In order to raise standards in our schools, we need to attract the most able and committed people into teaching.

Through a high quality school-based programme, which is constantly reviewed and reflected upon, we seek to develop well-prepared, motivated and inspired trainees to send out into the profession with a positive and reflective attitude towards educating children.

If you believe that you aspire to becoming an excellent teacher then we would like to hear from you.

Course Overview
The Devon Primary SCITT offers a one-year, full-time, school-based route to qualification as a primary teacher. The SCITT consists of 31 successful primary schools in three clusters, in North Devon, Exeter area and South Devon
The Course will prepare trainee teachers for teaching in the 5-11 age range. 
The course is rigorous and carefully structured to combine:

• regular directed school experience
• centre-based training, including a 3 day residential
• research based assignments
• three dedicated teaching practices, totalling 17 weeks

Trainee teachers who successfully complete the Course are awarded Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) by the General Teaching Council for England and either a Postgraduate Certificate in Education or a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) by the University of Plymouth.
The Devon Primary SCITT was awarded top grades by OFSTED in March 2009.  The key strengths included:

• the trainees' and trainers' high levels of self motivation which result in trainees making outstanding progress and a highly cohesive course
• the leadership of the training programme
• the selection of high quality trainees with excellent potential to teach
• the accurate assessment of trainees' progress
• the use of the outcomes of trainees' assessments to inform improvements in training
• the very effective quality assurance procedures

You will spend the first few days within your home school, getting to know the staff, children and parents. This is also a chance to see how classrooms are set up and how teachers and pupils work together to build up routines and establish class expectations.
All of the Trainees then come away for a three day residential in Beaford Arts Centre. During this induction Trainees will:

• Gain an overview of the whole course.
• Reflect on their first few days within school.
• Begin to establish their own vision for teaching and learning.
• Form relationships with the other Trainees on the course that will be encouraging and supportive in the early part of their careers.

You will also begin to see the styles of learning on the course. We feel interaction, dialogue and thinking rather than lectures will enable you to be the designers and architects of learning within your schools.

Course Provision
The SCITT Course provides

• excellent training delivered by educational consultants, advisors and serving practitioners
  The direct experience of school life at every stage of the year, the sensation of being a member of staff, and the opportunities to be involved in the wider school community provide the best possible preparation for the next stage. - Simon
• regular directed school experience
• quality school placements
• involvement with the whole school community including parents and governors
• opportunities to work in small rural schools and larger town schools
• a detailed focus on the essential stages of development in pupils's learning through English, Mathematics and SEN assignments.
• opportunities to form supportive and professional relationships with trainees in other schools

The Course enables you to:

• learn to critically analyse educational practice
• become a reflective practitioner, enthusiastic and positive towards your own learning and teaching
• understand how children learn and want to inspire and motivate all pupils
• successfully manage planning, teaching, learning and assessment in the core and foundation subjects
• be confident about routines, systems and events within a primary school
  

Would you say you were someone who:

• has good academic qualifications
  
• has experience with working with children either formally or informally
  
• can communicate clearly
  
• can reason critically
  
• can manage time and work to deadlines
  
• can demonstrate independence of mind and thought
  
• can demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment to teaching
  
• enjoys working with others as part of a team
  
• would like to train in the South West of England?
  

You may also describe yourself as belonging to an under-represented group including men, those from minority ethnic groups or people with disabilities.

If you recognise yourself in the above, then you could be one of the thirty trainees recruited to the Devon Primary SCITT cohort of 2011-2012.

Course Structure
The Programme covers the full 195 days of the school academic year, and comprises 42 centre-based training days, 68 school-based training days and 85 days of teaching practice spread throughout the year.

Key Features of the Course:

• Trainees are based in one partnership school for the Autumn and Summer Terms and a second school for the Spring Term
  
• Experience of teaching in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
  
• A structured school-based programme that maximises the power of learning through working alongside successful practitioners
  
• The school-based programme is underpinned by a structured taught course delivered centrally by education consultants, advisors and serving practitioners
  
• Assignments that develop trainees' subject knowledge for teaching

Main Elements of the Course:

• Three day introductory residential
  
• Audit of your personal subject knowledge in English, mathematics and science
  
• Centre-based training in the core subjects (English, mathematics, science), ICT, Physical Education, Child Development, Behaviour Management, Diversity and Inclusion
  
• A structured school-based programme to enable theory and research to be observed, in practice, across the age range 5-11
  
• A four week Teaching Practice during the Autumn Term
  
• Assignments that enable you to relate theory and practice
  
• A five week Teaching Practice in a second school and opposite Key Stage
  Training in the National Curriculum Foundation subjects of History, Geography, Music, Art, Religious Education and Primary Modern Foreign Languages
  
• An eight week final Teaching Practice in your home school.

Trainees can expect to be welcomed into school. Trainees are part of the school team and will be treated as members of staff in all respects.

Each school is different but in all the schools in the Devon Primary SCITT trainees can expect:

• The regular support of the School-based Tutor and Class Teacher
  
• Regular seminar meetings to review and develop practice
  
• Opportunities to observe and work alongside excellent practitioners
  
• Professional guidance from the staff in the school
  
• Access to appropriate school documentation
  
• Access to appropriate and relevant pupil documentation
  
• Access to the school's resources and ICT facilities