Where will my school placement be?
Your school placement will be a key part of your teacher training, giving you the chance to gain hands-on experience, and develop your teaching skills. Here’s a summary of what it will be like:
LOCATION AND TRAVEL
- You will be placed in a high-quality school relatively close to where you live.
- We aim to place you at a school which takes less than 45minutes to travel to though it could be longer depending on the best schools available to you or if you’re using public transport. Travel time can be up to an hour but we try to avoid this.
- Many trainees are in schools very close to where they live.
- Even if you live a significant distance away from Haybridge, we will find you a high quality placement near your home.
STRUCTURE OF THE PLACEMENT
- Full-time trainees will spend four days a week in school during the academic year. Part-time trainees are in one school in the first-year for two days a week. This will allow you to gradually build your skills and understanding of the school environment.
- In addition to the weekly placements, you’ll also have an extended block placement where you attend school every day for a set period. This will give you the chance to immerse yourself more fully in the daily routines and teaching responsibilities of the school.
VARIETY OF PLACEMENTS
- Over the course, you’ll be placed in at least two contrasting schools, from small village schools to larger urban academies. This will provide a broad view of different teaching environments, helping you decide what type of school you’d prefer to work in once you’re qualified.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
- Initially, you will observe and support teachers, but as you become more confident, you’ll begin working with small groups of students.
- Gradually, you’ll take on whole-class teaching responsibilities and the teaching timetable increases over time.
- By the end of the course, you will be teaching up to 80% of a teaching timetable so you will be fully prepared for employment as a teacher.
SUPPORT AND MENTORSHIP
- Throughout your placements, you’ll be supported by a school mentor who will guide you, offer advice, and provide constructive feedback.
- Your mentor will also conduct lesson observations and write reports on your progress. This is part of the process to ensure you meet the Teachers’ Standards by the end of the course.
ASSESSMENT AND QUALIFICATION
- As part of your teacher training, your progress will be assessed against our focus areas such as professionalism through observations and reports.
- At the end of the course, a final summative judgment will be made regarding your readiness for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
- If you’re struggling to meet the requirements, additional support will be available to help you get back on track.
Overall, your school placements will be a balanced mix of gradual responsibility, varied experiences, and ongoing support, all designed to help you become a confident and capable teacher.
