Initial Teacher Training

Initial Teacher Training with WAT and NIoT

Overview

 The NIoT’s initial teacher training is a fully immersive school-centred programme – aspiring teachers will be in the classroom from the very start. But full immersion does not mean that you will be thrown in the deep end: our trainees are mentored and have central training once a week. And you’ll have the confidence of knowing that you are participating in a programme that was designed by some of the most experienced teachers and leaders in the country, drawn from four leading school trusts with decades of teacher-training between them. We also know from experience what headteachers look for in new teachers – so we will ensure that you develop the skills necessary for finding an Early Career Teacher role.

All our teacher training courses lead to QTS (Qualified Teacher Status), a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) and 60 Master’s Level credits.

Benefits

• A direct route to employment: Here at WAT we are constantly on the lookout for talented individuals to come and work for our family.  We view Initial Teacher Training as a fantastic opportunity for you to experience life within our schools with the possibility of future employment once your training is complete.
• Fully immersive: NIoT trainees are given 39 weeks of professional learning and teaching practice in a placement school.
• Learning applied quickly: You'll learn something on a Thursday (at Core Training) and apply it the next day.
• Fully supported: We care about the wellbeing of our trainees. So you'll have mentors who know you well, support your progress and cheer your successes.
• Advice on tap: Trainees who have concerns about any area of teaching – from classroom behaviour to workload management – are offered detailed support and guidance either locally or nationally.
• Spiral curriculum: Our curriculum is deliberately structured in order to reinforce previous learning. Your classroom practice will become more sophisticated as their knowledge builds.
• Research-informed: Our researchers are continually examining what works best in teacher training and using these insights to shape the programmes we offer.
• National cohort: You will belong to a network of like-minded individuals across the country.

Curriculum

Structure:

• Pre-Autumn term: Flying start – a one-week programme for all NIoT new trainees, when we'll ensure that you have the basic tools necessary to prepare you for entering the classroom.
• Autumn term: You will have one main placement for the whole of this term. The course is fully immersive, which means that you’ll be teaching from the very start – but your timetable will be very small to begin with, increasing as the year progresses. You will be in your placement school four days a week and training in your campus one day a week. This means that you'll be able to learn new techniques, practise them and then apply them in school immediately.
• Spring term: You will spend four weeks of this term in a contrasting school placement. The aim is to broaden your experience and field of reference. This placement will be organised for you.
• Second half of spring term 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 providing continuity for your learners.

What you'll learn:

1. Subject and curriculum knowledge: We'll support you with the fundamentals: why you're teaching an aspect of the curriculum, what's the best way to teach it, and how you can do it most successfully.
2. Planning for progress: How to plan effective, objective-driven lessons by observing expert colleagues, conceptualising and sequencing pupil progress over time, and creating opportunities for deeper learning and challenge.
3. Behaviour and relationships: How to nurture a culture of mutual trust and respect. How to create an inclusive and ambitious climate for learning, helping young people to achieve consistently high standards. How to provide a positive, predictable and safe environment for all pupils.
4. How students learn – inclusive pedagogy: How to ensure all our pupils experience success at the highest level by teaching new content, building on their pre-existing knowledge, using explanations and modelling and diagnosing and implementing strategies for all. How to provide opportunities for practice and retrieval, so as to maximise the chances that pupils will retain new information. How to avoid overloading young people with information.
5. Assessment and responsive teaching: How to draw on the different forms of assessment, in order to check for learner misconceptions and measure the depth of their understanding. How to use data effectively to support the needs of the pupils in your class.
6. Professional behaviours: How to step into the role of a teacher. What will your professional obligations be? How can you look after your own wellbeing? How to reflect on your own teaching practice and make use of the support around you. How to use wider networks and communities in order to strengthen your own knowledge.

Subjects And Course Codes

• Primary (3-7) (fee paying: Z492)
• Primary (5-11) (fee paying: 28P6)
• Primary with mathematics (3-7) (fee paying: E792)
• Primary with mathematics (5-11) (fee paying: 3F2F)
• Biology (fee paying: 2KGW)
• Chemistry (fee paying: 2KGZ)
• Computing (fee paying: 2T3F)
• Design and technology (fee paying: 2KG7)
• English (fee paying: 2KG2)
• Geography (fee paying: 2KH8)
• History (fee paying: 2KH6)
• Languages - French: (fee paying: 2B66)
• Languages - Spanish: (fee paying: 2B66)
• Mathematics: (fee paying: 2B67)
• Physics: (fee paying: 2KH3)
• Art and Design (Fee-paying: F198)
• Design and Technology with Art (Fee-paying: F198)
• Drama (Fee-paying: U042)
• Music (Fee-paying: P450)
• PE (Fee-paying: 2VHD)

Time Commitment

Full-time option:

• Five days per week (four days in school, one day at a campus).

Part time:

• Four days per week, with the course finishing at the end of the autumn term of year two. All academic work would be completed during year one. Training day (Thursday) not negotiable.
• Three days per week, with the course finishing at Easter of year two. All academic work would be completed during year one. Training day (Thursday) not negotiable.

Assessment

For QTS: Assessment is ongoing throughout the year, and includes observation of your practice and evidence of your success from mentors, tutors and yourself. Trainees are assessed against the NIoT ITT curriculum as the year progresses, and against the Teachers’ Standards at the end of the programme.

For PGCE: Assessment is by three master’s level assignments, which are both academically robust and grounded in your day-to-day practice.

NIoT works in partnership with the University of Birmingham. The University of Birmingham is the validating university and has responsibility for awarding the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) element of the programme.

Eligibility

NIoT's eligibility criteria:

• A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent with a 2:2 or above
• A GCSE grade 4/C or above in English and maths, or equivalent
• Primary candidates will also need a GCSE grade 4/C or above in a science, or equivalent
• Your degree or A-levels will need to be relevant to the subject/phase you wish to teach.

If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact us on ITT@niot.org.uk or complete our Expression of Interest form, which allows you to give us some details about yourself before you embark on the formal application process. You can also read more about eligibility on the Get Into Teaching website.

Do you have what it takes to be a good teacher? Read more here.

How To Apply

How to become a teacher with the NIoT

1. Fill out an Expression of Interest form on our website, in order to check that you’re eligible to teach in a school in England.
2. Visit the DfE Apply website and and find us by using either the provider code shown below or ‘NIoT’. Once you’ve selected the course you want to apply for, submit your application to train to teach with us.

Find us using our provider code 2HE or search for NIoT at WAT. Finish once you have selected submit to the ITT.

3. Attend an in-person or remote interview in the region you'd like to teach. You will attend a second interview with your placement school.

4. Accept your offer to secure your training place.

5. Start preparing for your career in teaching. Your offer will be subject to meeting certain conditions and safeguarding checks.

Cost/Funding

Fee paying - no salary:

• The cost of training to teach is £9,250 for full-time study. Student finance and maintenance loans will be available.
• The cost of training to teach part time is £6,935 for year one and then another £6,935 pro rata according to how much of the second year is needed. Student finance and maintenance loans will be available.
• Tax-free bursaries are available from the DfE, for some subjects. This changes annually.
• NIoT scholarships and support might be available for some subjects and phases (this varies from school to school).

Bursaries And Scholarships 

Click here to find out about Bursaries and Scholarships.

Questions?

If you have any questions feel free to email us on teachertraining@windsoracademytrust.org.uk