More than 30 new teacher training places in Lincolnshire

A new teacher training scheme is being run by a partnership of 17 schools in Lincolnshire, opening up more than 30 new training places from September 2015.

The development, which will see Lincoln and Lincolnshire growing its supply of trained teachers, also sees graduates benefit from teaching experience in a school environment.

The Lincolnshire Teaching School Alliance (LTSA), which includes schools in Lincoln, Branston, North Hykeham, Welton, Sleaford, Market Rasen, Gainsborough and Louth, has been accredited to lead and deliver the government-backed programme across 12 core secondary subjects.

School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) offers graduates the opportunity to undergo their training and accreditation while immersed in a school environment.

The host school in which they train could also offer them a teaching post at the end of the course.

To deliver this new programme in subjects ranging from Biology and Chemistry to Computing and RE, the LTSA will be working with the University of Lincoln.

Successful candidates could be eligible for tax-free bursaries of up to £25,000 in some subjects, as well as the chance to train alongside experienced teachers in some of the county’s leading secondary schools and academies.

The Lincolnshire Teaching School Alliance members are:

• Bourne Academy
Branston Community Academy
• De Aston School, Market Rasen
• Haven High Academy, Boston
• University Academy Holbeach
• Kesteven and Sleaford High School
• The King’s School Grantham
• King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth
• Monks’ Dyke Tennyson College, Louth and Mablethorpe
• North Kesteven School, North Hykeham
• Priory Academy LSST, Lincoln
• Priory City of Lincoln Academy
• Priory Ruskin Academy, Grantham
• Priory Witham Academy, Lincoln
• Queen Elizabeth’s High School, Gainsborough
• St Peter & St Paul Catholic Voluntary Academy, Lincoln
• William Farr CE Comprehensive School, Welton

Andrew Chisholm, Director of the LTSA, said: “One of the most exciting things about running a SCITT is that we can identify special areas of need within our participating schools and then advertise, interview and train the outstanding teachers that we require.

“We can ensure that our recruits are of the highest quality, train them to be teachers of distinction and award them a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.”

Damian Keogh, Head of St Peter & St Paul Catholic Voluntary Academy in Lincoln, added: “Under our new SCITT scheme, trainee teachers will be embedded in our school. This means we will be able to ensure that our highly qualified teachers and best tutors support our trainees on a daily basis as they develop the skills and knowledge to become teachers of excellence.”

Applications for places on the LTSA SCITT are now open via the UCAS website.

Open Evenings are planned for The Priory LSST in Lincoln on January 29, Ruskin Academy in Grantham on March 4 and King Edward VI Grammar School in Louth on May 5.