Vacancies Teaching & Education

Gillingham School is committed to the provision of first-class Initial Teacher Training for all our trainees. We believe that excellent teaching will promote excellent learning and are delighted to be involved in the training of the next cohort of teachers.

• Gillingham School is currently in Partnership with the Mid Somerset Consortium (MSC) and the North Dorset Teaching School Alliance.
• We also provide placements for those seeking ITT who need to be able to demonstrate that they have spent some time in school prior to starting an ITT course.
• We offer training to our cover supervisors and TAs and support their application for further ITT training where appropriate.

The Early Career Framework (ECF) reforms will create a step change in support for early career teachers, providing a funded entitlement to a structured 2-year package of high-quality professional development. The reforms are part of the government’s teacher recruitment and retention strategy, which aims to improve the training and development opportunities available to teachers.

The Early Career Framework is the evidence base which underpins this new entitlement for early career teachers’ professional development. It sets out what all early career teachers should learn about, and learn how to do, during the first 2 years of their careers.

School Direct is a school-based route into teaching offered by Gillingham School leading to a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). At Gillingham School, in partnership with the Mid-Somerset Consortium (MSC), we recruit and select our own trainees in identified subjects.

Trainees will work alongside our experienced staff and spend a greater proportion of their time in the classroom and in school. Gillingham School has previously worked with several providers, including Bath Spa University, and the MSC and has considerable expertise in training teachers. All candidates will follow the full PGCE course offered by the Mid-Somerset Consortium.

• You must have a first or second-class UK University degree
• You must have at least a grade C in GCSE English and Mathematics
• You must have passed all the appropriate skills tests
• You will be able to demonstrate a desire to work with secondary aged students
• You will have a commitment to the highest quality of education for all

Potential trainees will be advised to:

• Spend time at their chosen school prior to interview
• Complete a school specific application form in addition to the School Direct form

Potential trainees who are selected for interview will be informed in writing and given a date for interview. The interview process will include:

• Peer teaching – potential trainees are asked to teach something of their choice to the other trainees and the Selection Panel. “Lesson” to be 10 minutes long
• A meeting with the department – a subject specific group exercise where the potential trainees meet the Head of Department, the mentor and 1 or 2 other members of the department to assess suitability to work with the department via a subject based discussion
• Leading a discussion with a small group of students – potential trainees are asked to lead a subject related discussion with a group of Y12/Y13 students on a subject related topic/issue. The topic will be provided in advance to the candidates
• Student panel – potential trainees will be interviewed by a panel of students
• Generic lesson observation (1/2 lesson)
• An observation of a lesson (outside of the applicant’s specialism) in conjunction with a member of the Selection Panel. A discussion of the lesson will be part of the final interview
• Formal interview – panel interview with members of the Selection Panel (and if available a member of the appropriate HEI)