Primary Courses
Welcome to our Primary Training Course Page
Primary 3-7
Primary 5-11
Primary with Mathematics
We currently offer the following primary courses with both QTS and QTS with PGCE qualifications
About our Primary SCITT
Becky Puchalka, who is on the Leadership Team at St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School, is the Assistant SCITT Director and Primary Phase Lead for the Sheffield SCITT Primary course.
As well as being instrumental in the development of the course, Becky has an extensive history in training and supporting trainees.
As a former SCITT trainee herself, Becky has firsthand experience of what it is like to train with us and has used this knowledge to refine and further develop our trainee experience. St Catherine’s is one of our Lead Schools and is where we host our primary hub sessions.
Primary Course Summary
All our primary courses are fully school based with 4 days a week spent at your placement school and one day a week spent at St Catherine’s primary school, Sheffield for your hub day.
Structure
For all our primary courses you will be allocated a mentor for each placement. All our school mentors are expert teachers who will support you throughout your placement and have allocated time in their timetables to meet with you each week. In addition to this, you will work with a Lead Mentor. Your Lead Mentor will be a point of contact and will support you for the whole year across all your placements.
You will also have opportunity to speak with the wider SCITT team on your hub days if you have any questions or concerns about the course.
If you are uncertain which age range would be best for you, please feel free to get in touch admin@sheffieldscitt.org.uk.
Support
Primary 3-7
Our Primary 3-7 course is for trainees who would like to specialise in Early Years and Foundation Stage (EYFS) primary teaching.
We follow an A-B-A school placement structure which means that you will be placed at a host school for the first term, a contrasting school for the second term, before returning to your first placement school.
For all placements you will be fully emersed in school life and will develop your practice as an EYFS teacher. You will start your first placement by observing expert teachers and slowly build up your practice until you are teaching the whole class on a full trainee timetable.
You will attend Hub sessions at St Catherine’s in Sheffield, unless you chose to work with one of our Training Partners. These hub sessions are where we deliver our high-quality curriculum through expert facilitators in the field of primary education.
In addition, we have 4 ITAP (Intensive Training and Practice) weeks, where we focus on specific key areas of pedagogy and explore how to put these into practice.
We also offer a Primary 3-7 QTS with PGCE course.
If you are interested in applying to our Primary 3-7 course, you can apply here.
Primary 5-11
Our Primary 5-11 course is for trainees who would like to specialise in Key Stage 1 (Year 1-2) and Key Stage 2 (Year 3-6) teaching.
We follow an A-B-A school placement structure which means that you will be placed at a host school for the first term, a contrasting school for the second term, before returning to your first placement school. We aim to place you in the Key Stage where you would like to specialise as a teacher for your first and third placements and give you an experience of the alternative Key Stage in term 2.
For all placements you will be fully immersed in school life and will develop your practice as a primary school teacher. You will begin your first placement by observing expert teachers and slowly build up your practice until you are teaching the whole class on a full trainee timetable by the end of placement 3.
You will attend Hub sessions at St Catherine’s in Sheffield, unless you chose to work with one of our Training Partners. These hub sessions are where we deliver our high-quality curriculum, through expert facilitators in the field of primary education.
In addition, we have 4 ITAP (Intensive Training and Practice) weeks where we focus on specific key areas of pedagogy and explore how to put these into practice.
We also offer a Primary 5-11 QTS with PGCE course.
If you are interested in applying to our Primary 5-11 course, you can apply here.
Primary 5-11 with Mathematics
Our Primary 5-11 course is for trainees who would like to specialise in Key Stage 1 (Year 1-2) and Key Stage 2 (Year 3-6) teaching but would also like to further develop their practice in primary mathematics teaching.
We follow an A-B-A school placement structure which means that you will be placed at a host school for the first term, a contrasting school for the second term, before returning to your first placement school. We aim to place you in the Key Stage where you would like to specialise as a teacher for your first and third placements and give you an experience of the alternative Key Stage in term 2.
For all placements you will be fully emersed in school life and will develop your practice as a primary school teacher. You will begin your first placement by observing expert teachers and slowly build up your practice until you are teaching the whole class on a full trainee timetable by the end of placement 3.
You will attend Hub sessions at St Catherine’s in Sheffield, unless you chose to work with one of our Training Partners. These hub sessions are where we deliver our high-quality curriculum through expert facilitators in the field of primary education. You will also be given the opportunity to have further training in primary mathematics teaching so you can become further specialised in this field.
In addition, we have 4 ITAP (Intensive Training and Practice) weeks
where we focus on specific key areas of pedagogy and explore how to put these into practice.
We also offer a Primary 5-11 (mathematics) QTS with PGCE course.
If you are interested in applying to our Primary 5-11 with mathematics course, you can apply here.
Entry Requirements
The Education (School Teachers' Qualifications) (England) Regulations 2003 sets the criteria for entrance to ITT courses in England. To be accepted onto one of our primary courses we require the following qualifications:
A degree from a United Kingdom higher education institution or equivalent qualification. You must have successfully completed your degree before starting the course, however you may apply if you are in your final year of study.
GCSE Maths, English and Science or equivalent at grade 4(C) or above.
If you are unsure if your qualifications are equivalent, please contact admin@sheffieldscitt.org.uk.
If you do not have the required GCSE (or equivalent grades) there are equivalency tests that can be taken before you apply.
The European Network of Information Centres in the European Region (ENIC) provides advice on the equivalence of overseas degrees. To check if your qualifications meet the required standard in England. you can ask for a statement of comparability from the UK European Network of Information Centres (UK ENIC)
The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies Higher Education Credit Framework for England describes the higher education qualifications awarded by UK higher education institutions (HEIs) at 5 levels.
We are looking for the next generation of outstanding teachers and future school leaders. You will be passionate about children and education but also care about our schools and the communities you serve and the special ethos each of those schools have.
You will have a good awareness of how schools operate and teachers work. Whatever your experience, applicants need to demonstrate how they will engage, inspire and communicate with the young people they will work with.
Personal Qualities
Two satisfactory references, one of which must be your current or most recent employer. If you have yet to complete your degree at the time of application both references can come from the establishment you are studying with.
Successful identity check - you will be required to bring your identification to interview.
Proof of qualifications - we will need to see the original certificates. If you have lost them, you will need to get replacements from the awarding body.
Eligibility to live and work/study in the UK
Passing an Enhanced Criminal Record Check and check of the Children’s Barred list.
A satisfactory pre-employment health check being carried out by our occupational health provider Corazon Health - Occupational Health Services. Where adjustments are recommended by our occupational health provider, these will be considered in line with the Reasonable Adjustment Policy.
In addition, The Sheffield SCITT reserves the right to place additional conditions on the offer, for example completing Subject Knowledge Enhancement courses prior to starting training. Any additional conditions will be communicated to you at interview and in writing.
Other Requirements
If you are uncertain which course would be right for you or if you have any other questions, please get in touch admin@sheffieldscitt.org.uk.
If you are interested in applying for any of our primary teaching courses, apply here.
