Train to be a teacher
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn”
Benjamin Franklin
Becoming a teacher lets you impart life lessons that your students will never forget and puts you in a position to influence their decisions, behaviours, strengths, weaknesses and imaginations.
Are you interested in a career as a teacher?
There are many reasons why you should train to teach to be a teacher….
- Good teachers are in demand and there are excellent employment prospects
- Inspire young people to fulfil their potential
- Train in an innovative and supportive environment
- Train to teach with us and change a young person’s life for the better
- Go home each day knowing you have made a difference
At The Downs School & Sixth Form we play a lead role in delivering teacher training in West Berkshire working with the OTT SCITT as their West Berkshire Hub.
The Downland Alliance partnership comprises a number of schools from across West Berkshire, all working together to develop the teachers of the future through this school led route into teaching. We work with St Bartholomew’s School and Kennet School for secondary training and Compton Primary, Beedon Primary and Basildon Primaries, amongst others for primary training. So you get the best of both worlds – high quality school led training, quality assured by an outstanding SCITT*
These are post graduate programmes leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) only or QTS with the academic qualification, Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
You can find full details of all the programmes and places available on the Gov.UK Find a Post Graduate Teacher Training course. Use the post code RG20 6AD to search.
As a trainee, during your training year you have two main placements and are supported by a dedicated mentor in each school. These schools are all within the Newbury area including here at The Downs School.
You attend designated training days and subject knowledge training days run by members of the senior leadership teams of the schools, other teaching and learning specialists, and staff from the OTT SCITT.
If you want to know more, please take a look at the Downland Alliance website – you can contact us through the contact page if you have any questions and there is also further information on the OTT SCITT website.
We host regular Train to Teach Career Information Evenings designed to give you information and provide advice on your choice of training programmes. You can register to attend one of these through the website.
Get some real life experience in a school
We can help you to gain some valuable school experience to ensure you make the right choices about your training and career.
You can apply to attend a school experience day with us through the Gov.UK School Experience portal.
How do I apply for a place?
Apply for one of our teacher training programmes with The Downland Alliance through the GOV.UK Apply Portal. Search with the post code RG20 6AD.
Train to Teach with Us – together we can make a difference!
*SCITT – School Centred Initial Teacher Training
