School Led Training Partner Programme
The Castle Phoenix Alliance is a high-quality educational provider in the East of Coventry. Our Alliance consists of six Primary and Secondary schools and a second multi-academy trust. At the heart of The Castle Phoenix Alliance is our desire to provide students with the best possible start in life through a first-rate education. These are clearly shown in our Six Ambitions: Reading, Oracy, Creative Learning, Impactful Teaching, Achievement and Aspirations. We are an extremely welcoming Alliance, recognising and appreciating the skills that trainee teachers bring to our schools.
Applying for a School Led Training Partner place through us will guarantee an exceptional teacher training experience. The Castle Phoenix Alliance is a strong alliance with an excellent record of teacher training. Each year we train our future teachers, through both the PGCE, School Led Training Partner and Apprenticeship routes, all achieving at least a ‘good’ grade by the end of their training year, with the majority being graded as outstanding. All of our trainee teachers have always been able to secure jobs in teaching after their training and we have a strong record of employing teachers who train with us.
Our main partner provider is The University of Warwick, who have graded The Castle Phoenix Alliance teacher training as ‘outstanding’: “outstanding training provision for all trainees, … some of the best feedback to trainees that we have ever seen. The mentor practice is to match those of the very best.” Warwick University Ofsted.
Successful School Led Training Partner candidates will complete their Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE 11-18) with the University of Warwick, allowing them to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) as well as gaining 90 CATs points towards their Masters. Practical, school-based training will take place at the lead school and within the Alliance. School Led Training Partner training involves candidates being supported in, and engaged with, the schools from the beginning of September of their training year, developing relevant professional skills and learning from the wealth of experience that exists both within the schools and the university. High quality support will be available at all times from the schools and the university to help candidates on their journey towards becoming outstanding classroom practitioners.
We offer School Led Training Partner placements across most subject areas. Trainees are supported by experienced Subject Mentors, who are experts in their academic fields.
“The feedback on placements is very positive, providing excellent training experiences for the trainees”
Trainees experience a comprehensive Professional Studies Induction Programme at the university, prior to commencing the programme in schools. Once in schools, the School Led Training Partner programmes contain a core Professional Studies element to help fulfil the Core Teaching Standards, and a series of Subject Studies sessions designed for the chosen specialism. Some of these take place at the placement school and some at the University of Warwick. ‘Alliance Days’ take place at Caludon Castle School and our partner schools.
The programme includes: child protection, safeguarding and all aspects of inclusion, behaviour for success and learning and teaching. Trainees then take what they have learned in the training room directly into the classroom where they put it into practice under the supervision and guidance of mentors and fellow colleagues, who will provide support, feedback and key guidance to ensure that all trainees make the required progress.
Professional Studies sessions, based at Caludon Castle School, are facilitated by leading practitioners who have a track record of excellence in teaching. Some of the topics covered include:
- Understanding learning
- Behaviour for learning
- Outstanding lesson planning
- Using ICT to enhance learning and teaching
- Literacy and numeracy
- Questioning techniques
- Differentiation
Trainees will have experience in at least two secondary or primary schools and have the opportunity to immerse themselves in school life, participating in extracurricular activities, parent meetings, and cross-curricular events. Trainees, also, spend time gaining experience in Special Education within their own schools.
Trainees based within the Castle Phoenix Trust schools, also benefit from cross trust collaboration and professional development such as our Trust Learning and Teaching conference.