If you’re exploring routes into teaching, you’ve probably come across the term SCITT.
But what actually is a SCITT? Who can call themselves one? And what does it mean to be an accredited SCITT provider?
If you’re exploring teacher training there are a few things worth knowing.
Thinking about becoming a teacher but not quite sure where to start?
Applying for teacher training can feel like a big step, but the process itself is relatively straightforward. Whether you’re finishing university, changing career or have been considering teaching for a while, knowing what to expect can make getting started much easier.
Here’s a simple guide to applying for teacher training with The John Taylor SCITT.
The clue is in the name: school-centred.
SCITT is built around learning to teach in schools, combining significant classroom experience with structured training, mentoring and opportunities to understand the evidence behind effective teaching.
For many trainees, it’s the combination of learning about teaching and putting it into practice every week that makes the SCITT route so appealing.
This surprised us.
Look at the DfE’s current list of accredited ITT providers and there are around 59 accredited SCITTs operating across England.
But search online for SCITT teacher training and you could easily think there were considerably more.
That’s because there’s an important distinction…
The teacher training system is built on partnerships. Schools, MATs, Teaching School Hubs and other education organisations can work with an accredited ITT provider to recruit and train teachers locally.
Some of these partnerships operate under their own local SCITT identity.
That’s why you might encounter far more than 59 SCITT names when searching for teacher training.
And there’s nothing unusual about that and partnership working allows school-centred teacher training to reach communities across England.
But there is something applicants should understand:
Who actually holds the accreditation?
Being an accredited ITT provider isn’t simply about having a SCITT name.
Accreditation means an organisation has been approved to deliver Initial Teacher Training leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and takes overall responsibility and accountability for that provision.
That includes the curriculum trainees receive, the quality of training and mentoring, assessment against the Teachers’ Standards, quality assurance across partnership schools and ensuring the programme meets the DfE’s requirements for Initial Teacher Training.
So, when you’re comparing teacher training programmes, it’s worth looking beyond the course name and asking:
Who is the accredited provider?
That doesn’t determine whether a programme will be right for you – there are excellent programmes delivered through all kinds of partnerships.
But it does help you understand who ultimately stands behind your teacher training programme.
And that’s something we’re incredibly proud of.
John Taylor SCITT has been an accredited provider of Initial Teacher Education since 2014/15. Based in Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire, we’ve built a long-standing reputation for school-led teacher training across Staffordshire and the surrounding area.
Since becoming an accredited provider, we’ve supported more than 400 trainees to achieve QTS, building a substantial network of partner schools and a programme that continues to evolve with the profession.
Today, we work with 15 secondary schools and more than 40 primary and special schools, giving trainees access to a wide range of school contexts and experiences.
And we’re not just looking backwards.
Our programme continues to grow and develop. From our established Primary and Secondary routes to new provision such as Primary SEND, alongside our ongoing commitment to evidence-informed training, strong mentoring and excellent school partnerships.
That’s important to us.
Because when you’re choosing where to train, you’re not just choosing where you’ll spend your training year. You’re choosing an organisation to support the beginning of your teaching career.
For us, that means offering the reassurance of an established, accredited provider, with a proven record in Staffordshire and a clear commitment to the future of teacher training.
If you think we could be the right place for you to start your teaching career, please get in touch.
We are more than happy to have a chat about your options and talk you through the process of applying and training with us.
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