SCITT – School Centred Initial Teacher Training

What is the SCITT?

SCITT is a highly successful teacher training course which combines extensive, high-quality classroom experience with expert guidance.  It is officially rated as outstanding by Ofsted. Over the course of the year, trainee teachers are given placements in different schools participating in the programme.  Trainees spend a proportionate amount of time working both alongside qualified, experienced teachers and teaching independently. All trainee teachers are trained and monitored closely to ensure that teaching of children is of the highest standard and are supported throughout by a host class teacher, a school based tutor, the Senior Leadership Team and the University Team.

The role of the School

For a number of King Edward Primary School has been part of the North Tyneside SCITT programme.  We therefore host trainee teacher’s while they are on placement.  

If your child’s class is hosting a trainee teacher, there are a number of benefits.  Trainees offer a wealth of new initiatives and teaching ideas which they are introduced to at university and then develop within school.  They work closely with experienced staff to gain knowledge and understanding of the children, developing strong working links to become a valuable part of our teaching team.  Trainees have intensive support and are mentored throughout their placement ensuring that their teaching is of the highest standard. Their additional support allows time to free up the class teacher to work more closely with groups of children, offer additional interventions and assessment time and support in class.

Teaching Placements

Trainees are given three placements per teaching year.  Our school could host one or two trainees for one placement each academic year.  All trainees take part in a number of introductory days, in which they are given time to get to know the school, layout, timetable, routines, class and staff.

The initial placement takes place in September and lasts six weeks. Trainees spend three weeks in Early Years and three weeks in Key Stage 1 supporting groups, teaching small groups and teaching a selection of individual lessons.  Trainees gain experience of planning, teaching, marking and assessing to prepare them for their next teaching practice. The intermediate placement takes place in January and lasts around eight weeks. Trainees teach a wider number of subjects across more of the teaching week.  The amount of teaching time gradually increases towards the final week. The final placement takes place in March and lasts around ten weeks. By now students on placement are highly skilled and ready to apply for teaching posts of their own.