St Mary’s University is proud to support students to become the next generation of outstanding teachers.
We collaborate closely with schools and mentors to deliver the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework to ensure students are able to make progress against the Teachers’ Standards in an environment that encourages self-reflection and excellence.
This handbook is designed to provide an overview of school experience for all students on Initial Teacher Education (ITE) courses at St Mary’s University. Programmes leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) include:
- BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS
- BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS (work-based route)
- PGCE Primary with QTS (including School Direct Salaried)
- PGCE Secondary with QTS (including School Direct Salaried)
- Post Graduate Teaching Apprenticeship (PGTA) QTS
- Teacher Degree Apprenticeship (TDA) QTS
- International Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS)
- International PGCE Primary or Secondary when taken with iQTS (see above)
Our vision
St Mary's ITE curriculum serves to prepare the next generation of Early Career Teachers who are expert in evidence-based disciplinary and phase-specific pedagogical practice; who effectively manage the demands of the profession and exemplify the highest standards of professional conduct and embody the University's values of inclusiveness, excellence, respect, and generosity of spirit.
Being educated to teach at St Mary's University will ensure trainee teachers are confident subject and phase specific practitioners in the pedagogy of behaviour for learning, planning for learning, assessment, and adaptive teaching, with a deep understanding of the relationship between educational theory and practice.
St Mary's University has a proud legacy of teacher training, and we are at the forefront of educating the next generation of teachers.
Statement of Values
St Mary’s ITT Partnership serves to prepare its students to be outstanding teachers, to lead flourishing lives, have successful careers and a social commitment through excellent, research-enriched teaching. This is framed within a strong community of mutual respect based on our Catholic ethos and identity.
Four core values define St Mary’s and underpin all we do as a University.
- Inclusiveness: We celebrate differences, recognising that everyone is born with a unique identity. St Mary’s is a place where students and staff can reach their full potential and make a positive contribution to society.
- Generosity of spirit: Our generosity of spirit sets us apart. It can be seen in the encouragement, collegiality, empathy, helpfulness and service to be found across the University.
- Respect: We respect everybody. We treat everyone as we ourselves would want to be treated.
- Excellence: We strive to be the best at everything we do. We seek professionalism through setting high standards and continuous improvement in all our practices and work.
The ITT programmes at St Mary’s not only serve to prepare outstanding students for a career in teaching, but also offer and service the professional development requirements of those seeking leadership roles.
The visiting members of staff who support trainees on school experience and liaise with colleagues in partnership schools are called Link Tutors (LTs). LTs play a vital role in securing and maintaining good relationships between St Mary’s University and its partnership schools.
Our Curriculum and the ITTECF
Our ambitious curriculum is carefully designed to ensure we exceed the trainee’s entitlement to engage with, and develop, the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours of highly effective teaching, as outlined in the ITTECF. Expert colleagues in school provide opportunities for trainees to learn from them, e.g. through observations and regular professional dialogue.
Our training plans include weekly curriculum foci linked to the ITTECF and a relevant weekly research focus, which facilitates the mentor’s support in delivering our curriculum and ensuring that the trainee has opportunities to practise and refine the key skills and behaviours of a great teacher.
Wellbeing on placement
St Mary's are committed to promoting the wellbeing of our students while on placement. Our Wellbeing on Placement handbook has been designed in collaboration with colleagues across the University to provide our trainees with guidance and support while completing school-based training.
Strategic Partnership Board
We are proud to work closely with our partnership schools, including those that sit on our Strategic Partnership Board (SPB). The purpose of this network is to engage in regular dialogue with expert colleagues to shape our provision in line with current context. We welcome those interested in joining the SPB to contact Mary Nkune, Head of Education Partnerships (mary.nkune@stmarys.ac.uk).
Handbook Content