Train To Teach

Alderbrook School has an excellent reputation for training and developing new teachers. We are a vibrant school with the support and expertise to support anyone with the passion and desire to join the profession.

We currently work closely with 2 providers to offer a range of training options:

  • Schools Direct (salaried/ unsalaried) – University of Warwick via the Arden Alliance
  • PGCE (University-led teacher training) – University of Warwick and Birmingham University

If you would like to enquire as to about the possibility of training to teach at Alderbrook School please contact training@alderbrook.solihull.sch.uk

School Direct

School Direct offers an alternative that bypasses some of the university training of PGCE; nearly all of your training is done in school. You apply through UCAS to a school with a School Direct programme and start a year-long placement. Apart from one day per week theoretical training, you learn on-the-job. With School Direct, you go straight into teaching, picking up the tricks of the trade far quicker; you learn from teachers still in the thick of it, and you only concentrate on work with immediate practical applications. From shadowing your mentor/teacher to taking on your own timetable, when you qualify, you can literally hit the ground running!

Schools commit a lot of resources and time to School Direct trainees; the idea behind this being they will eventually enhance the teaching provision at their school. It is for this reason that schools aim to employ trainees, as soon as they complete their training as NQTs. Whilst the trainee will ultimately select where they work, most like the security of having a job at the end of their training in a school they have come to love.

If a trainee has 3 years’ teaching experience (e.g., unqualified teacher, teaching assistant, cover supervisor), they can opt for the salaried teacher training programme; salaries are usually paid at Point 1 of the unqualified teacher scale and University fees are £2000 compared to £9250 on the PGCE course.

Click here for more information about the Teacher Training courses at University of Warwick https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/cte/start-teaching/secondary/

Click here for more information about the Arden Alliance https://sites.google.com/arden.solihull.sch.uk/ats/home

PGCE (University Led Teacher Training)

University-led training, known more commonly as PGCE Core (Post-Graduate Certificate in Education). The PGCE Core lasts a year; you split your time between university and school as you mix practical and theoretical knowledge.

The courses generally lasts 36 weeks, of which 24 are spent in our partnership schools.

Teaching practice will take several forms: school placements and also team teaching while at University. You will also get involved in small scale research projects for your assignments so that you can evaluate the theory in practice and integrate this learning into your own teaching.

You may also be offered a number of activities designed to enhance pupil experiences of learning and your experience of learning to teach. Examples of these activities include field trips, master classes and small group teaching.

Click here for more information on the PGCE courses at Birmingham University https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/taught/edu/teacher-training-secondary.aspx

Click here for more information about the PGCE courses at University of Warwick https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/cte/start-teaching/secondary/

UCAS

Click here for guidance on applying via UCAS for Teacher Training

https://www.ucas.com/teaching-in-the-uk

Work Experience Placements

Alderbrook is delighted to be able to offer a limited number of week-long school experience placements to aspiring teachers. These weeks provide an opportunity to experience a school from the point of view of a potential teacher.

On our “School Experience Weeks”, meet the teams in your chosen subject area, talk to current staff and trainee teachers and chat to pupils about life at the school and what it is like to be a learner at Alderbrook. This will give you valuable insight and great preparation for your own application and interviews.

Who is it aimed at?

Anyone who is considering teaching as a career and wants more information and experience.

The weeks for 2019/20 are:

w/c 11th November 2019

w/c 10th February 2020

If you are interested in booking this, please contact us on training@alderbrook.solihull.sch.uk