The Sheffield SCITT Primary ITT is led and managed by St Catherine's Sheffield.
The Assistant Head Teacher Jheni Weir is the Director of the Sheffield SCITT, and Becky Puchalka who is on the Leadership Team at St Catherine’s is the Assistant SCITT Director and Primary Phase Lead (and former SCITT trainee!) for the Sheffield SCITT Primary course. As well as being instrumental in the development of the course both Jheni and Becky have an extensive history in training and supporting trainees.
If you are uncertain which age range would be best for you, please feel free to get in touch admin@sheffieldscitt.org.uk
The Sheffield SCITT approach
Our approach is based on what our partnership Headteachers are looking for in their Newly Qualified Teachers. They far prefer teachers who have spent the whole year in school experiencing the full calendar cycle of the school year and being involved in every aspect of the professional teacher’s role in their schools. They find teachers trained by serving outstanding teachers this way are better prepared for the rigours of qualified teaching, and progress more quickly in their careers in their schools. It is their preferred route for recruiting their Early Career Teachers. All of our partner schools, both Primary and Secondary have recruited Early Career Teachers from the Sheffield SCITT. You can choose either a QTS (Qualifies Teacher Status)only route, or opt to study for a masters level PGCE alongside QTS.
You will work for a year mostly in one school gaining more experience and responsibility in the classroom and being trained by serving outstanding teachers. You will spend a short time teaching in at least one other school too. The course will entail 4 days per week in school. During your time in school you will be guided by an experienced mentor. One day per week you will join other teacher trainees for ‘hub days’. Here you will be trained on aspects such as how to walk and talk like a teacher, plan lessons effectively, behaviour management and how to really stretch and challenge students. You will spend September to December in your ‘Home School’. From January to Easter you will have the opportunity to experience life in a contrasting school. From Easter to the end of the programme you will return to your initial school.
Hub Days
As part of your training package, one day per week will be spent at your lead school.
Primary trainees will have one day out per week and you will go to St Catherine's to receive expert-led training on all aspects of teaching and learning. The very next day you get to go back into schools to try out your new skills.