“Exceptional completion and employment rates” (Ofsted 2013)
We pride ourselves in our impressive employment rates. In the last nine years the vast majority of our secondary trainees have found employment in schools within six months of graduating and over half of the 2012/13 cohort are now in promoted posts. Over one hundred and thirty ex-trainees are currently employed in partnership schools and many more in local schools. More recently, a growing number of trainees have secured employment out of the area. Since the introduction of our primary course in 2016, between 90% and 100% of trainees have secured employment in schools within six months of graduating and many of the first cohort now lead physical education in their schools.
Prior to applying for jobs, trainees attend a First Appointments Conference and mock interview days. They also receive support with applications and can request a personal mock interview. Feedback from head teachers about the quality of our trainees in interview is very complimentary.
In February each year all schools in the region receive a recruitment brochure providing a one-page profile on each of our trainees. Schools are invited to recruit directly through the North East Partnership SCITT if they choose.
Feedback about our NQTs is equally positive:
“Emma has been an excellent addition to our department. She is extremely organised, has exceptional attention to detail and is regarded as one of the strongest NQTs in school.”
“Katie has made excellent progress, she is already a very good teacher and has clearly demonstrated that she meets all of the Teacher’s Standards. She is an outstanding NQT.”
“Adam’s strengths are his planning and preparation; the quality of his lessons has always been good and he prepares in detail for this. Adam is creative and this enables his lessons to be fun and challenging.”
“One of David’s main strengths is his understanding of where pupils are and what they need to do to continue to make progress.”
NQT tracking shows that the overwhelming majority of our trainees are working above the expected level during their first term as NQTs.
Covid 19 Response
Between March to June 2020, whilst in the middle of the pandemic, our 2019/20 cohort followed a rigorous distance learning programme to ensure that their subject knowledge and pedagogy continued to develop during the final weeks of their training. Their readiness to teach has been reflected in feedback from NQT supervisors who have reported that 59% of secondary and 75% of primary NQTs were working above the expected level in their first term.
Our 2020/2021 cohort followed their normal programme, within Covid-19 guidelines. All secondary trainees have completed both their first and second placements and the majority of their core training. All primary trainees have completed their first, second and final placements and the majority of their core training. Feedback from schools this year has been very positive and both the secondary and primary cohorts completion and employment rates have been very high.
