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Information for Schools

Working with LWA ITT

The London West Alliance is a well-established partnership of schools across Hounslow and neighbouring boroughs with extensive experience in Initial Teacher Training spanning well over 15 years. Our locally focussed partnership provides a unique opportunity to recruit from the local community to train within our local schools to directly meet our own recruitment needs. Since 2016, over 80% of those who trained with the LWA have been employed by local partnership schools. In the context of the ongoing recruitment crisis, many of our partner schools have used this route to put forward and train alumni or graduate non-teaching staff within their schools, thus ‘growing their own’. From September 2024, we will be working as a Lead Partner with Roehampton University which means we retain autonomy over the recruitment process and school placements, whilst central training, mentor training and QTS PGCE assessments are overseen by Roehampton University.

Below is a list of FAQs of interest to schools wishing to work with us on ITT. Please do contact us directly if you have further queries not covered here by e-mailing Narinder Assi nassi@lampton.org.uk

	Which type of trainee are you looking to host?
Frequently asked questions	Unsalaried tuition fee route	Salaried route (final year 20024-2025) (Please note from September 2025 salaried training will be replaced by the apprenticeship route. Further details will be available in the autumn term 2024)
What is the difference between the two training routes?	Trainees pay tuition fees for their training (£9250) They may be eligible for a bursary and may also access a student loan Details of trainee bursaries for 2024-25 can be found here https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-and-support/scholarships-and-bursaries The trainee is supernumerary	Employing schools pay for the training (£4750) Salaried trainees are paid on UQ2 Depending on subject, schools will receive a salary grant to help towards the UQ2 salary Details of salary grant for 2024-25 can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-direct-salaried-funding-manual/school-direct-salaried-funding-manual-2024-to-2025-academic-year#grant-funding-rates Schools can deploy the trainee to teach on their own
Once the school has expressed their interest in working with LWA ITT, what happens next?	LWA ITT will forward DfE Apply applications that have met the LWA ITT eligibility criteria to schools who expressed interest. Schools should inform LWA ITT of their desire to interview within 48 hours. The LWA ITT Admissions Officer will liaise with schools to get the relevant details and set up an interview date. The candidate will be informed and invited to interview.
Can schools retain their existing staff to train as teachers if they apply to LWA ITT?	Yes - schools can retain members of staff by training them to teach through ‘Grow Your Own’. Schools inform the LWA ITT that they have a potential candidate they wish to train and the LWA Admissions Officer will obtain the relevant information and set up the interview
What are the entry requirements for candidates?	Undergraduate degree / equivalent Secondary: GCSEs at Grade C/4 in Maths, English. Degree relating to the Secondary subject is desirable, however the candidate can complete a Subject Knowledge Enhancement Course in some subjects if their degree does not relate to the subject they wish to teach.	Undergraduate degree / equivalent Secondary: GCSEs at Grade C/4 in Maths, English. Degree relating to the Secondary subject is desirable, however the candidate can complete a Subject Knowledge Enhancement Course in some subjects if their degree does not relate to the subject they wish to teach. Relevant work experience The applicant must demonstrate at interview that they are able to manage solo teaching from the start of the programme.
Who participates in the recruitment and selection process?	LWA ITT and Schools – joint decision.
What does the selection day consist of?	A teaching activity (15-20 minutes) observed by LWA ITT staff with at least one other from the potential recruiting school. Reading and written task Presentation or group task (depending on the numbers on any one interview day) Panel interview An additional maths paper for maths applicants	Teaching a 40-minute lesson observed by LWA ITT staff with at least one other from the potential recruiting school. Reading and written task Presentation or group task (depending on the numbers on any one interview day) Panel interview An additional maths paper for maths applicants
Where does the selection day take place?	At Lampton School
How long is the duration of the course?	Beginning of September (start of the academic year) – end of June	Full academic year (For July, trainees will be in school 5 days a week)
Which days of the week will trainees be in school on placement?	Monday - Friday except for Wednesday which is the Roehampton training day Please note that as from September 2024, under the changes to ITT Quality Standards, providers are mandated to provide an additional 20 days of Intensive Teaching and Practice sessions (ITaPs). For 2024-2025 this will require trainees to be out of placement schools for an additional 4 days at Roehampton.
Which day will the QTS training take place?	Wednesday (but see above for ITaP days)
How many hours should the trainee be teaching?	Autumn term: 7 hours a week over the 4 days Spring term: 10 hours a week over 4 days After Easter:12 hours a week over 4 days May/June: 18 hours a week over 4 days
When will the second placement take place?	The duration of Spring 2 half-term.
Who arranges the second placement?	LWA ITT
What happens when the trainee placed at your school goes to their second placement?	Where possible LWA ITT will endeavour to swap trainees on the same training route.
What do schools need to do to support the trainee?	A Mentor needs to meet with the trainee weekly to support the trainee’s development; the trainee will need to have 1 formal observation with written feedback each week. This can be by the mentor or by another appropriately experienced colleague.
Will Mentor/Coaches know what to do?	Roehampton University provides the mentor training programme and mentor support.
Is there an induction period for the trainee?	Yes. All trainees with confirmed places will be invited to an induction programme usually the penultimate full week in July which consists of: 1 day at LWA ITT (Lampton School); 1 day at Roehampton University; and 2 days in the placement school. Details of what is to be covered by placement schools are sent in advance of the induction days.

Information for Schools

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