Course Have good interpersonal skills

Tick icon. Services For Education SCITT Course Are friendly and approachable

Tick icon. Services For Education SCITT Course Have good organisational skills and excellent time management

  If you have any questions about your eligibility contact teaching@bestpracticenet.co.uk

  You can also read more about eligibility on the Get into Teaching website

What does it cost?

 The cost of training to teach is £8,500 for full-time study.

 Student finance and maintenance loans may be available.

 Self-funding is also an option.

Still have questions? Then sign up for one of our free information events.

Whether you are a graduate, almost-graduate or fancy a change of career, join us for our virtual SCITT information sessions, where you will have the opportunity to meet some of our past trainees, speak to our experienced staff and find out what the course entails.

Join us for our virtual information session where we will talk everything primary SCITT, answer questions and discuss how to apply.

You will have the opportunity to:

 Chat with our team – all of whom are experienced primary teachers and leaders.

 Ask any questions you may have about the course, application or life in school.

 Gain a better understanding of what your SCITT year will look like.

 Talk through the application process and how to make yourself stand out.

We are really excited to meet you and look forward to discussing how we can support you with the start your teaching career and beyond.

Register for one of our information events:

Once you have decided that the Services For Education SCITT programme is for you, you will need to apply via the DfE application website:

  DfE website:  gov.uk/apply-for-teacher-training

Course Details:  www.find-postgraduate-teacher-training.service.gov.uk/course/6B1/A522  

  Provider Name:  Best Practice Network (6B1)

  Course Code: Services For Education A522

When filling out your application remember…

Qualifications:
Be sure to include all of your qualifications-not just those required for the course, including other transferrable skills that may be useful in a teaching role.

Education and Employment History:
Include all work/ school history/ experience- for safer recruitment purposes, please make sure there are no gaps in your employment history. Periods of unemployment and overseas travel must be declared.

Personal Statement:
This is your chance to show us who you are, what you have to offer and why you want to be a teacher. This should include detail regarding your knowledge and experience, your reasons for applying and what you have to offer the profession. Be sure to sell yourself and include anything relevant to your application.

Proofread before submitting:
Spelling and grammar are really important and your application should reflect a good understanding of the English language. If applying with SFE, we will happily read your personal statement and give feedback before submission.

This is a post-graduate course so all applicants must have a UK degree at level 2.2 or above or equivalent.

If you’d like some tips on how to write a great application, check out our blog post: 8 Teacher Training Application Tips

 

If you need any further information regarding the course or getting into teaching, please use the form below to request a callback.


Services For Education – Lucie Welch:

Lucie Welch

   07884 642860

 lucie.welch@servicesforeducation.co.uk

You can also join us for our virtual SCITT information sessions, where you will have the opportunity to meet some of our past trainees, speak to our experienced staff and find out what the course entails.

Best Practice Network  teaching@bestpracticenet.co.uk

Get into Teaching (Department for Education)   www.getintoteaching.education.gov.uk

The SCITT Podcast

Listen to our series of podcasts to get ideas, top tips and advice if you are thinking about training to teach, working on your application or want to know what your training year will be like.

Podcast Transcripts

Hello and welcome to the first in our series of podcasts, supporting you through your application for initial teacher training.

My name is Lucie Welch and I am one of the education advisers at Services For Education and will be leading on the SCITT training programme starting in September.

So I am often asked, what would be my advice for anyone starting out on their journey to become a teacher?

In my opinion, being a teacher is the best job in the world. It is engaging, rewarding and you have the chance to really make a difference in the lives of the young people you teach. But it is not without its challenges! Everyone has their own opinions about teachers and the teaching profession, so the first piece of advice I would give is to talk to people in the field.

Ask about the role, the expectations and the benefits, talk through their teaching journeys and discuss what you have to bring to the profession- I guarantee its more than you think!

Next I would say to get some school experience, volunteer in a local school and see what life is really like. School is nothing like you see on the telly, so go and see for yourself. This will also give you the chance to ask questions, gain some experience and really get a feel as to whether this is the right career for you.

Be sure to gather your information, teaching is a career unlike any other and be sure to have done your homework before applying! You can read books and articles and do what you can to get a balanced insight into what is happening in our schools today. For further information, please do come along to one of our information events and ask any questions you might have about the course or life in school and our advisors will be more than happy to help!

The view we get of teaching is often of the negative side, particular in the news and the media, so ensure that you are getting a balanced view of what life as a teacher is really like- I promise- it isn’t all doom and gloom! It is easy to get bogged down in the negatives, which is why it is so important to get that first hand experience before applying- so you can see all of the amazing positives too!

Another great way to prepare, is to become familiar with the teacher standards. This is the framework to which all teachers work and that you will be assessed against as part of initial teacher training. Knowing these will give you a better idea of some of the things you will learn along the way and how you can use any transferable skills you have already.

That concludes this first session, if you need any further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Hello and welcome to the second podcast in our series on Initial teacher training. My name is Lucie and I am the SCITT lead for SFE and this podcast focuses on the qualifications you will need in order to apply for the course and the costs involved in this.

So let’s start with the basics. In order to be considered for interview for the School centre initial teacher training course you will need:

  • A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent with a grading of 2:2 or above
  • A GCSE grade 4/C or above in English, maths and science, or the recognised equivalent
  • School experience is not an entry requirement, however we strongly recommend this as a way of helping to confirm your chosen career.

If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact teaching@bestpracticenet.co.uk

You can also read more about eligibility on the Get Into Teaching website.

These qualifications are universal for initial teacher training, no matter the course or route chosen.

If you qualified overseas, you would need to check that the qualifications meet the requirements, this can be done by applying to ENIC for a certificate of equivalency, and we will check that against the regulations that the government sets for entry into the profession.

This can be done at ENIC.org.uk

Before applying, you will also to look into the financial side of training. The cost of this training course is £8500. This can be self funded or support by a student loan. Unfortunately, there are no bursaries available to support with primary teacher training.

In our next podcast, we will be looking at what makes a great teacher and what our partner schools will be looking for from their trainees.

Hello and welcome to episode 3 of the Services For Education initial teacher training podcast, I am Lucie Welch- education adviser and SCITT lead.

In this podcast, we are going to be look at what providers and our partner schools are looking for in a potential teacher training candidate.

So what are we looking for at interview….

Being a teacher is more than just qualifications, you will need to think carefully about the skills, knowledge and experience that you have, that will stand you in good stead as a teacher and help you to stand out during the application and interview process.

Firstly teachers need to care, they need to have lots of empathy and be able to put themselves into the shoes of not only the children they teach, but their colleagues and families they work with.

Next up is resilience – this word is banded around a lot- but teachers are the embodiment of resilience and it comes across as facing challenges and having a optimistic outlook. Teaching is not an easy job and there are many things to juggle, particularly in the early days- so it is about asking yourself- how do I cope in tricky situations? Am I able to manage my time effectively and prioritise what is important? And how can I reflect and build upon what I know and what has happened to cope even better with future challenges?

In teaching, no two days are the same and it is ever changing and evolving, due to this flexibility and adaptability are essential. Ask yourself- how do I cope with change? Can I see when things are working as they should and be brave enough to make the necessary changes?

Reflection is a key skill for teachers, as it is not just the children in your class who are learning, but you as a trainee and as a teacher will continue to learn and develop as you move through your career. Being able to look back and reflect on what you have done or how something has gone is an important skill as it gives you a jumping off point for next time. Asking yourself what went well and what would I do better next time, allow you to constantly evolve as a professional and refine your teaching skills as you go. So how reflective are you? Can you look back on events in your life and think about how you might do something again or change something you did to improve an outcome?

Above all else, great teachers have got to be curious. The best teachers love learning and never get tired of finding out more. The best teacher instil this love of learning and curiosity in their children, setting them up for a lifetime of learning and discovery. If children see their teacher engaged, having fun and learning, they will do the same.

So think about what you have to bring to the classroom. What skills do you have to share with children and colleagues? What are your strengths and how can you apply these during your training year and beyond?

I hope you enjoyed this podcast and are able to join us next time when we look at the application process for initial teacher training.

Hello, and welcome to episode 4 of Services For Education initial teacher training podcasts. I’m Lucie, the SFE SCITT lead and in this podcast we are going to be talking about the application process involved in becoming a trainee teacher and to help you learn a little bit more about the teacher standards.

So, you have decided you want to be a teacher, you have done your research, you have spoken to other teacher and checked your have the necessary qualifications- so what’s next?

The first step is to find a course that suits your needs, our course at SFE is a school centred initial teacher training programme, which means our trainees spend 4 days a week fully immersed in school life and one day a week at our Birmingham based centre, learning everything you need to know to be a great teacher. There are other courses out there with different pathways, so you need to do your research and find the right one for you.

If you decided to train with us at Services For Education, you will receive:

  • Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
  • An in-depth and immersive school-based training experience- with a minimum of 120 days teaching- with you teaching commitment increasing as the year progresses.
  • Opportunity to work with a wide range of talented, experienced and knowledgeable teachers, support staff and school leaders. You will be provided with a SCITT tutor who will be from Services for education and will oversee your training, carry out observations and guide your along your journey. You will also have a in-school mentor who will be your everyday point of contact. You will meet with them weekly to discuss your progress against the teacher standards, they will carry out regular observations of your teacher and will provided assessment reports at the end of each term.

The application process is the same for any teacher training course and this is done through the DFE train to teach website. You will have to fill in an application form which will be shared with Best Practice Network and should you meet the criteria, you will be offered an interview.

At SFE we work alongside the Best Practice Network to bring you a comprehensive programme of study, experienced tutors in school mentors and support at every step of your journey. Services For Education have a long-standing history of providing high quality teacher training and many teachers across Birmingham and beyond have trained with us. We pride ourselves of preparing our knowledgeable, efficient and resilient trainees for life in school.

We look for candidates who genuinely enjoy working with children and young people; who support our vision, that every child should have access an excellent education regardless of background and who are committed to ensuring positive outcomes for children.

We are looking for candidates who:

  • Can role model Services For Education and BPN’s values
  • Have a positive outlook
  • Are patient and adaptable
  • Have good interpersonal skills
  • Are friendly and approachable
  • Have good organisational skills and excellent time management

When filling out your application, be sure to…

In order to best write your personal statement, it is essential that you really understand the role of a teacher and to do this, you need to be familiar with the teacher standards. This framework is used to assess trainee and qualified teachers and allows you to see the skills and knowledge you will require to be the best teacher you can be.

The teacher standards are split into two parts. Part 1 consists of 8 standards which cover classroom presence, behaviour management, adapting learning to suit the needs of all learners and subject knowledge. Part 2 is about professional standards and how you behave as a teacher- upholding the profession.

In our next podcast, we will be exploring what your training year might look like if you choose to train with us here at Services For Education.

Hello and welcome to our last podcast in the series looking our the Initial teacher training programme we offer at Services For education. This episode focuses on your training year and what this will look like if you chose to undertake your training with us.

So what will this look like?

Your training year actually begins with an induction. During which you will get to meet your SFE SCITT tutor and other members of the SFE team as well as the rest of your cohort of trainees. The week long induction programme will ensure a smooth-sailing start to the course and includes information on:

  • The ITT programme
  • Aims and expectations
  • Assessment overview
  • Logging on to systems such as Canvas and Mosaic
  • Online units to complete. 

There will also be chance for trainees to make contact with their placement schools and meet their children! This a really good time to think about your subject knowledge in relation to the curriculum and what areas you may need to swat up on! During induction, trainees will also be taught about the importance of safeguarding in schools and the role that they will play in this.

In the following week trainees will head into school, meeting the staff and children that they will be working with for the rest of the year. At the beginning of the programme, there is not an expectation for trainees to teach, but instead this is a chance to observe experienced teachers, learn the routines and processes that happen in school and get to know the staff and the children.

Alongside 4 days a week in school, all trainees will attend a centre based session every week. This will give a chance for your cohort to get together and share experiences as well as giving you the knowledge and skills you need to really grow as a teacher. These sessions are part of a comprehensive programme of study, covering all elements of the curriculum and teacher standards. There will be opportunity to ask questions, share good practice and reflect on life in school.

So when does the teaching start?

No trainee is expected to jump straight in at the deep end, the beauty of the SFE SCITT course is that trainees can develop at their own pace, beginning with teaching small groups or team teaching, building up to teaching 70% of the timetable by the end of the year. This is all done is a staggered, supportive and guided way, with help from both your in school mentor and your SFE tutor. Every trainee is different, so no two teaching journeys will look the same, through observations and mentor meetings your strengths and areas for development will be highlighted and used as focus points for future teaching.

I know you will be thinking- what about the workload? How do I manage this?

It is important to remember that you are never on your own in your journey and you will be fully supported by your mentor and colleagues as well as your SFE tutor. You will get support with time management, prioritising and staying on track, so  you can achieve your very best throughout your training year.

Do you have what it takes to become a training school?

At Services For Education, we have links with hundreds of schools across the city of Birmingham and beyond. The following schools have already signed up to partner with us on our SCITT training programme, but we are in conversation with so many more:

 St Johns CofE Primary, Sparkbrook
 Beeches Infant School, Perry Barr
 Grestone Academy, Handsworth Wood
 Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Small Heath
 St Josephs Catholic Primary, Nechells
 Woodhouse Primary Academy, Quinton
 Twickenham Primary, Kingstanding
 Lea Forest Primary Academy, Glebe Farm & Tile Cross
 The Olive, Small Heath

Through pairing each trainee with experienced class teachers and mentors, trainees will have the opportunity to observe, work alongside and learn from some of the best in the profession and will gain all of the required skills and understanding to ready them for becoming an Early Career Teacher.

Our partner schools will host one or more trainees- depending on their capacity- for a whole school year, with trainees swapping placements at the end of the Autumn term and continuing through the summer, before embarking on their journey as ECTs.

Training teachers in your school enables staff to upskill their mentoring and coaching skills and allows schools to nurture and develop the next generation of teachers.

If you would be interested in hosting one of our SCITT trainees or would like further information, please contact our SCITT lead Lucie Welch on lucie.welch@servicesforeducation.co.uk or 07884 642860.

What do our partner schools say about us?

“Last year we hosted a SCITT trainee who went on to become a permanent member of staff. The programme was so successful for us as the student got to learn ‘on the job’ under the direction of our own experienced staff, while supported with regular training and mentor guidance from Services For Education.

This meant by the end of the year, the student had worked successfully though all of the teacher standards whilst also being shaped as a teacher who was ready to teach in our school. To have an ECT start who already understands our ethos, has a good grasp of our curriculum, is on board with our behaviour management approach and is known and respected by staff and children has been a real strength. The school has really benefited from being part of the the SCITT programme and we will look to host another student in the near future.”

Naomi Hedges – Headteacher – St Johns C of E Primary School, Sparkhill

“We have worked with services for Education for two years supporting SCITT trainees, the process was supported by a robust framework and dedicated team.

As a mentor and senior leader, the programme delivered the flexibility to work at the pace of the trainee whilst maintaining high expectations.

We appointed a trainee as an ECT who has since flourished in the school, we also supported a trainee with no previous ‘educational’ experience to a successful appointment.

This is a programme that we will continue to support, it has offered our team the opportunity to develop valuable coaching and mentoring skills, it has enabled trainees to develop their confidence and skills in the teaching and learning environment with expert colleagues.

The model is one of success and equips future teachers with the skills to work towards the professional standards in a professional setting.”

Rachel Furnivall – Deputy headteacher – Beeches Infant School

Our SCITT is in partnership with Best Practice Network 

Page Last Modified:  27/11/2023 10:48