Skip to main content

Secondary Training

Secondary School Teacher Training

While secondary school teacher training isn’t without its challenges, it’s an incredibly rewarding experience to become a part of one of the most important journeys in a young person’s life.

In secondary school (ages 11-16), children start to understand who they are, what their hobbies and interests are, and what they want in life. Being their teacher gives you the privilege of helping them navigate this while you provide them, through fantastic teaching, with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed at whatever they put their minds to.

You’re also in a unique position to share your subject passions; the curiosity and excitement you instil in your students could very well inspire future leaders and innovators in your field. Now that is worth it!

Apply Now

By being in school from day one, the children don't see me as a training teacher. They see me
as their teacher, and the relationships and the influence that you have is real.

EmilyArk Teacher Training Graduate

The Secondary Teaching Programme

We are committed to providing high-quality professional learning for trainee teachers and Early Career Teachers, supporting them to have the most significant impact in the classroom from their very first day and providing an excellent foundation for a successful career in education. On our teacher training programme for Secondary, you will benefit from:

  • Continuous support throughout your training year and beyond.
  • Being able to practice teaching strategies before entering the classroom.
  • A curriculum based on leading educational research.
  • A unique focus on subject curriculum.
  • A supportive network of tutors, other teachers, and trainees past and present.

For the latest updates and more information about the impact of Covid-19 on our training programme and processes, click here.

Learn About Our Schools

After Summer School, I already felt like I had a better understanding of the theory. I used to be in awe of the teachers at my school, but now I know I can do this.

BenArk Teacher Training English Graduate

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, our 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.

 

  • Subject Studies

    We pride ourselves on our subject expertise: we deliver training specifically designed for your chosen subject on top of professional studies.

    At the heart of great teaching lies both excellent subject knowledge and understanding of how to teach your subject. In subject-specific training, you will develop your subject and curriculum knowledge and understand how to teach complex ideas. You will also practise teaching strategies for your subject, like setting up an experiment in a chemistry lesson or structuring a listening activity in a French lesson.

 

  • 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 how 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 here.

The support you receive on the Ark Teacher Training programme is really 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 Ark Teacher Training 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 be important in supporting 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 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.

Your Timetable

Your teaching load will gradually increase throughout the year dependent on your progress. As a secondary teacher you would be teaching KS3 and KS4 from the start of the year with a range of classes in your subject. As well as your lessons, each week will consist of:

  • Team-teaching and real-time coaching
  • Observations of other teachers
  • Coaching
  • Lesson planning
  • Professional or subject studies

FAQs

What qualifications do I need to teach secondary?

To qualify for our secondary school teacher training programme, you’ll need a 2:2 or above at degree level or an A-Level at grade B or higher. These qualifications should relate to your chosen subject to be eligible, however we do consider candidates that have experience of working in that particular subject or field. You’ll also need a C grade at GCSE level in Maths and English.

You can find our full eligibility criteria here, and the qualities and characteristics we look for in great trainees here.

What subjects are available to teach on the programme?

We have the following subjects available to teach:

  • English
  • History
  • Geography
  • Modern Languages
  • Maths
  • Physics
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing

Explore our subjects here.

I want hands-on experience. Do I get to teach in a classroom?

Yes! Our teacher training is a School Direct programme, meaning that your training will be in a school from your very first day of term. You’ll get to watch your pupils grow throughout the whole academic year.

How will I fund my training?

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

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

All funding options are subject to eligibility. Learn more.

If I'm not selected the first time around, can I apply again?

Absolutely! If you aren’t accepted the first time around, it often presents a great opportunity to get some more relevant experience that will help your application the next time you apply. Learn about our other opportunities here.

If I'm successful, when will I start?

Ark Teacher Training always begins in September at the start of the academic year. There will be several days of induction, including a tutor induction meeting, school orientation experience* and a compulsory two-week summer school* taking place in the summer, usually in August.

* Subject to change following government guidance on Covid-19, virtual provision will be provided.