About the programme

The Freemen’s Career Conversion Programme is designed to support professionals from industry or the corporate world who have a passion for education and would like start a new career at Freemen’s. The programme aims to support them with a purposeful and structured training programme that will give them the confidence, skills and experience to embark on Initial Teacher Training (ITT). They will be part of a team from the very start, receive intensive support from experienced teachers, mentors and coaches and will be quickly introduced to the classroom where they will be soon delivering lessons of their own.

The training programme in school will also be overseen by the Director of Learning, Teaching and Innovation who will act as the link between the trainee, subject mentor and Initial Teacher Training, as well as ensuring that trainees have access to a comprehensive professional development programme. Trainees will be assigned a subject mentor within the School who will work alongside them on a day to day basis. They are highly skilled, experienced teaching professionals who will provide regular and effective classroom feedback.

Freemen’s recognises that the trainees coming into education on the Career Conversion Programme from another industry are likely to bring a wealth of experience. As the School gets to know each trainee, mutually beneficial opportunities to utilise that experience are likely to be sought and offered.

Year 1

During this year, trainees will follow an internal training programme of induction and professional development and will focus on policies and procedures specific to the School and the Independent Sector. Trainees could be given pastoral responsibilities, such as taking a form group, as well as co-curricular/extra-curricular roles. Year 1 gives trainees the opportunity to fully engage with, and experience, the profession, developing their teaching practice and gain a greater understanding of the expectations, prior to undertaking the professional qualification.

Throughout Year 1 training sessions include:

• A tailored timetable bespoke to your experience and needs;
• Behaviour management;
• Lesson planning;
• Self-evaluation and observing others;
• Differentiation;
• Pupil data tracking;
• Teaching standards;
• Assessment – formative and summative;
• Trips and visits;
• SEND and EAL;
• Lesson planning – starters, the body and plenaries.

Year 2 (June –June)

At the beginning of Year 2, having completed a year of teaching experience the trainee will now be making an informed decision about entering the profession and beginning their Initial Teacher Training. Trainees will be trained in a highly supportive and aspirational environment and will develop the rigour, professional knowledge, understanding and skills that are necessary for the delivery of creative, purposeful and challenging learning opportunities.

At the beginning of the Initial Teacher Training application process, the trainee must complete the QTS skills tests, pre-course material and a minor placement in the state sector before their school-based training at Freemen’s commences. Twilight sessions will take place twice a week through our teacher training provider often in the form evening sessions at a local school. If the trainee successfully completes Year 2, they will graduate with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Requirements to join:

• A UK Honours degree, 2:2 or above or equivalent from a reputable University in a degree related to the teaching vacancy to which you are applying;
• GCSE Maths and English, Grade B/level 6 or above. Primary trainees they must also have Science Grade B/6 or above;
• Any overseas qualifications must be certified by NARIC to confirm equivalency to the above;
• To have found a week’s work experience in a school sufficient to have had a good look at the working life of a teacher and to have spent some time with students in a classroom environment, either taking some lessons or helping to do so.

Benefits:

• Trainees are paid in Year 1 and 2 of their training;
• Funding for Initial Teacher Training;
• Bi-weekly training sessions including the completion of a reflective commentary led by our Graduate Coordinator;
• Focus can be given to policies and procedures specific to the independent sector;
• Graduate are able to fully experience the profession before undertaking the professional qualification.