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We are partnered with England-wide education charity Ambition Institute to deliver our teacher training programme. Ambition have developed a range of blogs and videos which cover topics related to our programme and teacher training. You can click on the sections below to find out more.

In this video, Ambition Institute Associate Dean Dr. Neil Gilbride answers the internet's most pressing questions about initial teacher training (ITT). Neil has spent around 19 years working in education in primary schools, secondary schools and special schools. He's also worked at universities as a lecturer and teacher trainer.

Read the responses to Neil's questions at Most Googled: initial teacher training (ITT) | Ambition Institute

We look at how Ambition's Teacher Training course will provide you with on-the-job teaching work experience, allow you to explore your subject, help you develop the skills needed to be a teacher.  Whether you want to share your passion for a subject, want to learn to teach in the bustle of a school, or want to give pupils the best start in life, here are three reasons why you should train to be a teacher with Ambition Institute and our partners.

Learn more at: Train to be a teacher with Ambition: 3 reasons why | Ambition Institute

In this explainer, we explore tuition fees and the different salaries available once you become a qualified teacher:

Understanding initial teacher training funding and salaries | Ambition Institute

Whether you're a recent graudate, looking for a new career, or already working in a school, find your route into teaching in our guide below:

Routes into teaching | Ambition Institute

This blog explores Ambition Insititure's Teacher Training programme, from what you will study, to PGCEs and funding.

Read more here: What is Teacher Training? | Ambition Institute

In this blog, learning everything you need to know about the teacher training application process, from eligibilty and requirements, to submitting your appication.

Charlotte Haynes, Associate Director of Partnership Operations at the Ambition Institute explains how:

Applying for teacher training? Everything you need to know | Ambition Institute

What is a PGCE and why do I need one?  Do I need a degree to teach?  Do I need different qualification to become a primary school teacher?

In this blog, Neil Gilbride from Ambition Institute unpacks the different routes into teaching:

How to become a teacher | Ambition Institute

 

Transform your future and the lives of young people with expert-led, in-school teacher training, run by Pathfinder Schools Trust in partnership with England-wide education charity Ambition Institute.

  • Qualify as a primary teacher in 12 months
  • Benefit from evidence-based, flexible learning online and in-person
  • Achieve qualified teacher status (QTS) with a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE)
  • Gain hands-on classroom experience and start your career with confidence

ITT Logo

Train in one school. You’ll do most of your training in one school, giving you immediate opportunities to practise the theory you’ve learnt in a classroom, supported by teaching experts.

Be guided by a mentor. You will be paired with an experienced teacher who will make sure you are supported through your training.

Benefit from blended learning. Benefit from the high-quality academic training you’d expect to get from a university with immersive classroom learning.

Develop your expertise with evidence-based training. A high-quality curriculum, backed by the latest research and evidence, will help you focus on developing your expertise in your chosen phase (Primary).

Have a balanced workload. This Teacher Training is designed to build your confidence in the classroom and respect your need for a life away from work.

Feel confident teaching. You'll spend lots of time with subject experts going into depth about how to teach your subject (or subjects if teaching primary) in the most effective way.

How this programme differs from other teacher training options

This Teacher Training allows you to do most of your training in one school. You can put your academic learning into practice in a structured, step-by-step way, with your mentor and peers, before taking it live in the classroom.

Your dedicated mentor will be an experienced teacher who works in your school. They will provide one-to-one guidance and support throughout your training.

What you’ll learn

Your Training

This is hands-on programme is backed by the latest evidence-based teaching research. You’ll learn the theory of what makes a good teacher and put this learning into practice with your peers and mentor in the classroom. At every step, you will be supported by experts from your programme.

Each week, you’ll cover a module from one of these five programme strands

1. Behaviour: How you can create calm, safe and purposeful places of learning where all children and young people can achieve.

2. Instruction: How you can support all children and young people to learn in the classroom – from thinking about how you present information, to helping them learn independently in lessons.

3. Curriculum: How you can design lessons and curricula that help children and young people to learn new and more complex ideas over time.

4. Assessment: How you can better understand the impact your teaching is having and how to respond when your pupils struggle.

5. Professionalism: Looking at what it is to be a teacher and how to prepare for your professional career.

Each module starts by introducing you to the ideas and theories underpinning the practice. You will then learn, step-by-step, how to apply these ideas in your own classroom. Your tutors and mentor will make sure you have plenty of opportunities to see great teaching in action and understand the key learning before you put it into practice yourself.

We have designed the curriculum so that you:

  • Focus intensely on areas of teaching we know can be complex and difficult to master.
  • Tackle areas, like pupil behaviour, right from the beginning of your training.
  • Revisit all your learning over time so that you keep improving.

How you’ll learn

There will be a combination of self-guided learning and face-to-face and online sessions with other trainees. In-school activities will include, classroom teaching practice, peer support and one-to-one guidance from your mentor.

You’ll also have:

  • Focused topic weeks where we take a complex area of teaching and study it with the help of additional experts in education.
  • Additional placement days outside of your school where you will experience the breadth of the education system in England.

How you’ll be assessed

You will be assessed through a mixture of written assignments and classroom observation.  

In your day-to-day training there will be opportunities to show what you can do and where we can help you further. We’ll use a range of assessment tools to help you showcase your growing capabilities, inside and outside the classroom.

Programme length

This is a 12-month, full-time, postgraduate programme. You may also be able to do part-time training, spread across 24 months.

After you’ve qualified

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

Once you have completed your training, and demonstrated what you have learned in the classroom, you’ll receive qualified teacher status (QTS). This allows you to teach in any school run by a local authority in England.

Postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE)

When you have successfully completed our programme, you will also receive a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE), an internationally recognised qualification. The PGCE is worth 60 credits towards a Master’s degree.

Tuition fees for our Teacher Training programme are £9,250.

Financial support is available through government bursaries, scholarships and maintenance loans.

Find out more about the current funding opportunities here: https://www.gov.uk/teacher-training-funding

Who can apply?

Training is open to anyone who might have an interest in becoming a teacher and has a degree or equivalent and the right to work in the UK. You might be:

  • A recent graduate looking for the first step in your career.
  • A teaching assistant looking to transition into teaching your own class.
  • Looking for a completely new career path.

We welcome candidates of all ages, from all backgrounds, and with all types of experience.

To be eligible, you will need:

  • An undergraduate degree, generally 2:2 or above, or equivalent.
  • A GCSE grade 4/C or above in English or Maths, or equivalent.
  • Primary school trainees will need a GCSE grade 4/C or above in science, or equivalent.

For more information please visit: Initial teacher training (ITT): criteria and supporting advice - GOV.UK  (www.gov.uk)

If you don’t meet the eligibility criteria but would still like to train as a teacher, please get in touch and we can discuss how we may be able to support you.

How do I apply?

The next cohort of trainee teachers will start in September 2025. Applications are now open for our next cohort please click the link below:

Apply Here

When do I need to apply by?

The programme starts in September 2025.  Applications close in July 2025.

Still have questions?

Talk to one of our friendly team to get your questions answered. Send us an email and we’ll get back to you.

Pathfinder Schools are working in partnership with Best Practice Network to deliver the Early Career Development Programme for Northamptonshire and the surrounding area. 

What is the Early Career Development Programme?

From September 2021, the government is funding an entitlement for all early career teachers in England to access high-quality professional development at the start of their career with a view to greater teacher support and retention. Best Practice Network/Outstanding Leaders Partnership is one of six Lead Providers delivering the Early Career Framework nationwide.

New teachers will now receive development support and training over 2 years instead of one, underpinned by the ECF. The offer for early career teachers includes:

  • 2 years of new, funded, high-quality training
  • funding for 5% time away from the classroom for teachers in their second year
  • a dedicated mentor and support for these mentors including access to funded high-quality training
  • funding to cover mentors’ time with the mentee in the second year of teaching

Registering with Best Practice Network

Schools will need to register with their chosen Lead Provider. In order to access ECF training provided locally with Pathfinder Schools, you can register your interest with BPN/OLP via the following link Early Career Framework - Early Career Development Programme | Best Practice Network . You will then be contacted with next steps, including how to upload your Early Career Teachers to the new DfE portal.

The two videos below will be able to give you more information to find out more about the programme

If you have any questions please email cpd@bestpracticenet.co.uk

Pathfinder Tags:

Pathfinder Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS, Reference, Identity, Criminal Record and Medical Checks are mandatory for all posts within Pathfinder Schools.  

Pathfinder Schools is passionate about its values of Aspiration, Responsibility and Courage, we believe that when people feel respected and included they can be more creative, innovative, and successful. We are committed to an inclusive workforce that represents many different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints. Our employee lifecycle processes are designed to prevent discrimination against our colleagues, regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, marital status, ethnicity, age, disability status, or any other aspect which makes them unique. While we have more work to do to advance diversity and inclusion, we’re committed to moving our Trust and the education sector forward.

Many of our staff work flexibly in different ways, including part-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking.

Read what our staff say about working for Pathfinder Schools.

We are delighted to be partnering with Best Practice Network and Outstanding Leaders Partnership to deliver the National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCO) which is a statutory requirement for all SENCOs appointed new to the role (in a mainstream school or academy), and an excellent opportunity for professional development for current and aspiring SENCOs.

The programme will provide the opportunity for participants to reflect upon and improve their practice whilst learning more about the coordination of special educational needs, policy and supporting the individual needs of children and young people.

Our NASENCO programme incorporates the award of a Postgraduate Certificate in SEN Coordination, validated by Bath Spa University (BSU) as part of their Professional Master’s Programme, worth the first 60 credits towards a Master’s (MA) degree.

Ours is a work-based, flexible and practical programme that will equip you with the tools and knowledge you need to enhance achievement and maximise impact upon learners with SEN and/or disabilities.

More details on the programme can be found here National Award for SEN Coordination | Best Practice Network