Teacher Training for Schools with Engage
We have always put quality training at the heart of our recruitment and support practices, and the launch of our new one-of-a-kind Teacher Training Programme is a logical extension of our commitment to bringing out the best in practising and prospective teachers. Become a partner school with the Engage Teacher Training Programme and be a part of the next generation of teaching in the UK.
Does your school pay the apprenticeship levy?
Schools that pay the apprenticeship levy will be able to use up to £9,000 to cover the cost of training and assessing their graduate trainee.
Course Structure
As graduates who enrol on the programme have varying levels of previous experience, come from a range of specialisms, and learn at different paces, we have developed a flexible route to PGCE and QTS which is split into two broad phases. We will work closely with your school and the graduate trainees to help you decide when your trainees are ready to progress to Phase Two and begin teaching independently.
Phase One: Getting Ready to Teach
Graduate trainees will work initially as classroom assistants or intervention tutors, gaining valuable classroom and school experience as well as gathering evidence towards the Teachers’ Standards.
Graduate trainees will also begin taking parts of lessons and team-teaching a small number of classes, working towards providing support as a cover teacher for 50% of their timetable.
Phase Two: Ready to Teach
Phase Two will see students commence their modular PGCE training, working towards the award of QTS. During this period, the graduate trainees will work as unqualified teachers, supplying their school with up to 18 teaching hours per week.
The Teacher Training Team
The Engage Teacher Training Programme is designed and run by education experts from our Partnership & Development team alongside The National Institute of Teaching & Education at Coventry University. We’re on hand to answer all of your questions about hiring a specialist graduate for your school.
Benefits of the Teacher Training Programme






FAQs
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When can we take in trainee teachers?
Graduates can enrol onto the Teacher Training Programme at any time, and we are always evaluating new applicants. Once a graduate has been accepted onto the course and matched with your school, they can begin studying at the start of the next school term.
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Where do you source your candidates?
At Engage, we’re utilising our strong links with universities across the UK to reach graduates (at university job fairs and postgraduate study fairs, for example). We’re also accepting applications from local and international graduates through our website, at which point our Teacher Training Programme team will assess each applicant for suitability.
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What does my school need to provide for the trainees?
The schools on the programme will need to select a dedicated mentor for trainees and provide support for the mentor throughout the programme. This mentor will need to attend mentor training run by the university, and work in partnership with Engage to support the trainee. Part of the mentor’s responsibilities is to meet the trainee once a week for formal mentoring sessions, which will be scheduled in the timetable, in order to review, discuss, and set targets and training activities. These mentoring sessions should be at least one period in length. The mentor is also responsible for observing the trainee and giving weekly feedback outside of the time set aside for scheduled mentor meetings, and completing a formal assessment for the trainee at least once per term.
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What does Engage provide during the programme?
The Engage team is always on hand to provide support and guidance for schools throughout the duration of the programme. We will work with you to ensure you get the most benefit from the trainees at your school while fully preparing trainees for solo teaching in year two. For trainees, we organise CPD and training events to support the academic aspects of the programme, and we also arrange social events and benefits for trainees to ensure trainee satisfaction on the programme. Engage also arranges for all vetting and compliance procedures to be completed, including background and safeguarding checks, before a trainee arrives at your school.
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What does the university provide during the programme?
During Year One, trainees will benefit from materials provided by the university to complement their CPD sessions and prepare them for the Year Two PGCE. During the second year of the programme, the university will provide a university mentor to support the trainee through the academic portion of their study.
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What is included in the cost?
The cost for schools includes candidate selection and vetting from Engage, along with access to the pool of fully-screened, hand-selected graduates. Once the trainee is in your school, the costs cover all PGCE, QTS and training costs; university support and training for the school-based mentor; and the trainee’s salary, pension and national insurance contributions.
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What will students be doing in Year One?
For the duration of Year One, students will regularly attend CPD events, delivered face-to-face and online, as well as providing classroom-based support for the school to gain teaching experience. The classroom-based teaching experience is arranged around your school’s needs and the trainee’s skills. Taking the context of your school into account, you can work with the Engage team to provide meaningful work for your trainee(s) which will give effective preparation for success in their PGCE and give them the skills to solo-teach classes during the second year.
“The graduate trainees make a significant contribution to the College and support from Engage is easily accessible.”
Deputy Head St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic College
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