Why Train With Us?

‘Support for newly and recently qualified teachers is good. These teachers said that they valued highly the support they received and the developmental activities in which they are involved. Recently qualified teachers who were initially trained in the school have returned to a post here because, they said, they believe strongly in the school’s ethos and that they feel able to ‘make a real difference’ to pupils.’ Ofsted 2018

The Bemrose School is a supportive and exciting place to learn, to work and to train for many reasons. One of our core values is to strive to improve the outcomes and life chances for all students from all backgrounds.

In September 2014, the school expanded to become Derby’s first all-through school. Situated on the same site, the purpose built Primary Phase is flourishing: EYFS and nursery have expanded and are benefitting from a specialised outside play area; KS1 and 2 are thriving- we even had to expand the building!

We are a growing Secondary Phase with approximately 1000 children on roll across ages 3-19, organised into four houses. Within a mainstream setting, we specialise in providing for students on the autistic spectrum with two enhanced facilities on site. A strength of our school is that our students come from all over the world.  We are proud to offer support and celebrate the richness that bilingualism brings to our community. We strongly believe that every pupil has the right to an education which challenges them, supports them and ultimately means they have a range of choices, including accessing University life and Apprenticeships at the highest level.

We believe that we are a school which offers many opportunities to those who work here. We place great store on supporting each other, our pupils and our communities so that The Bemrose School is a rewarding place to learn and develop the skills of teaching. Our staff are our most valuable resource and we commit to providing good quality, research based training that everyone can benefit from.

Schools Direct

The Bemrose School works in partnership with Landau Forte SCITT, Derby and DTSA (based at Chellaston School, Derby) to train graduates ‘on the job’. All trainees who successfully complete the School Direct course will be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status and will gain a PGCE with masters’ level credits.

Trainees spend four days in school and one day working with University tutors (University of Derby for Landau and University of Nottingham for Chellaston). The training days are an opportunity to work with other trainees and the sessions will form an integral part of the work you do in school. Because The Bemrose School includes primary, secondary and post-16 this is a unique and exciting opportunity to work across the 3 – 19 age range within the East Midlands region.

Each trainee will have a mentor assigned by the school who will undertake regular training through the partnership. You will also be allocated a University tutor who will work closely with you, your mentor and coordinator. From the beginning of the course, which starts at the end of August, you will be regarded as a beginning teacher and will attend development days, consultation sessions and extra-curricular activities.

In the second term you will undertake a placement in a second school. This is an opportunity to learn and teach within a different context while sharing your experiences with other trainees. The practical experience is underpinned by theoretical approaches that are discussed and explored in the University sessions.

PGCE/PGDE

The Bemrose School has worked very successfully, over a long period of time, with students from The University of Derby, The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.

Students come to us to undertake both their first and second school placements and work alongside a mentor who has been specifically chosen to undertake this role. The mentor will be an experienced colleague working in an area of the curriculum associated with the subject that the student is teaching and will have strength in their own teaching and learning. Mentors and mentees alike enjoy the experience of working closely with another colleague and reflect regularly on what has been happening in the classroom during the course of the working week.

Whilst the basics of lesson planning and evaluation together with assessment are undertaken alongside the mentor, PCGEs attend a specifically designed but more generic program of events to further support their practice. This is a valuable opportunity to work with colleagues from other curriculum areas and to share good practice. Activities vary according to need but have included tours of the catchment area, planning and assessment, research based teaching and learning.

Student teachers generally find the atmosphere really welcoming and appreciate the huge support that has been available to them. Several students have returned to us as newly qualified teachers (NQTs) at the end of their University course and enjoyed successful careers with us thereafter