Teacher Training

Mercia Learning Alliance Primary Teacher Training Programme

The Mercia School Direct Primary course is overseen by Dore Primary School. Dore has been at the heart of School Centred Initial Teacher Training for over 20 years, and has worked with many providers for the more recent School Direct programmes of study.  Dore Primary was a founding member of the ‘National SCITT in Outstanding Primary Schools’ in the late 1990s, and have been advocates of the school-centred approach to teacher training ever since.  Our Mercia School Direct programme is accredited by The Sheffield SCITT.

Why train with us

We believe that teaching is a wonderful and inspiring profession, for both the children we teach and for the lifelong learning we are privileged to pursue ourselves. As educators, we need a firm foundation from which to build excellence. Our training programme offers such a foundation. Our offer to each person who studies and learns with us is that they will:

  • Receive excellent, well trained and regular support in the schools in which they teach.
  • Learn up to date and relevant pedagogical theory which will have practical implications for them in the classroom.
  • Work in a range of schools with a range of contexts. All trainees will spend time in schools with all of the following between them:
    • A high percentage of high ability pupils;
    • A high percentage of disadvantaged pupils from low income families;
    • A high percentage of pupils who speak English as an additional language;
    • An outstanding judgement.
  • Be able to link with the other trainees to form a group who learn and develop together.

We at Mercia are passionate about education and the difference it makes to young people and society as a whole. If you share our passion, please come and join us!

Our Approach to ITT

The 100% school-based approach we use means our own outstanding teachers are at the heart of your development. You will train by working alongside – and being mentored by – people who won’t ask you to do anything they can’t demonstrate by doing well themselves.  They will be working with the same children you will be teaching, meaning conversations regarding pedagogy and methodology are pertinent and relevant.

With no blocks of time out at a University you will also experience the full cycle of the school year from welcoming and settling new students in September to celebrating the success of school leavers in July and the full annual cycle between.  By the end of your year with us, you will be ready to teach across the full year as an NQT.

Our partnership schools are all committed to finding and developing their own teachers, therefore they are committed to their trainees – you won’t find yourself as a visitor just passing through a school to carry out a placement for someone else’s course. The member schools aim to supply most of their Newly Qualified Teacher needs from recruitment of their own trainees, meaning you will be working in who will invest in you as an integral and important member of their staff team.

Where to Find Us

The Mercia Learning Alliance Website can be found at http://www.merciala.org.uk

Dore Primary School  is the lead school for the Primary teacher training programme within Mercia Learning Alliance. To spend some time in school to see if teaching is for you, see Volunteering at Dore for how to spend time with us, or book onto one of our open afternoons via the Get Into Teaching website.

To apply for teacher training with Mercia, use the following link: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-teacher-training

For more information about teacher training: www.ucas.com/teaching-in-the-uk