Programme overview

The programme takes place from late August and until July the following year. It starts with a week-long induction at LJMU at the end of August, which prepares trainees to start at their placement school at the start of the new academic year.

Trainees are based in their home schools Mondays to Thursdays and follow a Professional Studies Programme on Fridays. The programme comprises four days class contact, with one professional training day each week, all of which take place in the school setting.

Our Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) provides an in-depth training programme, focused on delivering the skills, knowledge and attributes needed when embarking on your teaching career. Our training and professional studies programmes focus on meeting the Teaching Standards and Qualified Teacher Status.

The Professional Studies programme is delivered predominantly at the Knutsford Academy site supported by online learning and University based sessions where appropriate. The programme covers all the knowledge and understanding trainees need to prepare for a successful career in teaching.

Practising School Leaders give an insight into day to day life in a school with key note talks on safeguarding, managing data, managing behaviour, making successful job applications, and supporting Vulnerable Students.

LJMU colleagues provide key lectures on key educational theories and pedagogical research and providing a context for assignments.

Our post graduate programme supports the development of a high degree of:
* Critical understanding of education theory and practice relevant to the subject area
* Reflective practice linked to professional development
* Practitioner research skills for effective teaching and learning
* Deep understanding and application of subject knowledge

Placements
Trainees are assigned to one of the schools in the Partnership as a Home School to undertake a teaching placement. An alternate placement provides opportunities to work in a different educational setting.

Partner Schools

Our current training partners comprise of six secondary and five primary schools in Cheshire and South Manchester:

Secondary Partner Schools

• Bridgewater High School, Warrington
• Burnage Academy for Boys, Burnage
• Hartford High School, Northwich
• Marple Hall School, Marple
• Tytherington High School, Macclesfield
• Winsford Academy, Winsford

Primary Partner Schools

• Egerton Primary, Knutsford
• Gawsworth Primary, Nr Macclesfield
• Mablins Lane County Primary, Crewe
• Offley Primary, Sandbach
• Styal Primary, Styal, Nr Wilmslow

Training places are now available in the following subjects:

• Art and Design
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computing
• Dance
• Design and Technology
• Drama
• English
• Geography
• History
• Mathematics
• Modern Languages
• Music
• PE
• Physics
• Psychology
• Religious Education
• Primary General (with Maths)
• Primary – PE Specialist
• Primary – Maths Specialist

Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE)
Opportunities to develop subject knowledge, if necessary, are available prior to commencement of the programme in a variety of ways, depending on your chosen subject and available in both a school based and university setting. This will be discussed at interview.

Assessment
Assessment takes two approaches; through lesson observations and through completion of academic assignments, both of which assess a trainee’s ability to meet the Teachers Standards (2012). Assignments are based on reflective practice and the programme leads to the award of the Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS

Entry Requirements

Successful candidates should normally demonstrate that they already have:

• GCSE grade ‘C’ in English Language, Mathematics or standard equivalent
• Normally Grade B at A Level in relevant subject or standard equivalent
• Minimum 5 days recent and relevant experience in a secondary school
• A first or second class honours degree (or equivalent) from a UK university. If the applicant is in his/her final year, a successful outcome should be predicted by the referee.

Equivalency checks, if needed, can be made on the ‘NARIC’ website.

Bursaries and Funding

Financial support for trainee teachers has never been better!

You could get £30,000 tax-free while you train. Your eligibility for financial support, and the amount you can expect to receive, will depend on the subject you choose to teach and your degree classification or highest relevant academic qualification. If your degree isn’t in the subject you wish to teach, you may be eligible for a funded course to increase your subject knowledge before starting your training.

Please go to the ‘Get into Teaching’ website to find out your eligibility for bursary. You don’t need to apply for a bursary – if you are enrolled on a non-salaried postgraduate course and meet the eligibility criteria, you will begin receiving payments automatically by your chosen teacher training provider. You will receive more information on the arrangements and how this is distributed prior to the start of your course.

Training places have tuition fees of £9,000. UK and EU student teachers are normally be eligible to apply for a student loan to pay the cost of the tuition fees which is available through Student Finance England.  Please search on Student Loan Company to assess your eligibility for a student loan. Student Services at Liverpool John Moores University can assist with this process and provide advice and support throughout applying for a loan.

Open Events & Further Information

Train to teach events

Please come and see us at the ‘Train to Teach’ event at The Renaissance Hotel, Manchester  on Saturday 25^th November. Please see http://traintoteach.education.gov.uk/what-to-expect for further details.

Open Days

Liverpool John Moores University – Post Graduate Roadshow, Wednesday 11th October 2017 12.00 to 1.30pm

For further details go to:  https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-students/postgraduate-events/teacher-training-event

Knutsford Academy Open Mornings

An open invitation to come along and meet us, along with our current cohort of trainees, ask any questions and get a feel for our unique programme.

The next Open Morning is Friday 17^th November 2017 at 10am. Please email TT@knutsfordacademy.org.uk to book your place.

How to Apply

Apply online through UCAS Teacher Training at www.ucas.com/apply/teacher-training from 26th October 2017.

You can view the courses we are offering under our TT@K partnership by searching the UCAS teacher training courses, under TT@K and by using “Knutsford” as the search criteria.  If you have any queries about the UCAS process, then please contact us at TT@knutsfordacademy.org.uk

Teacher Training @ Knutsford 2017-18 Intake Enquiry