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Initial Teacher Training - Applicants

Why choose Potentia TSH for your Initial Teacher Training (ITT)?

Potentia TSH’s ITT provision is built on a foundation of organisations who have historically delivered Primary, Secondary, SEND, Apprenticeship and SCITT routes into teaching within Derbyshire for over a decade. These organisations include Ashbourne Dove Valley ITT, Matrix ITT and Altius TSA. This foundation ensures that teachers commencing their ITT with Potentia TSH receive high quality training, support and development.

Trainee workload is a primary focus for us. As such, with our TSH covering a large geographical area within Derbyshire (Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, North East Derbyshire and High Peak) we are able to place you in high quality schools close to where you live and minimise your travel time.

Throughout your time on our programmes, you will have access to training that is facilitated by experienced and inspirational serving school leaders or teachers from a range of settings, contexts and geographical locations.

Our teacher training courses are an excellent opportunity for graduates and career changers to join the teaching profession.

Once you have completed your ITT programme, our involvement does not stop there. For any teacher employed by one of our local schools, we support you in the next stages of your career, providing you with continued access to the DfE’s golden thread of evidence-informed practice as an Early Career Teacher.

Our Accredited Provider

We are delighted to be working with the University of Derby as our accredited provider for Initial Teacher Training.

The University of Derby has a strong reputation for nurturing successful, confident, and forward-thinking teachers. Their courses are highly regarded, with an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ rating. 

By training to teach at University of Derby and Potentia TSH, you’re on your way to a worthwhile, rewarding, and enjoyable career in Teaching, where you can truly make a difference. With a rich heritage of teacher training, the University of Derby is a major provider of new ECT's to the profession across the East Midlands.

Practical teaching experience lies at the heart of all of their courses. This includes high-quality placements in different educational settings which build skills in the classroom, supported by expert mentors throughout our schools.

Our Courses

Primary 3-7 & 5-11

Potentia Teaching School Hub (Accredited by the University of Derby) Provider led, School-Based PGCE course.

By studying this programme, the successful Beginning Teachers will be awarded a PGCE (Level 7) and be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status. This will allow them to apply for teaching posts in UK schools and colleges. All Beginning Teachers will enrol on the three Level 7 modules and the three professional practice modules. The successful completion of all modules will lead to the award of Postgraduate Certificate in Education with QTS (PGCE).

The University of Derby works collaboratively with expert colleagues from across our community of practice to deliver an innovative and ambitious curriculum that meets the needs of all learners. The programme will equip you with the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to have a significant impact on the lives of pupils that you work with.

The ambitious curriculum design is based upon a school-based model that best prepares you to be gamechangers in the classroom. A series of Intensive Training and Practice periods, following a designed model of implementation, allows for deeper exploration, application and deconstruction of key areas of teaching and learning. Whilst on the programme you will be supported by expert staff including a Lead Mentor and personal and academic tutor.

The programme adopts an integrated approach to all aspects necessary for the award of QTS with PGCE and a variety of delivery modes will be employed to reflect this. Given the professional nature of the programme, much of the support during the practical parts of the programme will be school classroom based. You will be allocated a trained school-based mentor who will support you through continuous professional development and discussion.

Placements

During your course you will have access to 2 placement schools. This includes your main placement (host school) and a 2nd contrasting key stage school. You will be in your main placement school for terms 1 and 3 and will access your contrasting school placement during term 2.

Intensive Training & Practices

To develop your expertise in identified areas of pedagogy, you will access IT&P weeks when you work with an expert mentor to apply this learning in your schools and integrate it into your practice. This includes areas such as metacognition, behaviour management and SEND.

 

Our Schools

As the Teaching School Hub which serves the Derbyshire districts of Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, High Peak and North East Derbyshire, we have access to 327 schools and settings across these districts. This means that our trainees will have access to a number of high-quality, experienced schools and mentors which will support placements. Unlike other ITT providers who operate within our region, this makes it highly likely that you will have several high quality placement options in a variety of geographical locations and contexts within Derbyshire.

 

Our Training Venues

As a trainee, you will access training at either the University of Derby Kedleston campus or at one of Potentia TSH's premises within Chesterfield. These sites provide excellent learning environments for training and study spaces that can be accessed 24/7.

 

Kedleston Campus, Derby.

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, Chesterfield.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for our courses which commence September 2024, please sign up to DfE's Apply service below and search for course code Y177.

Further Information

For more details about our courses, placement schools or support with your application, please contact us via itt@potentiatsh.co.uk

You can also visit the Get into Teaching website if you are thinking about or ready to apply, they offer free advice and support to help you decide if teaching in a primary or secondary school in England is right for you.

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