Looking to get into teaching?

Apply to the John Taylor SCITT

The John Taylor SCITT has been a provider of Initial Teacher Education since 2014.

Based in the charming Staffordshire village of Barton-under-Needwood, the SCITT is based in a bespoke Training Centre on the site of John Taylor High School.

As an outstanding school, John Taylor enjoys a high reputation locally and nationally, with an enviable academic record based on inspirational teaching and exceptional pastoral care.

As a SCITT, we pride ourselves on the fact that as a relatively small provider, we know all our trainees well and can offer highly personalised support enabling our trainees to secure excellent outcomes.

Our Programmes

Our vision as a SCITT is to support all schools and trusts in our alliance to attract and recruit high-quality teachers. All our programmes are school led, and our partner schools are fully involved in both the design and the delivery of our programmes. In the seven years, we have been operating as a SCITT, we are very proud that many of our trainees have secured employment in our partner schools; recruitment and retention remain at the heart of what we do.

Primary 3-7

In this programme, trainees will learn the principles of early child development. They will explore subject and curriculum areas, different approaches to teaching the Early Years and Key Stage 1 and how to adapt lessons to meet the individual needs of the pupils. Placements on this programme will be in Early Years and Key Stage 1 throughout the training year, but will include opportunities to observe practice in Key Stage 2.

Primary 5-11

Our Primary programme offers trainees an exciting opportunity to be immersed in the primary education system and to learn from exceptional mentors and class teachers across the John Taylor Teaching School Hub. Our offer includes 40 primary schools within the local area, each with a unique set of skills and expertise, which we combine to give our trainees a wealth of experiences and perspectives throughout the training year.

Secondary Programme

Our specialist Secondary programme has been designed to give trainees the knowledge, skills and experience required to become highly effective teachers. We offer those on this programme two enhanced training opportunities; one in a special school and one in a primary school. This experience deepens the understanding of the educational journey and experience of children, aiding trainees personal development.

Why Train with Us

We have a small, friendly and supportive team.

We offer highly personalised support which enables our trainees to secure excellent outcomes.
We offer a diverse experience for trainees with both rural and urban settings.

We hold a record of offering exceptional teacher training since 2014.

Secondary Subjects

With our Secondary Programme, themes from the Professional Studies Programme are explored from the perspective of the different subjects, and trainees will work in small subject groups with a Subject Pedagogy Tutor to further develop their Subject Knowledge for Teaching.

Secondary subjects available include:

Read a Trainees Experience with the SCITT

Latest News & Blogs

Past Trainee Stories

Building a Strong Community

Creating a strong sense of community is essential for any successful learning environment; training to teach is not always an easy task, which is why we prioritise fostering a friendly and supportive environment here at The John Taylor SCITT. Mike Simmons, Secondary Lead discusses how it’s achieved at the JTSCITT

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School Blog

Teacher Training Myths

It can seem like there are many barriers which may prevent people from pursuing teacher training. Read through the common myths vs realities with our Secondary Lead, Mike Simmons.

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Past Trainee Stories

First Day Nerves

As a teacher training leader, I’ve had the privilege of guiding over 400 aspiring educators on their journey to becoming teachers. Each year, a new cohort of trainees arrives with a mix of excitement and nervousness, eager to embark on a transformative path. But this year was different. This year, my own son was starting school on the very same day.

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Equality & Diversity at the John Taylor SCITT...

The John Taylor SCITT is an inclusive teacher trainer provider that provides all trainees with the opportunity to achieve QTS. We are committed to ensuring all staff and trainees have a thorough understanding of the Equality Act (2010) and the implications to them as individuals and in their roles as a teacher.

The John Taylor SCITT is committed to eliminating discrimination, encouraging diversity among the workforce, and positively promoting equality of opportunity for all, including those with a protected characteristic. We welcome applications from all who are interested in training to teach.

What Others Say

“Jodie’s high standards of professionalism and subject knowledge enable her to be an extremely effective and supportive subject mentor. This allowed me to grow in confidence as a trainee, and have a brilliant start as an NQT.”

“The PE course is intense, rigorous but well worth the hard work. You will enjoy your time on Fridays in the training centre where you will learn from excellent practitioners, but more importantly, be able to let off some steam with your peers with the comfort of a hot drink and some biscuits.”

“Go for it, you have nothing to lose, especially if its something you have always wanted to do! The support on the SCITT was great and I feel it is more personal than the university route would be. There is nothing worse than hating or being bored in your job; since starting teaching I have been the happiest I’ve ever been in my career.”

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