Blog.

Is it better for teachers to live close to school or have a daily commute? While living nearby offers convenience and flexibility, a short commute can provide valuable time to decompress and maintain healthy work-life boundaries. This article explores the advantages and challenges of both approaches, helping trainee and early career teachers find the balance that best supports their wellbeing and professional success.

Teaching wasn’t always part of Stuart’s plan. Before joining JTSCITT, he worked as a Distribution Supervisor and never imagined himself in an academic profession. In this honest first-person blog, Stuart shares how a desire for more meaningful relationships and greater purpose led him into the classroom – and why the skills he thought would hold him back actually became his biggest strengths as a teacher.

This blog explores John Taylor SCITT’s commitment to inclusion through its Inclusive Pathway, designed to support trainee teachers from all backgrounds. It outlines how tailored support, barrier-free access and strong partnerships help ensure every trainee feels valued, belongs, and is equipped to succeed in achieving QTS and beyond.

This blog explains how The John Taylor SCITT assesses trainee teachers through a structured, year-long process that combines regular feedback, evidence-based evaluation and expert support. It highlights how trainees develop over time, how progress is measured against the Teachers’ Standards, and how rigorous quality assurance ensures every trainee is fully prepared for Qualified Teacher Status.

As your training year draws to a close, your final placement is a valuable opportunity to consolidate your skills and step confidently into the classroom. In this blog, JTSCITT staff share practical advice on staying motivated, seeking feedback, and making the most of your last term as you prepare for your teaching career.

Moving from a first to a second teaching placement can be both exciting and challenging. This reflection explores the adjustments, learning curves, and growing confidence that come with experiencing a new school environment during initial teacher training.

A trainee on the 3–7 Early Years route shares reflections after their first term, offering insight into workload, mentor support, work–life balance and the social side of SCITT life. An honest look at what to expect from Early Years teacher training.

From engineering and telecoms to the classroom, Simon and Dem share why they changed career into teaching with JTSCITT – and how purpose, support and real-world experience made it the best decision they’ve made.

Teacher training is demanding, but your wellbeing matters. In this blog, one of our trainee teachers shares five practical tips to help you manage stress, avoid burnout, and prioritise self-care throughout your training year.

Choosing between PGCE with QTS and QTS Only is a key decision for aspiring teachers. This guide explains the differences, benefits, and career implications of each route at The John Taylor SCITT, helping you decide which teacher training pathway is right for you.

In this blog, Mike Simmons, JTSCITT Director, discusses the importance of mentor meetings and having regular guidance from a skilled teacher to help challenge and celebrate you during your training.

In this blog, one of our trainees reflects on their first term as trainee teacher – sharing more on how they’ve grown in confidence, managed behaviour and how they’re building foundation for the next stage.

In this blog, Mike Simmons, JTSCITT Director, discusses the importance of lesson observation and getting constructive feedback during your teacher training.

In this blog, one of our trainees reflects on their first term as a trainee teacher, sharing insights from training to classroom experience.

In this blog, Mike Simmons, Director of JTSCITT, highlights the importance of the summer before teacher training as a valuable time for preparation.

This blog welcomes our new trainees to the JTSCITT, sharing more about our approach, our personalised support and building a teaching career.

In this blog, Mike Simmons, Director of JTSCITT, highlights the importance of the summer before teacher training as a valuable time for preparation.

This blog welcomes our new trainees to the JTSCITT, sharing more about our approach, our personalised support and building a teaching career.

Nervous to start your teacher training with us? In this blog, Mike Simmons, Director of JTSCITT, shares more about your first week so you can start your teaching journey with us feeling prepared and confident.

In this blog, Mike Simmons, Director of JTSCITT, highlights the importance of the summer before teacher training as a valuable time for preparation.

In this blog, our Director, Mike Simmons, celebrates his 10th year of leading individuals through initial teacher training. He share some of his career highlights as well as his learnings.

We spoke to Nicola Price, Headteacher of Fountains Primary School and Elmsleigh Infant and Nursery School, about her experience with past JTSCITT trainees. She shared what sets them apart, their top qualities and her views on the JTSCITT training programmes.

All of our full-time maths trainees have secured full-time teaching roles for September; we spoke to them about how the JTSCITT prepared them for their first years as ECT’S.

One of our John Taylor SCITT partners, Brenda Parker, shares her valuable insights on what makes JTSCITT trainee teachers stand out from the rest.

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.

The Whole School Training, The Department Meetings and The Staff Room Applications for the John Taylor SCITT cohort of trainee teachers for 2023/24 opened this

Isostatic Rebound: Initial Teacher Education in the Post-Lockdown Landscape The world is constantly evolving and consequently the social and cultural challenges that education faces is

Interviewing for an initial teacher training (ITT) position is potentially a nerve-wracking experience for all.

With changes to the ITE Core Content and Ofsted Inspection framework the John Taylor SCITT Central Team across both the primary and secondary routes set about re-designing our course.

Perceptions Vs. Reality Teachers finish work at 3pm. Teachers are always on holiday. Teaching is easy and anyone can do it. How many of these

We all get to the bottom of the mountain at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what route you’ve taken.

Over the last couple of weeks in the National Forest Teaching School we set the trainees a task of writing a short 350+ word reflective blog on an area of their choice but closely aligned to their current emerging professional practice.

Within the National Forest Teaching School Initial Teacher Education (ITE) provision we want our trainee teachers to be supported by a range of practitioners that can utilise a wealth of experience and to move interchangeably between mentoring and coaching to aid in the development of their emerging professional practice.

On the 7th December we were pleased to welcome over 40 NQTs from 17 schools across the National Forest Teaching School Alliance to our NQT Conference.

Effective mentoring takes time and the results may not be immediate or obvious.

Many of us will know the story of the Lion King. The tale of a young lion overcoming personal challenges, making new friends and finding his own way through his journey.