EAST SCITT Geography (P303)

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

Financial support
Bursaries and student finance are available if you’re eligible
Qualification
QTS

Qualified teacher status (QTS) allows you to teach in state schools in England and may also allow you to teach in other parts of the UK.

It may also allow you to teach overseas, though you should always check what qualifications are needed in the country you’d like to teach in.

Age range
11 to 16 - secondary
Course length
1 year - full time
Date you can apply from
11 October 2022
Date course starts
September 2023
Website
https://www.eastscitt.co.uk/

Contents

Course summary

EAST SCITT was accredited in July 2020 as a School Centred Initial Teacher Training Provider offering primary and secondary school-based initial teacher training awarding Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), with the additional option of gaining Post-Graduate Certificate in Education accredited by the University of Buckingham.

EAST SCITT has been formed and is run by a team of expert professionals in the world of initial teacher training who are all practising teachers. As former Teaching School Alliances, we have a long-term proven track record of delivering high quality training and have the skills and expertise required to facilitate all aspects of our programmes. Our excellent reputation for supporting potential trainee teachers from the point of considering a career as a teacher, to developing into a leadership role within schools in Suffolk is second to none.

Formed and driven by a team of expert current professionals from Farlingaye & Kesgrave High Schools and Springfield Junior School, we are delighted to be working with over 40 Ofsted good and outstanding partner schools in Suffolk. Our trainers are excellent practising teachers selected carefully from our wealth of partnership schools. The number and geographical area of schools which we work with enables us to ensure you have appropriate placements.

We have one goal: to train outstanding teachers, committed to the excellence of all in the classroom. From our first cohort of 40+ full time trainee teachers gaining QTS, over 98% of those seeking jobs have secured teaching roles in Suffolk and beyond

School placements

You’ll be placed in different schools during your training. You can’t pick which schools you want to be in, but your course will try to place you in schools you can commute to.

Your placements will be carefully selected to ensure that they give excellent but contrasting experiences whilst also considering a reasonable travelling distance from your home.

We have established excellent working relationships with our Professional Tutors and School Mentors and try to match our trainees with their mentor to build strong professional relationships.

You will be placed in the same school for terms 1 and 3, term 2 will be in a different school providing a contrasting school environment. Our schools comprise predominantly of comprehensive schools but include faith schools.

Each of our training programmes is for a specified age range. We strive to provide experiences at special schools, pupil referral units and alternative educational settings.

School experience is at the heart of our training programme. Our expert school-based mentors will provide you with an outstanding foundation on which to build your future career. The mentor will meet with you weekly and work closely with you enabling you to gradually increase your time spent teaching incrementally culminating in 6 weeks of 80% teaching by the end of your training year. Each school has a senior leader linked to the SCITT team to ensure that you have great input and support which allows you to develop rapidly. You will also be supported by a SCITT tutor who will monitor your progress and provide you with additional support, through 3 weekly telephone calls, email support. and school visits.

Thoughts from previous trainees:

“You have made the start of training to teach a fantastic experience. I have able learned so much from everyone. The organisation has been top drawer!” 

“The passion and enthusiasm across the teaching staff is palpable.”

“I chose EAST SCITT because they went the extra mile to support my decision to train to teach. absolutely the right decision, they have supported and guided me through a tough, but rewarding journey to a fully qualified teacher.”

Entry requirements

Qualifications needed

An undergraduate degree at class 2:2 or above, or equivalent.

Your degree subject should be in geography or a similar subject. Otherwise you’ll need to prove your subject knowledge in some other way.

Grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths, or equivalent qualification.

We’ll consider candidates with pending GCSEs.

We’ll consider candidates who need to take a GCSE equivalency test in English or maths.

There will be costs incurred by yourself to achieve equivalency tests. We will consider accepting equivalency tests in lieu of GCSE English or Maths ( grade 4 (C) or above ) on an individual basis

Personal qualities

  • Resilience and adaptability

  • Establish and maintain professional relationships with students and adults

  • Analytical and reflective in order to improve

  • Self-aware

  • Potential to develop strong subject knowledge

  • Excellent skills in communication, time-management, planning and organisation

  • Enthusiastic and committed

  • Show humility, respect and empathy

  • Have high expectations

  • A positive and engaging presence

  • Evidence of creative thinking and appropriate risk taking to solve problems

  • Confidence to lead learning and the work of others

  • Strong literacy and numeracy skills

  • A team player

  • Sense of purpose

  • Sense of humour

Other requirements

EAST SCITT follow the Safer Recruitment procedures as set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022 version. This includes but is not limited to:

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) - The Disclosure and Barring Service has taken the place of the CRB check and it is a condition of all ITT courses that trainees must have a satisfactory enhanced DBS check before commencing training. Arrangements for completing DBS check applications will be explained as part of the selection and induction process.

Checking the Prohibited Teachers List

Checking references and gaining reassurance where necessary

Fees and financial support

The course fees for 2023 to 2024 are as follows:
Student type Fees to pay
UK students £8,250
International students £8,250

The fees above does NOT include PGCE . If you wish to apply for a full time QTS + PGCE programme this is possible. The QTS + PGCE only full time programme will be £9250 in total ( correct as at 01/10/2022)

If you are unsure at the time of applying, we recommend you apply for both programmes with us, and we will discuss these options more fully with you at the interview stage.

Financial support from the training provider

You don’t have to apply for a Department of Education bursary - if you’re eligible, you’ll automatically start receiving it once you begin your course.

You may be eligible for a  loan while you study – note that you’ll have to apply for  undergraduate student finance.

Find out about financial support if you’re from  outside the UK.

About the training provider

EAST SCITT was accredited in July 2020 as a School Centred Initial Teacher Training Provider offering primary and secondary school-based initial teacher training awarding Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), with the additional option of gaining Post-Graduate Certificate in Education accredited by the University of Buckingham.

EAST SCITT has been formed and is run by a team of expert professionals in the world of initial teacher training who are all practising teachers. As former Teaching School Alliances, we have a long-term proven track record of delivering high quality training and have the skills and expertise required to facilitate all aspects of our programmes. Our excellent reputation for supporting potential trainee teachers from the point of considering a career as a teacher, to developing into a leadership role within schools in Suffolk is second to none.

Formed and driven by a team of expert current professionals from Farlingaye & Kesgrave High Schools and Springfield Junior School, we are delighted to be working with over 40 urban and rural Ofsted good and outstanding partner schools in Suffolk. Our trainers are excellent practising teachers selected carefully from our wealth of partnership schools. The number and geographical area of schools which we work with enables us to ensure you have appropriate placements. We have one goal: to train outstanding teachers, committed to the excellence of all in the classroom. From our first cohort of 40+ full time trainee teachers gaining QTS, over 98% of those seeking jobs have secured teaching roles in Suffolk and beyond.

Interview process

Our recruitment and selection process is designed to allow us to make the right decisions for you as an applicant and for our placement schools.

Once we receive your application, it will be considered by the Secondary Support Lead / Subject Lead and the SCITT Director.

We encourage applicants to find out more about us by visiting our website. We welcome the opportunity to chat to you about our programme at a mutually convenient time.

On the day of the interview:

  • Welcome by a member of the SCITT team
  • Document check
  • A teaching task - to deliver a 20 minute session to a small group of pupils
  • Completion of a Subject Audit Form
  • A written reflective subject task
  • An interview with panel typically comprising of the SCITT Director or Secondary Support Lead and one other expert, such as a Secondary SCITT Tutor, Subject Lead or Senior Leader from one of our partnership schools
  • Completion of a Subject Audit Form
  • A written reflective subject task
  • A chance to ask questions and a discussion about next steps.

Outcomes are advised in a timely manner through the Apply system and by telephone call and/or email. Offers are conditional offers at this stage. Unsuccessful candidates are offered feedback on their performance.

All trainees offered a place must:

  • Pass a Fitness to Teach medical assessment;

  • Undergo an enhanced DBS check and all safer recruitment processes to verify their suitability to work with young people.

International candidates

You’ll need the right to study in the UK. You already have this if, for example, you:

  • are an Irish citizen
  • have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (you may still be able to apply)
  • have indefinite leave to remain in the UK

If you do not already have the right to study in the UK, you may need to apply for a visa. The main visa for fee-paying courses (those that you have to pay for) is the Student visa.

To apply for a Student visa, you’ll need to be sponsored by your training provider.

Sponsorship is not available for this course.

If you need a visa, filter your course search to find courses with visa sponsorship.

Alternatively, check if you’re eligible for a different type of visa, such as a Graduate or Family visa, that allows you to train to be a teacher without being sponsored.

Find out more about training to teach in England.

International qualifications

If your qualifications come from a non-UK institution, we may want to see a ‘statement of comparability’ from UK ENIC. This will show us how they compare to UK qualifications.

You can call Get Into Teaching on 0800 389 2500 for:

  • guidance on the UK equivalents of your qualifications
  • a free statement of comparability once you’ve submitted your application (if we ask you for this)

Training with disabilities and other needs

EAST SCITT and its partnership schools are committed to supporting each and every one of our trainees.

We aim to promote and implement an inclusive learning and teaching environment, allowing you to study independently.

We are here to support you and would encourage you to contact us prior to the interview stage should you have any concerns, so we can help identify any appropriate adjustments to meet your individual needs.

Once you have applied for our course, there will be opportunities for you to discuss your particular needs and we will work closely with you to ascertain the impact of your condition on your studies. It may be you require:

  • deadlines to be extended;

  • workshops to be recorded;

  • powerpoint presentations in advance of workshops

  • photocopying on coloured paper

  • wheelchair access

With your permission, we will ask your SCITT tutor to work with you providing support and guidance. We need to ensure that all elements of your training period make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to provide every opportunity for you to succeed.

Contact this training provider

Email
jennyellis@eastscitt.co.uk
Telephone
01473 624855 ext 1254 07709138257
Website
https://www.eastscitt.co.uk/
Address
EAST SCITT
C/O Kesgrave High School
Main Road, Kesgrave, Ipswich
Suffolk
IP5 2PB

Support and advice

You can speak to a teacher training adviser for free, dedicated advice. They are all experienced teachers who can give you one-to-one support with your application. They can also help you get school experience, and find events where you can speak to training providers and teachers.

Call Get Into Teaching free of charge on 0800 389 2500, or chat online Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm (except public holidays).

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