School based Initial Teacher Training
Are you considering becoming a teacher?
Do you want to train in a school environment?
Join us at St Patrick's RC High School for a comprehensive training package that will ensure you have the skills to be a highly successful teacher and potential leader of tomorrow.
We are highly committed to supporting Initial Teacher Training with a programme tailored to meet the needs most relevant to trainee teachers that brings together the ability to learn to teach locally in schools and receive expert input from Liverpool Hope University.
By working with our Higher Education partner – Liverpool Hope University - we are able to provide training experience which brings together best practice in a training module to get the best of all worlds in your teacher training. Once placements start you are in schools every week. On a Friday you will attend training at Liverpool Hope University or the St Patrick’s Centre of Educational Excellence. This means you can learn theory and put it into action in the week ahead. You have ongoing support each week from a wide range of staff who are experts. The course is the perfect blend of subject knowledge and practical experiences to develop you into the teacher that you want to be.
Our course is an exciting and supportive way to train to teach which enables schools to take a lead role in your training. We work in partnership with our accrediting partner University: Liverpool Hope to develop a curriculum for ITT that goes above and beyond.
On our programme you have staff from the St Patrick’s Centre of Excellence, a National Behaviour Hub Liverpool Hope and expert teachers who work every day in schools supporting you. This really is the best of all training routes in one.
Successful completion of School Direct leads to a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) and the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Liverpool Hope offers additional M-Level credits, which can be used towards a Master’s Degree, should you wish to do additional training at a later date.
Our evidence enriched, research informed training, ensures that you have an effective understanding of Teaching and Learning so that you can make a real difference in your own classrooms. The alliance schools that you work with are dedicating to developing the very best teachers for our young people. You will be trained in a supportive, positive, professional environment that enables you to develop your own subject knowledge alongside the pedagogy of teaching.
All of our trainees have support from mentors in placement schools, university and the Centre for Educational Excellence. The team will be with you from day and support you on each step of our career journey, guiding you and assisting you into your first teaching job as an Early Career Teacher.
You will attend training and development session across the year at St Patrick's and Liverpool Hope. These training days are timed to support the work that you are doing in schools. The step by step approach allows you to observe, discuss, practice and reflect on your own teaching so that you can learn from your experiences as you master the skills needed to become an effective teacher.
The course has a gradual build up into teaching. You can plan, teach and share classes with the class teacher as you learn and develop your confidence. This means that when you fully takeover teaching you are well prepared and have an enjoyable, successful experience. We have induction days before September and a chance to visit your placement schools. This helps you to build a wonderful community with all the trainees and staff that you will be working with.
“Pupils behave in a calm and orderly manner, both in lessons and during social times. Classroom environments are positive places where pupils can thrive. Pupils work well with each other, debating and discussing their learning confidently”
Ofsted 2022
Teacher Training Places Available For 2023/24
Primary School Direct Places:
Thank you for considering St Patrick's Greater Manchester Alliance for your primary School Direct Initial Teacher Training. Our courses are now open for application.
Secondary School Direct Places:
We offer courses for the following subjects:
- Art and Design
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Studies
- Design and Technology
- Drama
- English
- Geography
- History
- Mathematics
- Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) (French and Spanish Course)
- Music
- Physical Education
- Physics
- Religious Education
School Placements
School placements
Our trainees complete two contrasting placements so that they can develop the skills needed to be an effective teacher in a range of settings. We have two school placements across the year. We work with a wide range of faith and non-faith schools across Greater Manchester.
Placement A: September - February
Placement B: February – End of July
The Course offers a gradual teaching timetable, slowly building up your teaching time. With our teacher training course you become fully immersed in school life and treated as a member of staff. You will have the chance to experience everything from how schools welcome pupils at the start of the year, being a form teacher and the pastoral role we have as teachers, completing duties, writing reports, how we prepare our pupils for exams and look after their mental health, supporting with extra curricular activities in school.
Our network of training schools cover a wide area and when possible we will try to match you with alliance schools in your area.
We work closely with the following schools across Greater Manchester.
We look carefully at the departments that you will be placed in. Sometimes an extra travel time benefits you as you work in a department that is supportive and welcoming. This reduces your stress and workload during the year.
Like all ITT providers we can not guarantee you a placement in any one school as the circumstances of schools might change before you being your course.
Interview Process
Interview process
You will be interviewed by staff who are passionate about Education and supporting the next generation of teachers. These small panels may contain members of St Patrick's RC High School our Departmental Heads, Alliance School mentors and University partners. You are joining our family and we all wish to support you and get to know you.
During the day you:
✅ Will have the chance to teach a small group of pupils for 15 mins. This is a wonderful way to meet our pupils and feel what it is like to be a teacher.
✅ Tour our school and see our school at work
✅ Have a formal interview with 2-3 people, this is a chance for you to ask any questions about our course.
We will email you all the information that you need before you attend an interview. We do not attempt to trip you up or have any surprises in your day.
The interview days are a wonderful chance to meet staff you will be working with and have any questions answered that you have.
We work in partnership with our trainees, supporting them in becoming the best teachers so that young people in our care can achieve.
Our interviews ensure that you have the opportunity to flourish.
We realise that you may have more than one interview offered to you and that your work commitments might prevent you from attending an interview. Please let us know if this happens so we can reschedule the interview for you.
Personal Qualities
Personal Qualities
We are looking to support you as you enter a profession that is rewarding and life changing for the young people that we serve.
The young people in our care deserve the very best. As a result, we look to work with people who:
✅ Have a passion for learning, social justice and supporting every child
✅ Are reflective and always looking to improve and push themselves to excel
✅ Work in collaboration and partnership. We expect our trainees to support each other, share advice and be open to learning. They are willing to ask for help and look forward, learning from mistakes.
✅ Be adaptable and flexible, schools are busy places and require people who can remain calm and support their colleagues and pupils when unexpected changes occur.
Get Into Teaching Events & School Experience
Secondary School Experience Days:
Visit us before applying to our teacher training course: School Experience Days with St Patrick's RC High School and our Centre of Excellence.
St Patrick’s Roman Catholic High School is committed to supporting our next generation of teachers into this wonderful profession. Each year we welcome people of all faiths and none as they start their journey into teaching. For many of our future teachers this exciting journey begins with a visit to our school, organised by the St Patrick’s Centre of Educational Excellence.
Why not visit us before you apply to our course and meet our staff, pupils and current trainee teachers as you begin your own career in education?
Young people need the very best people to be their teacher. Someone who will help them grow and develop a passion for learning and support them to become the very best version of themselves.
If you have committed to serving our young people and wish to develop yourself as an evidence enriched teacher why not visit St Patrick’s and see our school at work.
If you are considering applying to join our family on our School Direct Teacher training course we look forward to welcome you on your day with us.
During your day you will have a unique opportunity to:
✅ Spend time with teachers and pupils in the subject that you are considering teaching
✅Tour our school and then spend time in lessons. You will get the chance to observe and discuss teaching and learning in classroom and begin to reflect on what you might be teaching next year
✅Meet our wonderful pupils in lessons, breaktimes and during extra-curricular activities.
✅Get to know the team that will be supporting you through your training year and meet some of our current trainee teachers who are on their journey
✅Find out more about how to apply, the application process and get 1-1 help with your teacher application
The whole life of a teacher and school community is catered for during your initial day with us in order to allow you to gain a small taste and understanding of school life. You will get to see how our pupils and teachers work together to create an environment where:
“Pupils behave in a calm and orderly manner, both in lessons and during social times. Classroom environments are positive places where pupils can thrive. Pupils work well with each other, debating and discussing their learning confidently” Ofsted 2022
To register your interest in visiting St Patrick's RC High School for a School Experience Day, please complete the School Experience Request Form.
thestpatrickscentre@salford.gov.uk