Applicants should possess the following:

General Information

Entrants must be able to communicate clearly and accurately in spoken and written English. This will be assessed through the application form initially and then during a variety of tasks at interview. Entrants must have competence in ICT.

Degree

Entrants must hold a 2:1 honours degree or equivalent. In exceptional circumstances we will consider applicants with a 2:2 degree.

GCSE

All entrants must have attained a minimum grade C (Level 4 or above) in GCSE English and Maths and Science or relevant equivalencies.

Sporting background

A broad and balanced physical education, sport or dance background, particularly in activities associated with the national curriculum for physical education.

School Experience

School experience in a primary school is not essential but desirable.

Fit to Study

Entrants will be expected to meet the government’s requirement in terms of health and physical capacity to train to teach, and have enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance.

Personal Attributes

We are looking for enthusiastic applicants with excellent communication skills, the determination to succeed, a commitment to working hard and the ability to work with others. Training to teach is both challenging and rewarding, so successful applicants need to be confident and passionate about teaching and able to contribute to the wider school ethos and community.

Personal, Intellectual and Presentation Qualities

• A desire to make good first impressions with a range of professionals.
• Work on own initiative and manage workload.
• A commitment to own personal development.
• A positive attitude to working co-operatively and effectively with others (including with people from a diverse society).
• Build warm relationships with children that promote learning.
• A positive and optimistic perception of pupils’ potential.
• Ability to reflect and evaluate on own teaching practice and to listen and act upon advice.
• Willingness to seek employment within or outside of the North East.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the rigour required to study at Masters Level.

International Applicants

If your qualifications are from overseas then you will need to apply for a ENIC certificate of comparability (not a Statement of Comparability) for all relevant qualifications obtained to accompany the original certificates you have.

Applicants should possess the following:

General Information

Entrants must be able to communicate clearly and accurately in spoken and written English. This will be assessed through the application form initially and then during a variety of tasks at interview. Entrants must have competence in ICT.

Degree

Entrants must hold a 2:1 honours degree or equivalent with a substantial sport or physical education content. In exceptional circumstances we will consider applicants with a 2:2 degree.

GCSE

All entrants must have attained a minimum grade C in GCSE English and Maths (Level 4 or above) or relevant equivalencies, plus educational experience in science, for example by possessing GCSE Science C (Level 4) or above, A’ Level Physical Education or BTEC National in Sport.

Sporting background

A broad and balanced physical education, sport or dance background, particularly in activities associated with the national curriculum for physical education.

The ability to swim a minimum of 200 metres continuously using two different strokes.

School Experience

School experience in a secondary school physical education department is not essential but desirable.

Fitness to Study

Entrants will be expected to meet the government’s requirement in terms of health and physical capacity to train to teach, and have enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance.

Personal Attributes

We are looking for enthusiastic applicants with excellent communication skills, the determination to succeed, a commitment to working hard and the ability to work with others. Training to teach is both challenging and rewarding, so successful applicants need to be confident and passionate about teaching and able to contribute to the wider school ethos and community.

Personal, Intellectual and Presentation Qualities

• A desire to make good first impressions with a range of professionals.
• Work on own initiative and manage workload.
• A commitment to own personal development.
• A positive attitude to working co-operatively and effectively with others (including with people from a diverse society).
• Build warm relationships with children that promote learning.
• A positive and optimistic perception of pupils’ potential.
• Ability to reflect and evaluate on own teaching practice and to listen and act upon advice.
• Willingness to seek employment outside of the North East.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the rigour required to study at Masters Level.

International Applicants

If your qualifications are from overseas then you will need to apply for a ENIC certificate of comparability (not a Statement of Comparability) for all relevant qualifications obtained to accompany the original certificates you have.

Tuition fees for 2025/26 will be £9,535. Trainees can choose to pay these as a one-off payment or to take out a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England. For more information on tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and grants, please visit: Gov.UK and Student Loans Company. Information about bursaries can be found on the Department for Education website.

All trainees will be provided with an iPad and keyboard for the duration of the year. In addition, we provide opportunities for trainees to gain a wide range of additional teaching’ qualifications and national governing body awards at no extra charge, for example: mental health, first aid, trampolining, handball, tennis, cricket and football. We are also able to recommend trainees for paid work at holiday camps in the north east during the Easter and summer holiday periods.

The role of a trainee teacher can be quite different to other professions. The following job description and person specification outlines the key skills, knowledge and attributes to demonstrate your potential to train to teach.