Praise for scheme giving trainee teachers classroom experience
AN INITIATIVE in Harrogate and Ripon schools to provide aspiring teachers with real classroom experience has received a glowing report in its first government inspection.
Ofsted officials gave the programme an overall rating of good, with leadership and management recognised as outstanding – the highest possible rating.
Following visits to a number of schools which run the School Centred Initial Teaching Training (SCITT) initiative in the Harrogate Council area, the inspectors praised leaders for being ‘relentless in their commitment to continuous self-improvement’ and recognised a ‘strong moral purpose to grow the best-quality teachers for schools’.
Andrew Symonds, head teacher at Richard Taylor Church of England School in Harrogate, said: “This is fantastic for us because it’s a validation of what we have been aiming to achieve.
“We’re providing high-quality training for people who want to be the teachers of the future. They are learning from practitioners who are still very much in contact with pupils. “
Mr Symonds explained the programme differed from conventional routes into teaching by providing four days of weekly training within a school, rather than taking a degree before doing a short placement in a classroom environment.
He added: “At the end of their course our graduates have a really good understanding of what it takes to be a teacher. This is reflected in the Ofsted report. But no organisation aims to stand still and this is great validation of where we have got so far. We will continue striving to improve.”
Mr Symonds was one of those involved in establishing the programme and is part of the board for responsible leadership and placing trainees.
Andrea Peacock, head of Kirkby Malzeard CE School, added: “As a head teacher I can see the value of the programme. The graduates come in to schools very well prepared because they have had that exposure to teaching.”