The Course
The Borough of Poole SCITT offers you a one year (38 week) course leading to a Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) validated by Kingston University in Surrey. (Qualified Teacher Status subject to students passing the government imposed National Skills Tests in Literacy, Maths and ICT.). The course carries 60 Credits towards a Masters Degree.
The 38-week course complies with the requirements of the National Curriculum for ITT and is largely school based, with 24 weeks in schools and 14 weeks in the course centre at Upton House, enabling you to successfully link theory and practice.
Tutors & classroom teachers, experienced in teacher training will run courses, seminars and workshops specially designed to introduce you to the needs of children and the primary curriculum. There will be ample opportunity for personal study time, peer group discussion and evaluation of your school-based work.
There is a strong emphasis on the use of information and communications technology throughout the course and extensive use is made of the rich local environment and facilities.
You will gain experience in at least two local primary schools during your training and will be supervised in each school by a trained mentor.
A Professional Co-ordinator, with expert knowledge and experience of teacher education will oversee and co-ordinate your training during the course under the direction of the SCITT Management Board-The Management Board is made up of representatives of the partnership, including head teachers, mentors and trainees.
The course is an 'all-through general primary course' and will train you to teach children from 5-11 years.
All trainees are now required to undertake training in both Key Stages and substantial school experience will be provided in both. You may, however, choose to specialise in either Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2, in which case you would need two teaching practices in your chosen Key Stage. Students undertake two Block Practices in Key stages 1 and 2 during the course - the final Block Practice will be in the Key Stage of your choice.
Before graduation you will also be given the opportunity to develop an individual professional strength and specialism linked to the subject of your first degree or a chosen 'A' level subject. Candidates will be asked to specify their specialist subject by the time of interview.
Requirements:
All teacher-training courses are subject to the trainee and selection requirements set out in DCSF Circular 07/07 'Professional Standards for Teachers' contains high expectations for the subject knowledge of trainees in English, Maths, Science and ICT. Preference will be given to those able to demonstrate competence in these areas.
The Borough of Poole SCITT is a postgraduate course - you will require a degree (normally 2:2 or above). You will also require GCSE (or equivalent) to grade C or above in English and Maths and a science subject. 'A' Level grades will also be taken into account.
Trainees will be required to take the National Skills Tests in English, Math's & ICT.
We strongly recommend that potential students familiarise themselves with ICT techniques in preparation for teacher training.
Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to Primary Education and to have spent time, or be willing to spend time, working voluntarily in a primary school to familiarise themselves with working with children and the demands of the primary classroom. A minimum of 1 week (preferably 2) is required.
Assessment:
Your progress will be monitored and assessed through regular formal and informal monitoring of teaching competence, leading to profile reviews and professional assignments, which will link education/subject theory with your work in the classroom. Assessment takes place throughout the course from the submission of assignments and by monitoring your profile of professional competency by mentors, course tutors and the Professional Co-ordinator.
Qualifications:
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) with 'M' Credits validated by Kingston University in Surrey
The Schools:
Participating schools have been selected on their record for providing a quality teaching and learning environment, their strength of commitment to professional development and their previous experience of working with trainees in initial teacher training.
The schools have been strongly involved in the writing and development of the course and are also involved in the selection of the trainees, their mentoring and assessment.
Participating schools for 2009/10 include:
• Ad Astra First School
• Baden Powell & St Peters CE School
• Broadstone First School
• Canford Heath Combined School
• Courthill First School
• Hamworthy First School
• Haymoor Middle School
• Heatherlands First School
• Lilliput First School
• Manorside Combined School
• Merley First School
• Oakdale Middle School
• St Aldhelm's Combined School
• St Joseph's RC Primary School
• St Luke’s CE Primary School (Bournemouth)
• St Marks CE Primary (Bournemouth)
• St Mary's RC Combined School
• Springdale First School
• Sylvan First School
Students will be assigned a trained mentor within the school who will be responsible for supporting and guiding your professional development and ensuring that you have the opportunities you need within the school.
Your in-school experience will progress from observing and working alongside your class teacher to taking full responsibility, firstly for groups and later, for the whole class.
Course Quality:
What Ofsted says:
Ofsted/HMI has examined the course in detail several times over the past six years. Ofsted assesses ITT courses on a four grade scale - Grade 1: very good; Grade 2: good; Grade 3: adequate; Grade 4: poor)
Inspection 1999/2000
Poole SCITT gained two Grade 1's and three Grade 2s in English.
Inspection 2001/2
Poole SCITT was awarded four Grade 1s in Math's - for the quality of the course; the quality of the assessment of the trainees; the trainees' teaching & class management; and the trainees' assessment, recording & reporting. Grade 2 was awarded for the trainees' knowledge and understanding of Math's.
Inspection 2004
Ofsted confirmed the previous grades and gave a provisional Grade 2 for the management of the course.
Inspection 2007
Ofsted confirmed the previous grades and gave a Grade 1 for the Management and Quality Assurance of the course.
The inspectors noted that:
• The excellent leadership and management of the consortium which result in very effective communication across the partnership
• The outstanding systems by which the consortium assures the quality of provision
• The very strong collegiate partnership across the consortium and high level of commitment to the trainees' progress.
• The excellent links between centre-based and school-based training, resulting in high quality training
• The highly focused, individualised support for trainees, which fosters their commitment, enthusiasm and professional approach to teaching.
Poole SCITT has now gained the necessary grades to place it in the Training and Development Agency's highest Allocation Category: ALLOCATION CATEGORY 'A' which requires 6 Grade 1s and all other categories at Grade 2.
What the students say:
-A selection of comments from trainee evaluation forms:
'Excellent. Friendly, and involved us in a wide range of experiences'
'The math's sessions are very good - have made me more confident when teaching and given me lots of great ideas for teaching!'
'Great school placement! I learned a great deal from my class teacher on every aspect of teaching. He offered advice, constructive criticism and lots of encouragement.'
'Everyone is extremely friendly and helpful. The school has been very flexible and did everything in their power to help.
'The tutors are almost without exception 'excellent'. Being a new course it is not handicapped with out of date information or ideas. The course always appeared 'fresh'.
'I think it's been excellent, we all want to be teachers, so it's been great to get into the classroom to link theory with practice.'
The Centre:
Upton House, the Borough of Poole's Professional Training Centre, is used as the Course Centre for the Poole SCITT.
Upton House is a large country mansion set in an attractive country park on the shores of Poole Harbour. It has good facilities, including a restaurant, a educational library as well as equipped teaching rooms. A considerable number of course sessions also take place in the participating schools, for example, Design and Technology, PE and ICT units, where specialist facilities are required.
The Professional Coordinator is based at the Centre and is responsible for the general direction and day-to-day running of the course. She, and the assistant co-ordinators and your mentor will act as your personal guidance tutors.