School placements
You will be allocated to a base school for the majority of your training and receive an authentic experience of working as a member of your school’s departmental team. This immersion into the life of the school with a gradual increase in your practical teaching is a distinctive part of the School Direct approach, enabling you to progress effectively and provides an excellent preparation for your New Qualified Teacher (NQT) year.
You will indicate a preferred age range of either lower (aged 3-7 years) or upper primary (aged 7-11 years).
The two schools you will be allocated will be contrasting schools and you will teach consecutive age ranges. This is to ensure breadth of experience as well as meeting the stipulations of national ITT criteria.
The structure of the three phases is as follows:
Spring Term | Second placement - Development phase | 6 weeks assessed teaching 40-45% (10 hrs) of the week |
Summer Term | Return to Base Placement - Consolidation phase | 10 weeks assessed teaching up to 75-80% (16 hrs) of the week |
Autumn Term | Base placement - Introduction phase | 5 weeks observation and team teaching
7 weeks assessed teaching 40-45% (10 hrs) of the week |
Additional week primary placement | |
One day diversity placement | |
Enrichment week - school based experience related to individual training needs | |
In addition you will be entitled to 10% PPA (planning, preparation and assessment) time each week where you will be expected to work alongside your class teacher or year group teams. You are also entitled to 10% CPD (Continuous Professional Development) time each week to organise activities that will further your own development. This may be observing other teachers in your or other schools, team teaching or researching topics.
Additional Placements
In addition, there are also opportunities for enrichment visits to culturally diverse schools as well as SEND specialist schools or Early Years Units. International enrichment opportunities are also offered by self-funding experiences through York St John or by accompanying school trips.