Ofsted Success for Alliance for Learning Teacher Training

Having been in existence for just two years, the expertise and professionalism of trainee teachers and training staff alike at the Altrincham based The Alliance for Learning(AfL) School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT)  has been rewarded by an official “GOOD” from Ofsted.

The AfL SCITT was inspected in May and September of this year and the results show that the SCITT is held in high regard by the future teachers it trains as well as the staff of the schools that host the trainees and go on to employ them in the future.

Established in 2015 by Altrincham Grammar School for Girls as part of the Alliance for Learning Teaching School, the AfL SCITT  has so far trained over 60 new teachers for early years, primary and secondary settings and all areas of training were highly commended by Ofsted. In a report packed with praise there are many stand-out comments. The most important for those considering teaching as a future career and looking for a suitable training provider are those commenting on the high quality of the training AND the high employment rates of those who receive the expert guidance and training on offer;

• “Employment rates are strong”

• “All trainees benefit from the advice and support of mentors during their placements.”

• “Trainees speak positively about the beneficial impact of their training”

• “Trainees show high standards of personal and professional conduct during their placements”

• “The partnership provides trainees with a career entry profile at the end of their training period.

• Newly Qualified Teachers from this SCITT are regarded as an asset by employing schools because they are well prepared to begin their career in teaching.”

Additionally, below are just a few of the best comments from the report :

Partnerships

• “The partnership places a strong emphasis on equality and diversity. Trainees gain from rich experiences in a range of contrasting schools and settings during their training.”

• “The collaborative partnership draws on the expertise of settings- and school-based colleagues to provide consistently good quality training.”

• “Partnership settings and schools share the partnership’s vision and leaders’ and managers’ ambition to grow and continue to improve.”

Early years

• “The partnership recruits trainees who are passionate, committed and determined to improve their understanding of children’s care, development and learning.”

• “Trainees demonstrate high levels of personal and professional conduct. They are highly committed to becoming successful early years teachers and improving practice across schools and early years settings.”

• “The good-quality training ensures that trainees are prepared effectively to deliver the early years foundation stage across different early years settings and schools.”

• “Training is underpinned strongly by research and good early years practice.”

Primary and Secondary

• “Partnership colleagues share the SCITT’s ethos and vision for growth and continued self-improvement. They value their involvement in this highly collaborative partnership and praise the quality of communications.”

• “The SCITT’s director and manager are rightly held in high regard.”

• “Leaders and managers are ambitious, demonstrate an excellent capacity for improvement and are highly responsive to stakeholders’ views.”

• “Trainees have good opportunities to work in a range of diverse and contrasting schools. They also gain useful practical experience of the preceding and subsequent key stages to the age phase they are training to teach. “

• “Newly Qualified Teachers are regarded as an asset by employing schools because they are well prepared to begin their career in teaching.”

• “Newly Qualified Teachers and trainees are committed to teaching as a career”

The Director of the SCITT and Altrincham Grammar School for Girls Assistant Vice Principal Mr Kal Hodgson said “We are extremely proud that this report has recognised our excellent capacity to develop even further in the future. Our excellent employment rates and commitment to high quality recruitment means that applicants on our course know they will be part of the very best for many years to come.”

Head of the Alliance for Learning Teaching School Mrs Lisa Fathers commented “Our strong partnerships and the way we engage in genuine collaboration is a real strength of our teaching school & SCITT. We are passionate about improving outcomes for all children and young people by ensuring our schools have the very best teachers and ongoing high quality training available to them.”

Dr John Stephens, CEO of the Bright Futures Educational Trust of which the SCITT, AfL and AGGS are a part added “I am delighted that the SCITT has received such high praise from OfSTED. Providing high quality training and development for teachers is fundamental to the success of Bright Futures. It’s great to know that our teaching school alliance and the SCITT are making such a positive difference both within and beyond our multi-academy trust. The deep collaboration that characterises the work of our teaching school and SCITT is clearly having an impressive impact on the staff, students, families and communities that we serve.”

You can download and read the report in full below or access it on the OfSTED website – https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/70308

AfL SCITT Ofsted