Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) is working with leading education charity Teach First, to provide School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT), allowing the teachers of the future to train within the local community.

The SCITT programme is a one-year teacher-training course for people eager to learn on the job, enabling those who want to remain in Stoke-on-Trent to train at Birches Head Academy (BHA), making a difference in the community from day one.

Trainees will spend most of their week getting hands-on experience, interacting with pupils and working as a member of school staff. They will also receive subject-specific training in addition to learning effective teaching methods.

Trainees will be in the classroom from September 2025, with a designated mentor from the Trust and school to provide them with one-to-one support throughout their training alongside access to expert training materials. At the end of the programme in July 2026, trainees will be awarded qualified teacher status (QTS) and a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE).

Once qualified, teachers will start on a qualified teacher’s starting salary of at least £30,000.

Teach First has over 20 years’ experience as the largest initial teacher training provider in the country – with their training rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. The charity has worked with a range of educational experts and school leaders to develop the SCITT programme.

Teach First CEO Russell Hobby said: “I’m incredibly pleased that Frank Field Education Trust are partnering with Teach First to help get more great teachers and make a real difference to the local community.

“Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers out there, and with our expertise in high-quality training, along with FFET’s knowledge of what the schools and communities in their area really need, we can deliver a great future for every child.”

Applications for September 2025 are open now. To find out more please go to www.bircheshead.org.uk/train-to-teach or contact SCITT@ffet.co.uk.