Teaching Training Scheme Grows
A teacher training scheme which offers graduates the opportunity to study at Cleethorpes-area schools is being extended.
Tollbar Multi-Academy Trust, incorporating Tollbar and Cleethorpes Academies, is running the School Direct Scheme in conjunction with Hull University.
Seven trainee teachers have been learning their trade since the pilot launched in September and gaining experience while studying for their Post Graduate Certificates in Education.
The trainees have the opportunity to train at both sites, with their time in the classroom supplemented by additional training days at the University's campus in Hull.
All seven are expected to be offered teaching positions, subject to qualification, in the summer. The scheme is being extended to 18 places next year.
Carl Moore, Tollbar Family of Academies human resources officer, said the scheme's advantages were two-fold.
"School Direct gives us the opportunity to choose the graduates we wish to train in the subjects in which we know there will be shortages in the following year.
"We also have the opportunity to train graduates who want to work in the North East Lincolnshire area, and we have the added advantage of being able to offer them a teaching position at an outstanding academy post-training.
"It has always been difficult to attract teachers to this region and so this scheme allows us to train people who already live here, or are returning to live here, and who want to stay and work in the area."
Rebecca Nunhuck, one of the seven teacher trainees on the scheme, began her career at a city investment bank but soon realised it wasn't for her. She comes from Louth and has a degree in Modern Languages/French from Nottingham University.
"I decided to come home and find myself a completely new but challenging career," she said. "It has been great to be able to come and see how the school is run, having never worked in an academy before.
"I think Tollbar and Cleethorpes are extremely professional and appear to be run in a very different way to many other schools.
"Being able to complete my PGCE here and through Hull University has really helped me to settle into teaching."
Eleanor Holmes is a former Tollbar Academy student from Binbrook, who studied for an English degree at Lancaster. She is now studying for her PGCE at Tollbar Academy.
"It has been amazing to come back and be able to train at my old school," she said.
"The training we are receiving here is of such a high standard and all seven of us are really enjoying it. I couldn't have hoped for a better placement or a more convenient one."
The academies have training vacancies in English, maths, physics, chemistry, geography and modern foreign languages.
Those interested in a placement for September 2013 should contact Mr Moore on (01472) 500505. Funding is available for some subjects through School Direct.
Press Article From The Cleethorpes Chronicle - Thursday 13th December 2012
