Our Course
To make sure you are a successful and confident teacher in the 21st-century, we have devised a vibrant programme, informed by research and constantly reviewed, to ensure students are equipped with the most up-to-date developments in education. Our aim is to provide you with a training experience that immerses you in the theory and practice of teaching. An advantage of training days hosted in different Partnership Schools is the opportunity to partake in focused learning walks/tours.
The course prepares you to teach across the age ranges 5-11 for Primary and is structured around modules - a combination of taught modules based at the University and placement modules based in host schools. You will undertake studies in all elements of education; extend your knowledge of learning and teaching, of the breadth and scope of the curriculum and the professional skills associated with high-quality teaching.
There are three assignments over the year that are closely linked with school placements – combining theory and practice. Plenty of support is available for writing the assignments.
Students spend 4 days based in a host school based with one class and one day training as a group of students, either at Winchester University or at one of our Partnership Schools where training is led either by our Specialist Leaders of Education (SLEs), senior teachers or those who are experienced in leading specific subjects. Students also have the opportunity to complete ‘learning walks’ in the school that they are visiting for the training day which adds to experience and puts 'theory into action'.
The first term, which we call the ‘formative placement’, is an ideal opportunity to gather lots of experience without it being formally assessed. Your time teaching is balanced with time out of class which may include observing other teachers, planning alongside teachers, planning individually, visiting other classes/schools and having time to work on University assignments and research.
After Christmas, students partake in an assessed 10 week placement in a contrasting school before returning to their host school for a final assessed school experience.
There is also opportunity to spend time in a KS3 and Early Years setting through the year. Whilst our assessed placements are not in Early Years, a number of our students go onto be successful Early Years teachers.
The School Based Training route is very bespoke to individual needs. ‘Teaching time’ can initially be with one child then building up to a group of children before eventually moving onto a class. We recognise that our students come form a wide range of different starting points and the training is well tailored to cater for this. Some students come along with experience of working within schools already whilst others have spent very little time in school prior to starting.
