The Course

The course provides a balance between theory and practice with 60 days spent in University and 120 days teaching placement. This means that your teaching is grounded in a strong pedagogical understanding and provides lots of opportunities to learn from one another and established professionals as well as learning on the job.

In early September, you will begin the course with a week in a primary school with structured activities provided by the University. We may be able to arrange for this to be at one of our family of schools.

The course includes two secondary school placements, and we can guarantee that at least one of these will be in an 11-18 setting, ensuring that you get invaluable post-16 teaching experience.

In the shorter of the two school placements in your first host school, you will carry out lesson observations, begin to learn how to plan lessons and team-teach alongside experienced colleagues. You will also be involved in whole school and Department training, as well as undergo a Professional Studies programme alongside other ITT students at the University on Fridays.

You will have a timetabled weekly mentor session and timetable weekly tutor session.

If there are additional CPD opportunities taking place within the Mercia Learning Trust that are of value to you as trainees you will be invited to participate.

In the spring term, you will begin a second, longer teaching practice between January and May.

Throughout the entire course, you will receive thorough, varied and extensive training on Teaching and Learning and Behaviour and Guidance, as well as other aspects of school life and secondary education. Training will be delivered by a wide range of successful and experienced teachers from across the alliance and beyond, as well as by University staff.

We have a comprehensive pastoral support programme, run in conjunction with the university. We have trained mentors in all our schools who will work with you on a day-to-day basis. They are skilled practitioners, which means you will be able to observe, team-teach and receive feedback from the best. Communication lines with the university are clear and the tutors there will also provide support throughout the entire course.

By the end of the course, you will be able to demonstrate that you have met all of the Teaching Standards. Progress against the Standards will be measured through lesson observations, lesson plans, mentor review meetings, and reviews with your tutor from University. You will be expected to provide a portfolio of evidence at the end of the year to show that you have met each of the standards. 

Courses we offer

• English
• Mathematics
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Physics with Maths
• Geography
• History
• Modern Foreign Languages (French, Spanish, German)

Placement Schools

Your two school placements will be drawn from this list of Sheffield schools in the vast majority of instances:

• King Ecgbert School
• Newfield Secondary School
• Forge Valley Secondary School
• Firth Park Secondary School
• Wales High School