Primary Teacher Training

Primary training covers the effective teaching of all National Curriculum subjects, the wider curriculum and other current educational issues.

Non-salaried routes

From 2024-25, we will offer non-salaried full time (1 year) and part-time (2 year) primary (5-11) courses leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) with PGCE or QTS only.

Trainees attend a pre-course induction day in July prior to taking up their main placement at the start of the school year. The course is structured so that trainees gain hands on experience in their host schools from the very beginning. Full time trainees will spend four days a week in school and one day a week in core training at one of our hub school for the majority of the academic year. Trainees will have placement experience in two contrasting schools and in two different key stages. Training also takes place across other partnership schools to enable trainees to gain a varied school experience.

Essex Primary SCITT trainees are well supported throughout the year by a mentor in each school placement and a senior tutor, who are experienced school leaders, who provide support and guide you and your mentor. Trainees complete school-based tasks and three evidence-based reviews which support the build-up of a range of evidence towards Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). It is also possible to choose to study for a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) alongside the QTS course with Anglia Ruskin University, our PGCE partner.

Non-salaried trainees are usually eligible for student finance and can get a student loan to pay for their tuition fees as well as a maintenance loan to support them during the training year.

Salaried routes

We can also offer a full time (1 year) and part-time (2 year) salaried route leading to QTS only. To be eligible for this route, you will need to find a school that is willing to employ you for the duration of the course as an unqualified teacher, (the provider does not find this school for you); the rate of pay will depend on the school’s or academy’s pay scale. There will also need to be an agreement in principle between you and your employing school regarding who will pay the course tuition fees.

Right from the start of the course, salaried trainees take on a significant amount of independent teaching and so consequently will need to demonstrate a readiness to teach. Please note that salaried trainees are not eligible for student loans. If you or your employing school are interested in finding out more please contact us for further details.

Entry requirements

Prior to starting their training all entrants to primary teacher training must have:

• An honours degree from a UK Higher Education Institution; equivalent overseas qualification or a qualification recognised as equivalent to a degree. (This should be 2:2 or above.)
• GCSE English language or literature, maths and science at grade 4 / C or above or equivalent.

Entrants with qualifications from outside the UK must provide an equivalency statement from ENIC. Further details can be found on the ENIC Website.

If you do not hold a GCSE in English language or literature, maths or science at grade 4 / C or above or equivalent you can apply to take an equivalency test. We accept equivalency tests from:

Equivalency Testing www.equivalencytesting.co.uk

If you have taken an equivalency in the past with another provider please do contact us.

We also look for candidates to have:

• An ability to communicate clearly and accurately in Standard English.

You can find out more general information about applying for teacher training and funding via the Department for Education website Get Into Teaching.

If you have any questions about applying please contact us at enquiries@essexprimaryscitt.co.uk or 07738 885759.

What does training with Essex Primary SCITT offer you?

• A large proportion of time spent in school gaining practical teaching experience in Key Stage One and Two.
• Partnership schools across the county of Essex – including urban and rural, infant, junior, primary, large, small, and church-aided schools.
• A course that is tailored to meet the needs of schools, producing good teachers with high levels of practical teaching skills.
• Strong coherence between the taught and school-based elements of the course.
• Support in school from well trained, highly skilled mentors.
• Opportunities to visit a range of partnership schools to support their professional development.
• A highly supportive and nurturing team.
• Excellent employability as EQTs – a high percentage of our trainees are offered jobs in our partnership schools with most others employed in Essex and others employed in other counties.
• A real voice to help to further improve outcomes for future trainees.

At CTSN@Essex Primary SCITT, we are proud that we continually strive to get better and better, improving outcomes for our trainees and enabling them to become the best teachers they can be.

“Headteachers of local schools are keen to employ trainees from Essex Primary SCITT because of the reputation it has rightly established for producing very well-trained teachers”

How to apply for our Primary courses

All applications for primary ITT courses need to be made through the GOV.UK Apply Service getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/how-to-apply-for-teacher-training

The Get Into Teaching website allows you to search for your choice of teacher training provider.

You can search and apply to us directly as CTSN@Essex Primary SCITT or via our accredited provider CTSN SCITT Alternatively, if you are interested in training with us and want to learn more before applying please contact us directly.

We are committed to safeguarding and child protection. As part of our selection and interview process we will undertake additional checks as required to confirm the suitability of applicants.