The distinctiveness of the programme relates to its flexibility to meet individual needs. At the beginning of the training, a detailed analysis of your training needs will be carried out by one of the Partnership’s ITT tutors, based upon the Standards for the Award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), including audits of subject knowledge and information and communications technology (ICT). The graduate trainee's previous experience and qualifications will form an important aspect of this analysis. As a result of this needs analysis, the graduate trainee will be issued with a suitable and individualised training programme. The length of the programme will depend on your needs analysis, which will determine the individual training programme, although programmes are normally one year in duration. Most of the training is school-based but the trainee will be required to attend centrally run training sessions. The trainee may also be required to attend some sessions run by the partnership’s ITT providers. The number and nature of these sessions will vary according to individual need and the age phase you are training to teach.

Revised Training Requirements as of September 2008
1.Revised TDA training requirements state that all trainees must have 60 days of structured training (40 days on a two-term programme and 20 on a one term programme). The 60 days will comprise a mixture of central training days and school-based activities and tasks. The number of days required reflects the amount of TDA contribution to salary which is equivalent to two thirds of a Graduate Trainee’s salary and therefore we must ensure that s/he receives training for this percentage of his/her employment whilst on programme. Attendance at central training and completion of all tasks are compulsory and Graduate Trainees cannot be awarded QTS unless there is evidence that the training has been undertaken. This applies equally to schools self-funding the GTP even though they will not be receiving a contribution to their Graduate Trainee’s salary.
2.For a three-term Primary Graduate Trainee there will be 24 central training days and for secondary trainees 20 days of central based training and an additional 4 days of INSET on subject knowledge pedagogy making a total of 24 days.
3.Attendance at central Mentor training is compulsory for School Mentors and they will also be responsible for assessing school-based written tasks which also form part of the structured training. These will have to be assessed as meeting the relevant QTS standards and requirements. There will be 27 tasks to assess for Primary Graduate Trainees and 14 tasks for Secondary Graduate Trainees. There will be training and support for Mentors regarding the assessment of these tasks.

During the Programme The trainee will work alongside experienced teachers, and gain experience by observing good practice, working with individual pupils, small groups and whole classes. Trainees will also undertake directed study tasks. The main source of support for this will be from school-based mentors but the trainee and school will also receive support from a Support Tutor from one of the ITT providers in the partnership. This tutor will visit the school periodically during the programme and will be responsible, in collaboration with school mentors to review and monitor the training programme.

The programme will enable the graduate trainee to reach the Standards for QTS and within it will enable the graduate trainee to:

• consider the nature of the chosen subject, its status and potential with the school curriculum;
• learn about classroom management strategies and how to plan and prepare lessons;
• develop the ability to select and make appropriate use of a range of equipment and resources to promote students’ learning;
• develop the skills needed to monitor and assess students’ work;
• develop as a creative, reflective and innovative professional, able to meet the challenges presented by educational change.

Second School Experience
All Graduate Trainees who have previously not had experience of teaching in another school will now have to undertake a minimum of 4 weeks experience in a second school in order to meet QTS requirement R2.9. This is an increase from the minimum of 2 weeks previously undertaken. For Primary Graduate Trainees in independent schools this will remain at a minimum of 6 weeks experience in a state school. The length of mainstream state school experience for those Graduate Trainees whose lead school is a special school will remain at 10 weeks.
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ASSESSMENT

Assessment will be continuous throughout the programme. Graduate trainees will receive targeted support from both the school mentor and an ITT provider support tutor. Graduate trainees will be required to maintain a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate the standards for QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). There are no academic assignments but graduate trainees will be expected to complete QTS related written tasks. At the end of the programme, an external assessor who previously has not been involved in the training will assess the graduate trainee.

RECOMMENDATION OF QUALIFIED TEACHER STATUS

In order to be recommended to the GTC (General Teaching Council) the graduate trainee must demonstrate all the requirements for the Award of Qualified Teacher Status, including the National Basic Skills Tests in numeracy, literacy and information and communications technology (ICT).