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Are you passionate about teaching and ready to make a significant impact on the lives of young people? We are seeking an exceptional individual with vision, energy and passion to join us as an Aspiring Secondary School Teacher, to uphold our core values and guide our vision of Every Child in a Great School.

Westcountry Schools Trust (WeST) is a vibrant and thriving multi-academy trust serving over 14,000 children and young people across Devon, Plymouth, and Cornwall. WeST is a close-knit family of 31 schools, committed to providing the very best education for our children.

WeST holds a firm belief in giving each child every opportunity to learn and succeed in all that they do. Whilst we are a family of schools who share common values and beliefs, all our schools are unique and hold their own identity. We believe that by working collectively, sharing what works well and jointly developing best practice, we are stronger together and can provide the very best education for our children in our geographical area.

This is a 12-month, full-time, postgraduate programme in a Secondary School environment where you’ll experience a mix of study modules, live training sessions and classroom practice. Study modules can be completed at your own pace through our online learning platform, which will provide you with a foundation of theory to build your practice on. At every stage, you'll be guided by your own personal mentor.

What you'll learn

You’ll learn about what makes a good teacher and put this learning into practice inside and outside the classroom. At every step, you will be supported by your own dedicated teaching mentor.

Teacher Training is divided into five strands:

• Behaviour: How you can create calm, safe and purposeful places of learning where all children and young people can achieve.
• Instruction: How you can support all children and young people to learn in the classroom – from thinking about how you present information to helping them learn independently in lessons.
• Curriculum: How you can design lessons and curricula that help children and young people learn new and more complex ideas over time.
• Assessment: How you can better understand the impact your teaching is having and how to respond when your pupils struggle.
• Professionalism: Looking at what it is to be a teacher and how to prepare for your professional career.

Each module starts by introducing you to the ideas and theories underpinning the practice. You will then learn, step-by-step, how to apply these ideas in the classroom. Your tutors and mentor will make sure you have plenty of opportunities to see great teaching in action and understand the key learning before you put it into practice yourself.

Why Join us?

• Collaborative Environment: Work within a supportive network of schools, sharing best practices and innovative approaches to teaching and learning.
• Professional Development: Benefit from substantial investment in professional growth opportunities, including the WeST Training Institute's partnership with Ambition Institute.
• Comprehensive Support: Access expert central services for finance, HR, IT, and more, allowing you to focus on delivering exceptional education.
• Community Impact: Lead a school that values collaboration, aspiration, integrity, and compassion, empowering children to positively impact society.

Who can apply?

Training is open to anyone who might have an interest in becoming a teacher, has a degree or equivalent and has permission to work in the UK before their training begins. You might be:

• A recent graduate looking for the first step in your career.

• A teaching assistant looking to transition into teaching your own class.

• Looking for a completely new career path.

We welcome candidates of all ages, from all backgrounds, and with all types of experience.

Tuition Fees

If you are enrolled on an unsalaried place, you can apply for government funding to cover the costs of your tuition fees. Tuition fees for our Teacher Training programme are £9,250 for full-time study.

You may also apply for a maintenance loan of up to £13,022 to help with your living costs. You can do this even if you already have a student loan, regardless of whether you get a teaching bursary or scholarship. You will then only have to make loan repayments once you are earning.

To find out more, and to check if you're eligible to apply for tuition fees and maintenance loans, please visit Gov.uk

Up to date bursary and scholarship information is available here: Get into Teaching

Equal Opportunities

In fulfilling its aims and objectives, Westcountry Schools Trust actively seeks to achieve equality of opportunity and treatment for all members of the trust community.

We will continuously strive to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and dignity. Each person in our trust will be given fair and equal opportunities to develop their full potential regardless of their gender, ethnicity, cultural and religious background, sexuality, disability or special educational needs and ability. The trust works actively to promote equality and foster positive attitudes. WeST is committed to combatting all forms of discrimination by implementing positive policies and practices in compliance with the Equality Act 2010.

Procedures

All appointments are subject to pre-employment checks. That means:

·         We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A copy of our Child Protection Policy & Safeguarding Policy is attached.

·         Your identity will be confirmed by sight of original, official documents such as a Birth Certificate, Passport etc. in line with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.

·         Original documents relating to all the qualifications you have listed on your application form must be supplied.

·         Your employment history will be thoroughly examined and clarification will be sought where there are gaps or other discrepancies arising from information provided either by you as the candidate or your referee.

·         References will be used to check dates of employment and your relevant experience. A minimum of two written references will be taken up and these references will be requested before the interview.

·         References should cover the last 3-5 years’ work history, as a minimum.

·         An online search of shortlisted candidates will be conducted in accordance with Part Three ‘Safer Recruitment’ of Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance.

·         The identity of referees and information relating to disclosures will be verified.

·         You will be required to provide details of any relevant unspent or spent convictions in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order 1986.

·         An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be requested. Please note that it is an offence to apply, offer or accept to do any work with children (paid or unpaid) if disqualified from working with children. Applicants will be challenged where inconsistencies exist. Please be aware that a firm offer of appointment will only be made after receipt and verification of all satisfactory checks. Westcountry Schools Trust will carry out these checks and should you fail these checks, our offer of employment will be withdrawn.

How to Apply:

For further information and to apply, please follow this link: APPLY NOW.

Closing Date: Friday 20^th June 2025

Contact: For an informal discussion, please contact Cassie O’Neill, Executive Assistant at WeST Training Institute, e: adminWTI@westst.org.uk | t: 01752 891 790.

Join us at WeST and be part of a team dedicated to empowering children and transforming lives. We look forward to receiving your application!

Westcountry Schools Trust is committed to the safeguarding of children and young people.