ILKLEY All Saints’ Teacher Training is continuing to develop as it enters its fifth year since it went from concept to reality.

For the first time, it is now offering a personalised part-time teacher training route into the profession, one that is shaped around the needs of the trainee and spread across two years.

The route has proved popular, including by those who wish to continue in employment, support a young family or care for relatives. Furthermore, the programme continues to evolve and incorporate new elements into the timetable; this year sees the introduction of a series of workshops titled ‘Be the Expert’.

Trainees have the opportunity to select a specialism and become highly skilled; the trainees participate in four focus days throughout the year where they work with expert colleagues to develop their thinking.

This year trainees have chosen from a range of workshops, including mental health and wellbeing, the arts and a focus on the power of spontaneous teaching and learning opportunities.

Course leaders say it is a great opportunity for trainees to engage with passionate colleagues and skilled experts who can deepen subject knowledge and drive a sense of pride in becoming highly competent in some key aspects of education.

Chris Whitehead, who runs the programme, said: "At the heart of the teacher training programme is the notion that education should continue to evolve: transforming policy and practice, challenging predetermined orthodoxies and forming collaborations with those who are crafting change across different sectors.

"It is not a time for schools to be insular; we must look to make networks with individuals and organisation who are buoyant with ideas and action. We work with our trainees to impress upon them a sense of agency and for them to understand their role in evolving the profession."

The teacher training programme has supported a great number of trainees to transition into the profession and take up employment, including schools in Ilkley and the wider Bradford area.

For information on training to teach with Ilkley All Saints’ Primary School: cwhitehead@allsaintsilkley.bradford.sch.uk