Do you want to make a real difference? Train to teach with us!
We are delighted you have taken an interest in our initial teacher training programme. We are an inclusive, outstanding, innovative, well-established and highly respected provider of ITT in Northamptonshire.
We have been running our School Direct Primary PGCE with QTS programme since 2012 and pride ourselves on our personalised and bespoke approach. This is reflected in the excellent retention and success rates achieved over the last 10 years. Our trainees are sought after, our employment rates fantastic and our trainee feedback is outstanding.
We hope you find these pages useful and wish you the best of luck in your first steps towards a career in teacher.
Fairfields School is the lead school for the partnership working alongside Rowan Gate Primary School; University of Derby is our university provider. We are recruiting places for Primary School direct to start in September 2022.
What is School Direct?
School Direct is a school-based model of initial teacher training where you learn on the job. School groups work in partnership with one another and a university to deliver dynamic programmes of practical learning and academic study, allowing trainees to develop their skills and prepare for their career in teaching. Trainees gain a PGCE with QTS after their training year, allowing them to teach in schools across the UK and around the world.
Our programme
We are very proud of our long standing partnership with the University of Derby, an experienced provider of school-based initial teacher training, with whom we offer the tuition-only route of Primary School Direct (Course Code 24ZM) at Postgraduate Certificate of Education level. Our programmes were judged as “outstanding” by Ofsted in November 2015. We work closely with our school partner, Rowan Gate Primary to deliver our bespoke ITT programme.
Our School Direct programme is heavily focussed on gaining practical hands on experience of being a teacher in the classroom; you will be working in school from day one. This is supplemented by weekly study days, led by experienced lecturers from the University of Derby in collaboration with a range of experts from our local schools. Trainees do not need to travel to Derby for study days – these take place at a venue in Northampton and it is only necessary to travel to Derby up to four times throughout the year.
The taught and assessed element of the programme is highly structured and sets out weekly expectations upon the student, the school-based mentor and the school as a whole, so that the student gradually assumes more whole class teaching responsibility as the programme progresses. Course and training materials are clear and well structured so that our students know what is expected of them at all times.
School Direct Route
Please note, we only provide training-only routes on the School Direct programme, we no longer offer any salaried positions.
Also referred to as the Non-Salaried route, this is a school-led, one-year initial teacher training programme that equips our trainees with a wealth of classroom experience, a PGCE and QTS, subject to successful completion of the programme. No prior work experience required although experience in school is highly desired.
You will work closely with an experienced mentor and will undertake school placements in contrasting settings. Whilst you are a part of the team from day one, you will work alongside the class teacher and you are not expected to teach classes independently until you and your school feel you are ready.
Places are self-funded; you have to pay tuition fees of £9,250 (subject to change) to University of Derby, our training provider.