This portal from the School of Education is an online gateway to our growing research-informed programme of events and resources, guidance, support, and continuing professional development (CPD) for all early career teachers (ECTs).
Teachers are the foundation of the education system – there are no great schools without great teachers. Teachers deserve high quality support throughout their careers, particularly in those first years of teaching.
DfE 2019
Students graduating from an initial teacher training (ITT) course at St Mary's and other providers become an early career teacher (ECT) when they accept their first position.
Your school is responsible for registering you as an ECT and appointing your mentor to provide you with the entitlement for two years of CPD, which is underpinned by the by the Early Career Framework. The framework is linked to the best available research evidence, to help early career teachers develop their practice, knowledge, and working habits.
Our provision at St Mary's will build on the ECT training programme in your school at a time when your learning curve is at its steepest.
The ECT Exchange
The ECT Exchange is a community of practice where knowledge, resources, expertise, and experiences are shared across:
- ECTs from both primary and secondary phases, in mainstream and SEND schools
- experts, practitioners and researchers from within the School of Education (SoE)
- practitioners and specialists from across the education sector
As a member of the ECT Exchange you have access to a wide range of benefits which are designed to complement the ECT induction programme and wider CPD provision in your school, and support your journey through your first years of teaching and beyond.
We are proud to host regular online events for ECTs to engage in CPD and professional dialogue, and share their experiences. All events are specifically designed for ECTs across phases and provide easy to implement strategies for key elements of the Early Career Framework, including behaviour for learning and adaptive teaching, as well as practical support on managing your own wellbeing and workload.
Join the ECT Exchange
Accredited ECT specific CPD (e-CPD)
Experts take an accessible and interactive approach in UK CPD accredited e-CPD sessions which provide effective, easy-to-implement strategies to use in your own classroom. These have a granular focus on key areas of pedagogy identified by members of the ECT Exchange.
Primary PE: meeting the needs of all pupils as an ECT
with Kellyann Clarke (Lecturer Primary Physical Education) and Liz Berry (BA Primary Education with QTS Work-Based Route Course Lead and Lecturer in Primary Physical Education)
Tuesday 13th May 2025 online
Book Primary PE event
Effective strategies for planning, marking, assessment, and feedback
with secondary expert Becky Knowles (Lecturer in Education, NPQLTD) and primary expert Vicky Wiley (Primary PGCE Subject Lead)
Thursday 22nd May 2025 online
Book effective strategies event
Continue to develop your teacher identity as an ECT and beyond
with our experts Dr Jane Chambers (Head of the School of Education, Associate Professor) and Jemima Davey (Senior Lecturer in Primary Education)
Wednesday 2nd July 2025 online
Book teacher identity event
Pedagogy Panels for ECTs
Our specialist panel of current school practitioners, researchers and lecturers discuss practical approaches to key pedagogical issues and respond to questions and case studies specific to your context.
Approaches to Safeguarding as an ECT
Thursday 5th June 2025 online
Book safeguarding event
Managing your time and workload when taking on additional roles and responsibilities as an ECT
Monday 16th June 2025 online
Book time management event
Contact
Please also contact Becky Knowles (ectexchange@stmarys.ac.uk) for any further information.
More resources for ECTs
Watch highlights of our previous events