Teacher Training Opportunities

Do you want a career that makes a difference?

Training as a teacher might be the exciting and rewarding career you have been looking for.

Saffron Academy Trust is fortunate to have Saffron Teaching School Hub as part of its organisation. There are 87 Teaching School Hubs across the country who have been specially selected by the Department for Education to lead teacher training and development at all stages of a teacher’s career. Saffron Teaching School Hub is based at Saffron Walden County High School; we work closely together on training and development.

Saffron Walden County High School is committed to working in collaboration with Saffron Teaching School Hub to deliver high-quality teacher training programmes to ensure trainee teachers have an excellent training experience and go on to work in our local schools.

Saffron Teaching School Hub - a Lead Partner for three accredited teacher training providers

Saffron Teaching School Hub is a Lead Partner for three accredited teacher training providers offering early years, primary and secondary training routes in a range of teacher training hubs and placement schools across Essex and Cambridgeshire. 

Saffron Teaching School Hub is a Lead Partner with:

• CTSN SCITT (incorporating Essex Primary SCITT)
• Mid Essex Initial Teacher Training
• West Essex SCITT

Working with these Lead Partners, Saffron Teaching School Hub recruits excellent candidates to meet the needs of our local area. Trainee teachers undertake most of their training within a school environment in supportive and well-established placement schools, and have a training day each week, led by experienced facilitators, to learn the theory of teaching. Trainees can also undertake a PGCE alongside their QTS teacher training course. In some courses, flexible training routes can be offered to support those returning to work or pursuing a career change.

As a Teaching School Hub, our role is to support recruitment into the sector. Saffron Teaching School Hub does not deliver ITT training; our ITT courses are delivered by our Lead Partners.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Applications for teacher training (starting in September 2026) are now open.

All applications for teacher training happen through the DfE Apply service https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-teacher-training

Further information on applying for teacher training through Saffron Teaching School Hub can be found here: www.saffronteachingschoolhub.net/train-to-teach

If you would like to arrange a phone conversation to discuss your situation, please contact us. 

DIVERSITY EQUALITY AND INCLUSION

Saffron Teaching School Hub, CTSN SCITT, Mid Essex Initial Teacher Training and West Essex SCITT are committed to equality of opportunity for all and actively oppose all forms of discrimination. We have the responsibility to ensure that trainees have the health and capacity to train to teach and will not put children and young people at risk of harm, whilst meeting the expectations of the Equality Act 2010 in relation to the offer of reasonable adjustments. See HERE for possible reasonable adjustments.

fURTHER Support with your application

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT TEACHER TRAINING IN GENERAL?

The Department for Education has some excellent support on training to be a teacher. Visit their website HERE for further information on:

• How to become a teacher HERE
• Funding your training HERE
• Non-UK Teachers HERE
• Teacher pay and benefits HERE
• Book a 1:1 meeting with a Teacher Training Advisor HERE

You can also find information on the Saffron Teaching School Hub website HERE.

WHAT DO I NEED TO SUPPORT MY APPLICATION?

You will need to complete a personal statement saying why you want to be a teacher and why you have chosen your subject or route. You will need to demonstrate that you are aware of the role and demands of the teacher and show that you are enthusiastic about teaching and learning. Referring to any in-school experience is vital in this part of the application. This could refer to your role in a school or any work placement or relevant work experience. 

You will need the name and contact details of two references. They can be academic or professional references. Make sure you have contacted your referees in advance to ensure they are ready to respond quickly to any reference requests, as otherwise this could hold up your application.

HOW CAN I GET IN-SCHOOL EXPERIENCE?

To support your application to train to teach, you can visit local schools to get unpaid experience in the classroom before you start your initial teacher training (ITT).

We strongly encourage potential teacher training candidates to take up the offer of school experience.

Visit our Getting School Experience page for details on how to request school experience.

SUBJECT KNOWLEDGE SUPPORT

If you want to teach in a subject but require additional subject knowledge support, then a Subject Knowledge Enhancement course (SKE) might be for you. These are available for some subjects free of charge when registered on an ITT course.

An EQUIVALENCY SKE can support trainees who need additional subject development and are free for some subjects. To research this further, visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/subject-knowledge-enhancement-an-introduction

SUPPORT WITH QUALIFICATION EQUIVALENCY

UK ENIC verification is required for all overseas degree and GCSE equivalent qualifications. You can check your overseas qualifications at the UK ENIC website.

SUPPORT WITH FINANCE

Student Loans Company LINK HERE