The North East Partnership SCITT is the accredited provider for a small number of primary with a physical education specialism school direct places. John Spence Community High School is the Lead School and works with Northumbria University and nineteen local schools to offer this innovative course which lasts for forty weeks from September to June. In addition, there is a compulsory two week summer school at the end of August and trainees will support end of year activities in their placement schools during the month of July.
Trainees will be trained to teach high quality physical education alongside all other areas of the primary curriculum across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. On completion of the course they will be qualified primary teachers with a physical education specialism. They will be able to lead high quality physical education and sport provision within primary schools, support other primary teachers to develop their skills in delivering physical education and sport and lead regional sports initiatives to improve primary physical education and sport. They will also complete a PGCE qualification awarded by Northumbria University and have the opportunity to gain 60 Masters level credits.
Trainees spend the majority of the year in their Host School and have a contrasting placement in a Partner School. They visit two other schools to gain experience of working with children who have SEND and EAL plus visit an early years setting and a secondary school. Many of the partnership school are involved in the delivery of the core programme.
For 2022/23 we will offer 14 primary with a physical education specialism places.
- North East Partnership SCITT – Primary (with PE) with John Spence Community High School– DfE code – 25W 2Q9L
The programme is made up of 4 inter-related modules:
Professional Placements:
All trainees will gain teaching experience in two contrasting placement schools; a Host School and a Partner School. They will spend the majority of the year in their Host School teaching Key Stage 2 pupils and a six week block placement in their Partner School teaching Key Stage 1 pupils. In addition, they will visit two other schools to gain experience of working with children who have SEND and EAL plus visit an early years setting and a secondary school. Trainees’ will progress from observation through collaborative working to independence. They will also progress from a 60% to a 70% timetable. Link tutors and school mentors liaise to support trainees in the development of their practical teaching. By the end of the year all trainees will have had teaching experience in all areas of the primary curriculum at Key Stages 1 and 2. They will have a specialism in physical education. They will develop into reflective, creative and highly effective practitioners who meet the Teachers’ Standards to a high level for a trainee teacher by the end of the module. This module is assessed against trainees mastery of the ITT curriculum and the Teachers’ Standards.
Curriculum Studies:
This module is where trainees begin to develop their subject specific knowledge in physical education, the core subjects and the foundation subjects. The sessions that make up this module are delivered by good or outstanding practitioners from partnership schools alongside North Tyneside Local Authority, North Tyneside Maths Hub, the Primary Lead and a Primary PE Consultant. Assessment of this module is by an extended written assignment.
Critical Professional Studies:
This module is where trainees begin to develop their knowledge about education. The module consists of a structured programme of conference days focusing on a range of topics that are at the forefront of education policy and practice. These include; safeguarding and child protection, pastoral care, working with parents, behaviour management, memory, teaching and learning, assessment, inclusion, pupil premium, equality and diversity, and literacy and numeracy across the curriculum. Time is also allocated to preparing for employment. These sessions are delivered by middle and senior leaders in partnership schools. These professionals engage trainees in critical and analytical debates about learning and pedagogy theories and the implications for their own professional practice, learning and emerging philosophy of education. Assessment of this module is by an extended written assignment. Trainees who do not pass this module at Level 7 will have their work marked against Level 6 criteria.
Enquiry into Current Primary Education Issues:
This module is an independent action research project that is carried out during the final Host School placement. Each trainee negotiates a focus for their project with their mentor and discusses the proposal with their assignment tutor. Assessment is through a written project and the presentation of the ideas and findings of the project to peers and tutors. Trainees who do not pass this module at Level 7 will have their work marked against Level 6 criteria.