Are you searching for a career that makes a difference?
Look no further – teaching could be your calling! Embrace a rewarding journey that shapes the future and inspires minds. Here's why you should consider becoming a teacher:
1. Inspire the Next Generation: As a teacher, you have the power to ignite the curiosity and passion for learning in young minds. You'll be the guiding light that shapes the future leaders, innovators, and problem solvers of our world.
2. Make an Impact: Few careers offer the opportunity to have such a profound impact on society. Your guidance can positively influence the lives of your students and contribute to a brighter future for all.
3. Lifelong Learning: Teaching is a profession that encourages continuous growth and learning. You'll be at the forefront of knowledge, constantly updating your skills and adapting to new challenges.
4. Job Security: Education is a fundamental need, and the demand for dedicated, qualified teachers is always high. Enjoy a stable career with numerous opportunities for advancement.
5. Diversity and Inclusivity: Celebrate diversity and foster inclusivity within the classroom. Embrace the rich tapestry of cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives that your students bring.
6. Join a Supportive Community: Teaching is not a solo journey. You'll become part of a community of educators, mentors, and colleagues who share your passion for learning and growth.
7. Fulfillment Beyond Measure: Experience the joy of seeing your pupils achieve their goals and dreams. Your impact will extend far beyond the classroom.
Choosing a teacher training route can be confusing with all the different terminology, but essentially School Direct is the "hands-on" way to become a teacher in the UK.
Instead of spending most of your time at a university, you are recruited and trained directly by a group of schools.
What is School Direct?
School Direct is a school-led route into Initial Teacher Training (ITT). It is designed by schools in partnership with a university or an accredited provider.
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How it works: You are based in a "host school" from day one. You learn "on the job" from experienced teachers while still attending university sessions (usually one day a week) to cover the academic theory.
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The Outcome: At the end of the year, you gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Most programmes also award a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education).
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Employment: The primary goal of School Direct is for the school alliance to "grow their own" teachers. While not a legal guarantee, there is a strong expectation that if you do well, you will be offered a job within that group of schools once you qualify.
There are two main types:
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Tuition Fee Route: You pay tuition fees (often covered by student loans) and may be eligible for bursaries.
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Salaried Route: You are employed by the school as an unqualified teacher and receive a salary while you train (usually aimed at career changers with 3+ years of work experience).
What is the Fenland Alliance?
The Fenland Alliance is a specific partnership of primary schools in the North East Cambridgeshire (Fenland) area that offers the School Direct training route.
The alliance is led by Lionel Walden Primary School and works in close partnership with the University of Bedfordshire.
Key details about the Fenland Alliance:
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Scope: The Alliance focuses on Primary (5–11) and Primary EYFS (3–7) teacher training.
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The Partnership: It includes a wide range of schools, from small village schools to large town primaries across towns like March, Wisbech, Chatteris, and Whittlesey.
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Structure: Typically, you spend 4 days a week in your placement school and every Friday at the University of Bedfordshire for professional studies. Part time courses differ.
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Placements: You generally experience two different schools. For example, if you are on the Primary course, you might spend one term in Key Stage 1 and another in Key Stage 2 to ensure you have a broad range of experience.
While it is a partnership of many different primary schools, Lionel Walden acts as the Lead School. This means they handle the administration, recruitment, and coordination of the training program on behalf of the other schools in the alliance.
Course Director: The program is overseen by Mr. David Barron, who is the primary point of contact for the Alliance.
Accredited Provider: While Lionel Walden runs the day-to-day school-based training, the University of Bedfordshire provides the academic accreditation and awards the final PGCE/QTS.
Role of the Lead School
As the lead school, Lionel Walden Primary School is responsible for:
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Recruitment: Interviewing and selecting candidates for the School Direct places.
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Placements: Matching trainees with "host schools" within the Fenland area.
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Mentorship: Ensuring that every trainee has a high-quality, experienced mentor in their host school.
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Quality Control: Working with the University of Bedfordshire to ensure the training meets the national Teachers' Standards.
Partner Schools
The Alliance isn't just one school; it is a network. When you train with them, you might be placed in any of their partner schools across March, Wisbech, Chatteris, or Whittlesey. These range from tiny village schools to much larger town academies, giving you a broad experience of different teaching environments.
Why choose Fenland Alliance?
We work with a large number of partner primary schools across Fenland where experience has shown us that the trainees will be well-mentored and supported. The Alliance has close contacts with schools in the Fenland area and can facilitate placements in schools across the area that have experience of mentoring student teachers. We work alongside the University of Bedfordshire, the accredited provider for the course.
The course starts early in September with a 3-week intensive induction programme at the University of Bedfordshire (UoB). Your first teaching placement will run between mid-September and December, and the second placement runs between January and June.
- For Early Years course: one placement is in Key Stage One (KS1) and the other will be in EYFS (Reception).
- For the Primary course: one placement is in Key Stage One (KS1) and the other in Key Stage 2 (KS2).
Throughout the course, you will spend four days each week in your placement school and travel to UoB each Friday for professional studies.
Our partner primary schools are located across Fenland (NE Cambridgeshire) and range from small, village schools to some of the largest primaries in the country. We endeavour to minimise travel time to your placement schools. In each placement, you will have a named mentor who is an experienced teacher responsible for supporting your professional development.
At the University, teaching is through lectures, seminars and workshops with opportunities to work independently and collaboratively.
Student who complete the course often go on to secure a teaching position. Indeed, all primary trainees who completed our course gained employment, the vast majority within Fenland schools.
If you would like to talk to someone about what the Fenland Alliance can offer you the we would be happy to hear from you. Please email our course director on dbarron@lionelwalden.cambs.sch.uk