The Raleigh School has a proud history of training new teachers and we are delighted to have supported trainees from all walks of life, including graduates, career changers, parents from our school community, teaching assistants and trainees from a wide range of backgrounds.

Trainees are treated as an integral part of the team from day one and train across at least two year groups during their time with us. You will be supported by a dedicated mentor and by our Deputy Headteacher, who acts as your professional tutor throughout the programme.

You will spend four days per week in school, learning on the job, and one day per week off-site, developing the skills and knowledge you can apply back in the classroom.

Many of our trainees go on to secure Early Career Teacher (ECT) roles quickly as a result of the high-quality training they receive at The Raleigh School.

You’ll have a named mentor who works closely with you and supports you at every stage of the programme. You’ll meet regularly to talk through lessons, planning and next steps, with feedback focused on helping you become the best teacher you can be. You’ll also take part in whole-school training and INSET days and be treated as a full member of staff.

In addition, you will be supported by our Deputy Headteacher, who acts as your professional tutor. They ensure you receive your full training entitlement and work alongside you and your mentor to make sure your experience is as positive and effective as possible.

You’ll begin by observing and supporting in the classroom but you won’t stay in that phase for too long! One of the great benefits of school-based training is that you get to experience what teaching is like in the autumn term – setting routines and being an integral part of setting up a class. 

Teaching responsibility builds gradually and at a pace that’s right for you, moving from small group work and shared teaching to planning and leading lessons independently.

You’ll be supported at every stage, with clear guidance and regular feedback, so you’re never expected to take on more than you’re ready for. By the end of the programme, trainees are confidently teaching whole classes and planning sequences of learning.

As a primary school, you’ll gain experience across a range of year groups. This helps you build a strong understanding of how children develop and how teaching changes across the primary phase.

You will train with at least two year groups at The Raleigh School and will also train in another year group as part of your second school experience placement. This placement is a crucial part of the course where you will spend 6-weeks in another local school to experience a new year group and different context. 

Training with The Raleigh School enables you to complete the course having completed placements in at least three of the seven primary year groups, preparing you exceptionally well for whichever year group you begin your career in as an ECT. 

Training takes place through school-based routes in partnership with our accredited provider, South Farnham SCITT. Trainees can choose to undertake either:

• PGCE with QTS, or

• QTS-only routes

If you’re unsure which route is right for you, please don’t worry. The best first step is to contact either us or South Farnham SCITT who will be happy to discuss your options with you. 

The short answer is either — we’re happy to help!

If you contact The Raleigh first, we can talk you through what training here looks like, arrange a visit or school experience day and help you decide whether this is the right setting for you. We’re also happy to guide you towards the most appropriate training route.

If you contact the programme provider first, they can advise you on eligibility, application timelines and course details and will work closely with us throughout the process - just make sure you let them know that you are interested in training at The Raleigh School!

Whichever route you choose, both us and South Farnham SCITT will support you to make the process as straightforward as possible.

We have an excellent record of trainees securing full-time teaching posts for the September following their training. Some trainees go on to secure roles within our school, others within our wider Trust and others in local schools.

Once you become a trainee at The Raleigh School, we are absolutely dedicated to supporting you in securing your first teaching post – whether that is with us, a partner school or elsewhere!

Previous experience is helpful, but it isn’t essential. If you’re new to teaching, we strongly recommend applying for a DfE Get School Experience day with us using the link above! This gives you a realistic insight into school life and helps you decide whether teaching is right for you.

If you’re interested in training to teach at The Raleigh School, the best next step is to get in touch. You can arrange a visit, ask questions informally or get in touch with South Farnham SCITT to learn more about the programme.