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Primary Training

Primary School Teacher Training

Children start to develop the skills they’ll need for their future in primary school (ages 5-11), and primary teacher training gives you a privileged front-row seat to one of the most important stages of their developmental lives!

Most primary school teachers will agree that witnessing their pupils learn and grow while getting to know their budding personalities is the best part of the job.

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With such a broad range of subjects to teach, colleagues to interact with and young personalities to engage with, no two days are the same in a primary school. It is incredibly hard and challenging, but by being organised, reflective and passionate it is so rewarding when you see the children learn and develop both academically and personally. In the hands of the right people, a child can be empowered to change their perceptions of themselves and release their potential

Sir John JonesAuthor of T he Magic-Weaving Business: Finding the Heart of Learning and Teaching

The Primary Teaching Programme

We’re committed to providing high-quality professional learning for trainee teachers and Early Career Teachers. We support trainees to have the most significant impact in the classroom from their very first day whilst providing an excellent foundation for a successful career in education. On our teacher training course for Primary, you will benefit from:

  • Continuous support throughout your training year.
  • Practising teaching strategies before entering the classroom.
  • A curriculum based on leading educational research.
  • A particular focus on curriculum studies.
  • A supportive network tutors, other teachers, and trainees past and present.

This level of support isn’t something you’d normally get in other schools.

KhedijaArk Teacher Training Graduate, Ark Globe Academy

Summer School

Highly-rated by our trainees as the perfect start to their training and a great way to prepare for their first few weeks in school, ATT Summer School brings trainees together for two weeks in August to learn about the programme, educational theory, and practice.

With a perfect balance of theory and practice, our comprehensive programme ensures you have everything you need, from support to expertise, to develop into a fantastic teacher for your pupils quickly. Here’s what you can expect…

  • School Orientation Experience

    Get to know your school, pupils, colleagues, the community, and where you will be working before the summer holidays, so you can hit the ground running in September.

 

  • Weekly Training

    Every week you’ll spend one afternoon with other trainees and receive training from Ark Teacher Training and your tutor. Here you’ll build on what you learnt at Summer School and begin to master different aspects of educational theory and practice. The training is structured intentionally to understand the theory that underpins excellent teaching, see examples of great teaching in practice and practise new strategies yourself to implement them in the classroom.

 

  • Curriculum Studies

    We pride ourselves on our subject expertise: we deliver training designed explicitly for your phase across all subjects on top of professional studies. You will learn about progression within subjects throughout the primary phase and practise teaching strategies commonly used within specific subjects and across subjects.

    Training is provided for all subjects of the National Curriculum and Religious Education. This consists of one training session for each subject with more time dedicated to English, Maths and Science.

    This training is complemented by in-school support by mentors, senior leaders, and subject leads. The structure of curriculum studies training follows a ‘why’, ‘what’ and ‘how’ approach, i.e., why do we teach, and children learn the subject; what are the expectations for the National Curriculum, and how can the subject be taught effectively, including specific pedagogical approaches, such as planning and carrying out investigations in Science or using the STEP model (Space, Task, Equipment, People) in Physical Education. This ensures all pupils are challenged and supported to succeed and exceed their potential.

 

  • In-School Curriculum

    This is designed to complement the training, so you are learning throughout your school year. You will be asked to complete peer observations of experienced teachers teaching your classes and your subject. Additionally, you will be guided to meetings with different faculty members in your school.

  • Coaching

    Every week you will be observed and have a feedback session with your mentor. They will work with you to identify a targeted, bite-sized change in your practice that will improve you most the following week. For example, you may be asked to change the way you move children around the classroom from one task to another.

 

  • Planning

    Your Ark Teacher Training Lead is responsible for ensuring that you work with experienced teachers to develop your planning skills throughout the year. Planning will include intellectual preparation and provide you with the chance to reflect on what you already know about a topic and what steps you will need to take to develop your subject knowledge. At Ark Teacher Training we use a “What, When, How” model.

 

  • Teaching in a second school

    Seeing other schools is crucial to succeeding on your own. Over your first year, you will spend 17 days in different schools, in a completely different context to your own. These schools help you develop as a teacher by showing you how other schools work and what makes yours unique.

 

  • Goldsmiths, University of London Qualification

    Through our partnership with Goldsmiths, University of London, you will gain an internationally recognised Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). You’ll complete two assignments to receive this qualification: both explore the link between educational theory and practice, allowing trainees to reflect on what the theory says about what works/doesn’t work and the tensions between theory and practice. The first assignment is around developing positive attitudes to learning, while the second focuses on formative assessment.

 

  • Wellbeing

    With such a significant focus on teacher workload, Ark Teacher Training has committed to developing the programme with teacher wellbeing in mind. A trainee’s wellbeing is paramount to us, so it’ll be an ongoing conversation with your tutor throughout the training year. You can find out more about our approach to trainee wellbeing and support here.

The support you receive on our primary teacher training programme is what sets us apart from other providers. We know how challenging teaching can be, from training to qualification and beyond, so we make sure that you have a strong support system around you as you begin your career.

Trainees

At our Summer School, you will meet the 100+ yearly cohort. You will be working alongside other trainees in-school and develop with them at weekly training. Teaching is a team sport, so the trainees you meet will support you throughout the year.

Your Tutor

You will be assigned an Ark Teacher Training Tutor from the start of Summer School, an experienced teacher and phase specialist who will visit you in school regularly throughout the year. Tutors are your point of contact throughout the year. They work alongside your Ark Teacher Training Lead and Coach to ensure you progress and receive the correct support in school.

Ark Teacher Training Lead

Your Ark Teacher Training Lead is a dedicated and experienced person in the school to support you and other trainees. They work closely with your Tutor and Coach to ensure you receive the best training and support every week.

Your Coach

Your Ark Teacher Training Coach is a dedicated person you work with weekly to improve your practice.

FAQs

How will I fund my training?

Some of the ways trainees are able to fund their training and pay for their tuition fee of £9,250 include:

Subject bursaries
Student loans and maintenance loans
Scholarships
A salaried training route

All funding options are subject to eligibility. Click here to find out more!

Where is the Ark Teacher Training programme located?

Ark Teacher Training is a School Based programme, which means your teacher training year will take place in one of our schools.

We have 38 schools across four locations in the UK: London, Hastings, Portsmouth and Birmingham. We also partner with schools outside of the Ark network and these four areas, which you can learn about here. Once you’ve been accepted into the programme, we’ll be able to help you select a school that will be a perfect fit!

What is Ark Teacher Training's position on diversity and inclusion?

We are committed to providing equality and fairness for all in our recruitment and employment practices. We do not discriminate on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

It’s incredibly important to us that our pupils are able to see themselves in their teachers and have their world-view shaped by a number of sources. We actively encourage people from a broad range of backgrounds, particularly those that are underrepresented in teaching, to apply.

How do I apply to Ark Teacher Training?

If you would like to apply to Ark Teacher Training, you can start the process by filling out our online application. You can also learn about the application process here, so you know what to expect.