Advice from our 25/26 trainees
"What surprised me most was how encouraging and approachable everyone is, which has really helped build my confidence"
"Don't be afraid to ask questions... Remember that you are a trainee and not the finished article"
“Build strong relationships with both the staff and the children, stay organised, and don't be afraid to ask for support”
"Be open to learning and trust that your confidence will grow"
"Don't put pressure on yourself to get everything perfect from the get go, because some of your best learning will come from the lessons that don't go to plan”
"Take on board the advice and feedback you receive, even when it challenges you, as this is often where the most valuable growth happens”
Train to Teach - initial Teacher training
The Achieve with TELA is an established school based initial teacher training provider with a successful track record in Initial Teacher Training in our communities in Leicester and Leicestershire. We are the lead delivery partner with the Futures Teaching Alliance in partnership with Teach First to provide School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT).
The Achieve with TELA school based initial teacher training course is a rewarding course, we aim to recruit the best. We are looking for applicants with a wide range of skills, knowledge and relevant experience and/or transferable skills, as well as a passion for working with young people. At Achieve with TELA, we are dedicated to supporting our trainee teachers at every stage of their journey. From initial application through to qualification and beyond, we provide personalised guidance, high-quality mentoring, and a nurturing environment to help each trainee teacher thrive.
Train to teach with confidence...
"The most valuable thing I gained from TELA was the confidence to believe that I belonged in the profession"
All trainee teachers will be subject to enhanced disclosure check from the Disclosure and Barring Service(DBS).
Strong Links with Local Schools
Our close partnerships with numerous schools across Leicestershire enable trainees to gain valuable classroom experience from the outset. This collaborative approach ensures that our graduates are confident, competent, and ready to make a positive impact in their new roles.
About our Teacher Training course
Our initial teacher training course structure
Our course is designed to ensure that you complete training with a comprehensive understanding of how young people develop and learn.
Initially at your ‘home’ school, you observe lessons. then at the right time for you, start to take over parts of, or whole lessons. In conjunction with your school mentor, you then take over more lessons at a pace right for you. If the pace is too fast, we take lessons back from you. By Christmas you will be teaching about 7 hours a week, by Easter 11 hours a week and by the last 6 weeks of your course, you will be on 13 hours teaching a week. When not teaching, you observe other experienced teachers, co plan with them, spend time with pastoral and SEND specialists and use the time to reflect on your own lesson, collect and collate the evidence that you need to progress through the course. All under the close support of TELA and your schools.
You will get hands-on experience of what it's like to be a teacher, and will have a dedicated mentor to support you throughout your training. You will learn about research-based learning theories in practical hands-on lessons, demonstrated by skilled, passionate subject leads.
Our curriculum is designed so that all trainees are challenged and supported at each stage of their journey of becoming a teacher.
You will graduate with Qualified Teacher Status ( QTS) and a Master’s level PGCE awarded by Sheffield Hallam University (University sessions are delivered online).
More Than Teacher Training...
"TELA gave me confidence, lifelong friendships and a genuine sense of belonging"
Training to teacher in South Leicestershire
Our initial teacher training course structure
Our course is designed to ensure that you complete training with a comprehensive understanding of how young people develop and learn.
Initially at your ‘home’ school, you observe lessons. then at the right time for you, start to take over parts of, or whole lessons. In conjunction with your school mentor, you then take over more lessons at a pace right for you. If the pace is too fast, we take lessons back from you. By Christmas you will be teaching about 7 hours a week, by Easter 11 hours a week and by the last 6 weeks of your course, you will be on 13 hours teaching a week. When not teaching, you observe other experienced teachers, co plan with them, spend time with pastoral and SEND specialists and use the time to reflect on your own lesson, collect and collate the evidence that you need to progress through the course. All under the close support of TELA and your schools.
You will get hands-on experience of what it's like to be a teacher, and will have a dedicated mentor to support you throughout your training. You will learn about research-based learning theories in practical hands-on lessons, demonstrated by skilled, passionate subject leads.
Our curriculum is designed so that all trainees are challenged and supported at each stage of their journey of becoming a teacher.
You will graduate with Qualified Teacher Status ( QTS) and a Master’s level PGCE awarded by Sheffield Hallam University (University sessions are delivered online).
More Than Teacher Training...
"TELA gave me confidence, lifelong friendships and a genuine sense of belonging"
Training to teacher in South Leicestershire
What makes us different?
The ethos of Achieve with TELA is that you will be part of the TELA community, not just a trainee teacher on a placement. We invest in initial teacher training to train the teachers of the future for our children, our young people and our community of schools in Leicestershire, Leicester and beyond.
You'll learn through a combination of classroom practice, and face to face professional learning which is underpinned by the latest research. Professional learning sessions are paced and structured and you get opportunities to practice the theory you’ve learnt.
We know it is a challenging course, but we believe in supporting our trainee teachers to be the best they can be – We are a smaller provider and are proud that we get to know you.
Your Teaching Career Starts Here...
"The network I built along the way ultimately led directly to securing my first teaching job"
What makes us different?
The ethos of Achieve with TELA is that you will be part of the TELA community, not just a trainee teacher on a placement. We invest in initial teacher training to train the teachers of the future for our children, our young people and our community of schools in Leicestershire, Leicester and beyond.
You'll learn through a combination of classroom practice, and face to face professional learning which is underpinned by the latest research. Professional learning sessions are paced and structured and you get opportunities to practice the theory you’ve learnt.
We know it is a challenging course, but we believe in supporting our trainee teachers to be the best they can be – We are a smaller provider and are proud that we get to know you.
Your Teaching Career Starts Here...
"The network I built along the way ultimately led directly to securing my first teaching job"
Support
You are supported, every step of the way.
You will be supported by our central Achieve with TELA team, as well as the central SCITT team and as a student by our colleagues at the University.
On each of your teaching placements, you’ll have a school mentor and ITT coordinator whose role is to ensure that you are supported in school, and that things run smoothly - that you have the best possible experience. We have a dedicated quality assurance leads who visit during your placements in Leicestershire and Leicester.
Your progress will be assessed throughout the course by your TELA / SCITT tutor, school-based mentors and other course tutors.
Supported Every Step of the Way...
"I felt supported every step of the way by both the training team and my mentors"
Qualification
By the end of the Achieve with TELA initial teacher training PGCE course you should have met the required professional standards for Qualified Teachers Status (QTS) and the PGCE awarded by the University.
Requirements
- Honours degree at (or predicted) 2:2 degree (or above)
- GCSE grade C/4 or above in English and Maths - and Science for primary (or equivalent)
- Overseas applicants will need to prove equivalent overseas qualifications.
Interview
The interview process will also take place in our partner schools ( in Leicestershire ) and will involve a combination of tasks including:
- a task working with a small group of pupils;
- a formal interview;
- a reading task.
Each part of the selection procedure will be graded to agreed criteria. The interview questions will be largely based on elements that will contribute to the Teachers’ Standards, and we share this with you in advance of the interview. Equal opportunities procedures will be followed to ensure that the selection procedures are open, fair and assessments are to agreed criteria.