Member Article

Ashington High School on course to create a centre of excellence in PE teacher training

In line with Government policy for a more school-led approach to Initial Teach Training (ITT), Ashington High School Sports College has been named the governing body for the highly successful North East Partnership PE SCITT, which specialises in the delivery of practical teacher training using a school-centred model for Physical Education.

From September 2014, Ashington High School will work closely with John Spence Community High School, the Associate Lead School, and 30 other schools in eight local authorities across the region which make up the partnership, to train the next generation of PE teachers. The University of Northumbria will remain a key partner and award the PGCE teaching qualification.

Helen Ostell, programme leader for the North East Partnership, based at Ashington High School Sports College, said: “We believe that taking over the governance of the PE School Centred Initial Teacher Training (PE SCITT) programme will provide us with a lot more flexibility to develop a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for the training of PE teachers in the North East of England.

“In addition to continuing to bid for a core allocation of places we will be able to bid for School Direct places on behalf of our partnership schools and act as the Accredited Provider for schools in the area.”

The North East Partnership PE SCITT was rated as outstanding in every category by Ofsted in November 2013 and more recently has been identified as the Top Secondary SCITT in the country in the Smithers Good Teacher Training Guide.

The North East Partnership has been allocated 30 secondary PE training places for 2014/15. Graduates wanting a place on the course for 2015/16 apply through UCAS Teacher Training. The application window opens in October.

Ashington High School Sports College is part of The Ashington Learning Partnership, a unique Educational Trust supporting over 3,000 students across five schools in South East Northumberland.

Established in 2007, it comprises two First Schools, Central First and Wansbeck with primary learners to Year 4, two Middle Schools Bothal and Hirst Park with primary and secondary learners to Year 8 and Ashington High School with secondary learners up to Year 13.

The Trust has a strong track record for delivering enhanced educational experiences for its pupils through its strong, links with a variety of local, regional and national organisations to design an interesting, relevant and challenging curriculum for its learners.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Amy Maughan, Contributor .