Joyce Frankland Academy
Robust and relevant training and support
Being both new to the professional tutor role and ITT co-ordination, I've realised the true value that this course offers to both schools and trainees in providing support to the future teachers and leaders required in our education system.
I've been overwhelmed by the support that everyone has provided to me, at all hours, for every question, regardless of how trivial it may have been and I believe that this has directly impacted our ability to best support our trainees in school.
The course offers robust and relevant training and support, to both mentors and co-ordinators, in a non-competitive, collaborative fashion.
When trainees encounter difficulties or fall behind in assessments, the pathway tutor or other Tes Institute representatives are immediately available, in school, to help them reach their targets or catch up on deadlines.
Communication, paperwork and reporting is well structured and as the course doesn't involve a long written report, mentors can easily stay on top of the work.
This efficiency and ease in reporting allows the school-based mentors to fully focus on the teaching and learning development of the trainee.
The partnership is also realistic about the landscape regarding the teaching profession and both tailor their course and interviewing procedure to reflect this.
On a personal note, Jane, Trevor, Dave and Suzanne have also helped with my development in terms of candidate recruitment, selection and interviewing.
The strategic operation of an ITT arm to our Academy has added to my portfolio of skills, including Safer Recruitment training. I have also learnt lots of techniques from other ITT co-ordinators in the very efficient, well run meetings that we attend.
I've had an extremely well supported year with the Tes Institute/Davenant Foundation School partnership and have enjoyed the collaborative nature of our partnership.
I believe the structure and ethos of the course ensures that, as schools, we're able to offer the best teaching and learning-based experience to trainees which will directly affect their abilities in the future education of our young people.
Learn more about Initial Teacher Training (ITT)
Our Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course is a school-centred teacher training route leading to qualified teacher status (QTS) with an optional PGCE, that we deliver in partnership with a number of schools in Essex, Greater London and Kent. You can find more information on our ITT course page.