Routes into teaching in Croydon

Getting into teaching & how to apply

A good place to start for general information on becoming a teacher is the DfE Get into Teaching website. This offers general information, from how to set up a school experience visits, to seeing what primary/secondary school life is like, to checking if you have the correct qualifications to apply for a teacher training course, to how to apply for a place on a teacher training course. There is also a step-by-step guide to the process, from thinking about training to teach through to application.

If you prefer to speak directly to local teacher training providers for more information, you might be interested in the Department for Education’s virtual Train to Teach events. There are a range of events hosted from around the country that will showcase local providers in your area and you will be able to book a slot to speak to the providers that you are interested in.

You can search for local train to teach information events here: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/events

The DfE also offers a useful tailored advice service which provides you with personalised advice from a team of telephone agents who can talk you through training options, the application process and your next steps. You can register for this here.

Visit and volunteer in schools

To help you decide if teaching is right for you, and to support your application, you should do some observation, work or volunteering in schools. If you are not sure which age or subject would suit you, contact schools in your area and ask to observe in a classroom. You should also speak to the teaching staff about the challenges and rewards of teaching and ensure you understand both the nature and demands of the job. This will not only help you make your decision but will ensure you are stronger in the interview process.  Some Croydon based MAT and school you may wish to approach to visit or volunteer in are:

Secondary schools

• A four school secondary alliance led by Riddlesdown Collegiate;
• The Harris Federation (five secondary schools in Croydon)
• The Oasis innovation teaching school alliance (three secondary schools in Croydon)

Primary schools:

• The Synaptic Trust – Croydon based MAT and teaching school;
• Valley teaching school alliance in the south of the borough;
• The STEP Academy Trust and
• The Pegasus Academy Trust – schools in and around Thornton Heath.

Find out more about local Croydon Initial Teacher Training providers here:

• National Institute of Teaching
• Teach First
• Roehampton University
• Kingston University

The National Institute of Teaching

The NIoT’s Initial Teacher Training is a fully immersive school-centred programme – aspiring teachers will be in the classroom from the very start. But full immersion does not mean that you will be thrown in the deep end: our trainees are mentored and have central training once a week. And you’ll have the confidence of knowing that you are participating in a programme that was designed by some of the most experienced teachers and leaders in the country, drawn from four leading school trusts with decades of teacher-training between them.

We also know from experience what headteachers look for in new teachers – so we will ensure that you develop the skills necessary for finding an Early Career Teacher role. All our teacher training courses lead to QTS (Qualified Teacher Status), a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) and 60 Master’s Level credits.

Benefits of this programme include:

• Fully immersive: NIoT trainees are given 39 weeks of professional learning and teaching practice in a placement school.
• Learning applied quickly: You’ll learn something on a Thursday (at Core Training) and apply it the next day.
• Fully supported: We care about the wellbeing of our trainees. So you’ll have mentors who know you well, support your progress and cheer your successes.
• Advice on tap: Trainees who have concerns about any area of teaching – from classroom behaviour to workload management – are offered detailed support and guidance either locally or nationally.
• Spiral curriculum: Our curriculum is deliberately structured in order to reinforce previous learning. Your classroom practice will become more sophisticated as their knowledge builds.
• Research-informed: Our researchers are continually examining what works best in teacher training and using these insights to shape the programmes we offer.
• National cohort: You will belong to a network of like-minded individuals across the country.

Support

At the NIoT, we believe that readily available, empathetic support is vital to ensuring that our trainee teachers have a successful training year. The support package we offer includes:

• A multi-layered school support network, designed to help protect your physical and mental health and your wellbeing
• Personalised support with any specific areas of the programme that might be concerning you, such as behaviour management, workload or academic writing etc.
• An NIoT support network, including professional tutors, regional welfare officers, subject leads and peer discussion groups customised to your cohort
• Tailored support for neurodiverse trainees
• Dedicated support for trainees who are registered disabled.

Time commitment

Full-time option:

Five days per week (four days in school, one day at a campus).

Part time:

• Four days per week, with the course finishing at the end of the autumn term of year two. All academic work would be completed during year one. Training day (Thursday) not negotiable.
• Three days per week, with the course finishing at Easter of year two. All academic work would be completed during year one. Training day (Thursday) not negotiable.

NIoT works in partnership with the University of Birmingham. The University of Birmingham is the validating university and has responsibility for awarding the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) element of the programme you will not need to travel to Birmingham to complete this element you will have access to the necessary resources.

We are an institution dedicated to training teachers and school leaders at every stage of their careers – from trainee through to executive leader. We’ll be by your side throughout your career.

Course Options:

There are many different funded routes into teaching, including generous bursaries. You can find out more here:

https://niot.org.uk/programmes/initial-teacher-training/itt-funding-routes

• Primary (3-7) (fee paying: Z492)
• Primary (5-11) (fee paying: 28P6)
• Primary with mathematics (3-7) (fee paying: E792)
• Primary with mathematics (5-11) (fee paying: 3F2F)
• Biology (fee paying: 2KGW or salaried: 2KGD)
• Chemistry (fee paying: 2KGZ or salaried: 2KGY)
• Computing (fee paying: 2T3F or salaried: 2T3G)
• Design and technology (fee paying: 2KG7)
• English (fee paying: 2KG2)
• Geography (fee paying: 2KH8)
• History (fee paying: 2KH6)
• Languages – French: (fee paying: 2B66 or salaried: 2B64)
• Languages – Spanish: (fee paying: 2B66 or salaried: 2B64)
• Mathematics: (fee paying: 2B67 or salaried: 2B68)
• Physics: (fee paying: 2KH3 or salaried: 2KH2)
• Art and Design (Fee-paying: F198) PE (Fee-paying: 2VHD)