Teacher Training

Bishop Wordsworth’s School has extensive experience of training prospective new entrants to the teaching profession. We view this as a highly important part of what we do as a school in supporting the future of education in the local area. We aim to offer new trainees a highly supportive and well organised training programme which will provide them with the best possible experience in their initial year of teaching.

There are two main routes that are offered at Bishop Wordsworth’s for teacher training:

Provider Lead

This is a conventional PGCE course based at one of the local universities with placements available at Bishop Wordsworth's School. We have links of this nature with several higher education establishments and if this is the route you are interested in you should apply directly to the university of your choice.

School Direct

Bishop Wordsworth's School is involved in a partnership with other local schools and the University of Southampton in providing non-salaried School Direct teacher training placements. The name of this partnership is the SUPA (Southampton University Partnership Alliance) Salisbury alliance and we offer training in a wide variety of subjects each year.

Course Structure

This training programme is similar in structure to the provider-led PGCE course at the University. The main difference will be the attachment each trainee will make with their ‘Base School’ which will involve an initial two weeks of induction and a guaranteed long teaching placement. The content of the training year is broken down as follows:

Term 1

In September trainees will spend approximately three weeks following an induction programme in their home school. This should afford opportunities to visit local primary schools and gain 6th Form experience, as well as gaining an understanding of the systems and functions of the home school. Trainees will then attend approximately two weeks initial training in the University. This will be followed by the rest of the term in their second placement school as well as attending University training days.

Terms 2 and 3

In January, trainees will join another local school for a ‘Focus Placement’. This will last for approximately six weeks until February half term. The idea of this placement is to give trainees experience of working in a contrasting school. After February half term the trainee will then return to their ‘Base School’ and will remain there until the end of June.

During this time, trainees will return to the University every Friday for regular training days.

For further information about the School Direct teacher training programme offered at Bishop Wordsworth’s School please contact Jeremy Rogers (Assistant Headteacher) via his email jpr@bishopwordsworths.org.uk

Alternatively please use the following linkto the SUPA website – www.supateacher.training