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The core team is made up of experienced primary and secondary practitioners, middle leaders and senior leaders. All have a wealth of experience in schools and are able to offer high quality support and guidance to our trainees.

Sarah Ramsden

SCITT Director

Former Head of PE, Vice Principal and Principal. Has experience of teaching and leadership at all levels in schools across Teesside, Gateshead and Northumberland.

Sally Bryson

Deputy SCITT Director

Currently Head of Girls' PE at John Spence Community High School.

Sarah Beall

Business Manager

Former Sports Development Manager and Partnership Development Manager.

Joanne Fairley

Primary Lead

Former Deputy Head Teacher.

Paul Dunn

Secondary Link Tutor

Head of PE at Ponteland High School.

Joanne Armstrong

Secondary Link Tutor

Head of PE at Churchill Community College.

Emma Duckworth

Secondary Link Tutor

Maths Teacher and Ex Head of PE at Churchill Community College.

Carol Marshall

Secondary Link Tutor

Ex Primary and Secondary PE Teacher. Ex Head of PE and Year Head.

Sarah Henderson

Secondary Link Tutor

PE Teacher at St Thomas More Roman Catholic Academy.

James Redpath

Secondary Link Tutor

Assistant Head Teacher at John Spence Community High School.

Adam Pilkington

Secondary Link Tutor

Director of Sport at John Spence Community High School.

Alex Wilson

Secondary Link Tutor

Head of PE at Newcastle High School for Girls.

Gary Collingwood

Secondary Link Tutor

PE Teacher and Second in Department at Churchill Community College.

Chris Lamb

Secondary Link Tutor

Head of Faculty for PE and Health at Astley Community High School

Lesley Doughty

Primary Link Tutor

PE and Sport Consultant. Previously Advisory Teacher for PE & Sport in Newcastle and Northumberland and ex-Primary Teacher.

Sharon McIntosh

Primary Link Tutor

Assistant Head Teacher, Literacy and Numeracy Co-ordinator and Year 4 Class Teacher at Southridge First School.

We have consistently been graded as outstanding by Ofsted – 2005, 2009, 2013 , 2022. In January 2022 we were graded outstanding in all areas (leadership and management and the quality of education and training.)

 

Key finding from the 2022 Ofsted inspection:

  • Trainees receive a unique and transformational experience.
  • Leadership and management of this SCITT are exceptional. Leaders are relentless in the pursuit of excellence.
  • Highly effective partnerships make trainees’ experience the best it can be. All staff who gave their views feel valued and are overwhelmingly positive about the partnership.
  • Leaders and mentors give feedback and set personalised and precise targets to help trainees continually improve. This supports trainees to rapidly master the intended curriculum.
  • The core content framework is woven expertly through an ambitious and innovative course. In every setting, the curriculum is delivered effectively because school-based learning builds carefully on centre-based learning.
  • Trainees are exceptionally well prepared to start their teaching career. They learn and practise in a wide range of different settings, expertly refining their craft.
  • Many trainees develop into highly competent teachers who become future leaders.
  • Trainees describe the support of leaders and school-based mentors as ‘exceptional’, ‘incredible’ and ‘impeccable’. The quality of communication across the partnership is exceptional. This ensures that trainees receive a consistent, high-quality course offer.

Please click here to read the full report.

From September 2024 the North East Partnership SCITT are joining forces with Durham SCITT. They will act as the accredited provider and will award QTS. Through our partnership, we will provide trainees with an ambitious and innovative curriculum where trainees will fully understand the principles of teaching and learning for their phase, subject and beyond. Trainees will learn and practise in a wide range of settings expertly refining their craft. Our aim, through partnership, is to make excellent teachers that ‘stand out from the crowd’.

 

 

All trainees are registered with Northumbria University for the award of PGCE. They are issued with a Northumbria University user ID and password giving them access to university email, u-drive and desktop anywhere. They are also issued with a smartcard to access the university libraries. Northumbria University’s libraries are nationally recognised for the range and quality of services they offer. They are regularly ranked in the top 20 per cent of UK university libraries in student surveys and have been awarded the Cabinet Office Award for Customer Service Excellence. Once registered with the university all trainees will automatically become members of the Northumbria University Student’s Union and will have access to a Northumbria University Extra Discount Card, Northumbria University Clubs and Societies and Northumbria University Sports Teams and Clubs. A representative from the university is a member of our strategic steering group.

 

Association Physical Education Logo

 

We work closely with the Association for Physical Education (afPE) to ensure that programme staff and trainees are at the forefront of current and cutting-edge practice in physical education. The editor of Physical Education Matters, the afPE journal, supports trainees with their academic writing and to publish their work in the journal if they wish.

 

Youth Sport Trust Logo

 

We have strong links with the Youth Sport Trust (YST).   A number of partnership schools are members of the YST and have the YST Partner Mark. A YST representative sits on the SCITT Management Committee. Some trainees have had their work published on the YST website and in YST publications. The North East Development Manager is a member of our strategic steering group.

 

 

We work strategically and in partnership with the Three Rivers Teaching School Alliance, which is one of the newly designated National Teaching School Hubs. The Three Rivers Teaching School Alliance is led by The King Edward VI Academy, Morpeth. It is an outstanding school and has a longstanding reputation for academic excellence and continues to be a central part of the local and regional community. King Edwards VI Academy is one of our associate lead schools alongside Churchill Community College.

 

 

We have a strong relationship with education recruitment specialists Vision for Education, to help prepare students for the world of teaching. Vision for Education will support trainees to secure a permanent role once they have graduated, if required. Experienced recruitment consultants will provide trainees with useful job search and application advice and help with personal statement writing and interview techniques. Trainees will also be able to access free training courses through Vision for Education’s continuing development (CPD) programme for teaching staff, to help enhance their skills and keep them up-to-date with the latest developments in education. Vision for Education specialise in providing temporary and permanent teaching and support staff for primary, secondary and SEND (special education needs and disabilities) schools. They have twenty one branches across the UK and are part of TES – the global digital education company committed to supporting teaching and learning.

 

We are now working in partnership with Servoca Education who specialise in recruiting ECTs into permanent jobs across London. Established in 2010, Servoca Education have gradually built excellent relationships with primary and secondary schools across every part of London. This has helped them to become a leading recruiting agency in the Capital with an excellent reputation of helping students find their first teaching job. Servoca Education arranges formal interviews in reputable schools and hosts events in their London based office. These events enable students to meet with more than one Headteacher informally on one day so the students get a chance to see their options before committing to a formal interview. These events are fee of charge and Servoca Education will also reimburse travel costs.

GDPR – Our Data Protection Statement

The North East Partnership SCITT is fully committed to full compliance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Partnership will therefore follow procedures which aim to ensure that all our staff, trainees (potential, current and previous), and external partners who have access to any personal data held by or on behalf of the Partnership are fully aware of and abide by their duties under the GDPR. We also adhere to the guidance issued by the Information Commissioner.

Every lesson shapes a life. Get into Teaching.

WORDS FROM OUR STUDENTS

I would highly recommend the North East Partnership SCITT to anyone wanting to pursue a career in teaching. The course allows for a true school experience while equipping you with a variety of masterclasses in teaching and learning. The support received from the SCITT team is outstanding and guaranteed to help you secure a teaching post.

Leeann Irving

My experience of the North East Partnership SCITT has enabled me to become the confident teacher I am today. The support you receive from your tutors helps to develop your planning, content and structure of lessons and how to effectively manage your class. This gives you the belief in your ability as teacher when you start your first teaching post.

Liam Blythe

I had a fantastic experience on both teaching placements, with really supportive staff. I had the opportunity to teach in very contrasting schools and across the full curriculum, including examination PE at Key Stage 4 and 5. The course gave me an excellent start for a career in teaching and has allowed me to progress into promotional opportunities

Ian Middleton

Having been a trainee and then a school based tutor on the course, it is my belief that NEP SCITT is the best teacher training provider around. The course consists of high quality training which focuses on the practical and theoretical aspects of being a physical education teacher, delivered by the best practitioners and schools in the area. Trainees are then able to develop their practice in a variety of school placements, with a strong support network of physical education teachers on hand to offer guidance and support.

Aaron White

It was a genuine privilege to train through the North East Partnership SCITT. The mix of theory and hands on teaching allowed me to develop into a reflective practitioner. An absolutely fantastic course ran by dedicated professionals.

Andrew Archibald

NEP SCITT equipped me with the necessary qualities and skills to become a successful teacher. Courses and CPD events allowed me to develop a greater understanding of monitoring and measuring progress of different ability students.

Jade Murray

After completing my PGCE and entering my first teaching job I realised the SCITT programme had set me up fantastically well. Halfway through the course I sat my first interview and got my first job. This wouldn’t have been possible without the excellent support or amazing network of people who are involved in the programme. Couldn’t recommend it enough!

Louis Lawson