About Teaching Apprenticeships

Henlow Academy is proud to have partnered with Best Practice Network to offer Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship opportunities at Henlow Academy.

Course Aims and Objectives

Best Practice Network's curriculum is designed using the latest research evidence of what works best in teacher training.

Course Support and Content

You will benefit from bespoke weekly core training days with your fellow trainees, additional tailored subject-specific training days, a school-based mentor and a personal Best Practice Network apprenticeship tutor, as well as support from a knowledgeable and accessible programme team including a placement coordinator who will arrange your second placement in a contrasting school environment.

Centre-based training includes:

  • Induction - to provide an understanding of the aims and expectations of the programme
  • Intensive training and practice blocks - to intensify the focus on specific, pivotal areas of the ITT curriculum
  • Behaviour and classroom management - to develop your understanding of how pupils learn, cognitive development, educational theory on behaviour. You will explore what influences behaviour and what strategies and interventions are effective for promoting good teaching and learning.
  • Curriculum design and assessment - to develop your knowledge of subject pedagogy, effective lesson planning and application of statutory codes for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), as well as principles of assessment and feedback practices.
  • The role of the teacher - to develop a reflective and self-critical approach to teaching. You will be required to demonstrate effective practice via critical evaluation and systematic analysis of your own teaching practice as well as the professional expectations of the profession.
  • Subject specific content in all areas of the National Curriculum – you will develop a clear evidence base for your chosen subject area.
  • Curriculum enhancement sessions led by sector experts – to introduce you to subject and phase specific communities of practice.

Assessment is continuous and includes observations of your teaching. It will be defined by targets set by your tutor, mentor and you through self-reflection on assessment criteria, ahead of each half-termly review. Judgements are based on your ability to teach across the secondary phase.

The apprenticeship route also includes an end-point assessment to achieve your Level 6: building a portfolio, professional discussion and formal lesson observation.

About Henlow Academy

Henlow Church of England Academy is a secondary school in rural Bedfordshire. Our agreed pupil admission numbers (PAN) is 150 per year group, Years 7 to 11, but due to the changing climate from middle to secondary there are some year groups which are larger and some are smaller at present. Our expectation is that Henlow Academy will stabilise as a 5 form entry school over the coming years. We have strong links with our feeder schools of Clifton All Saints, Derwent, Langford, Meppershall and Raynsford and currently house Year 5 and 6 from Meppershall on our school site.

The school’s commitment to learning extends to staff as well as students: there is a well-developed structure for ECTs and other new members of staff, and a strong culture of ongoing professional development among our teaching and support staff. We are continually looking to develop innovative approaches to learning with an increasing focus on collaborative learning.

Much of the school has been altered and refurbished to provide a full GCSE curriculum. The successful candidate should be a hardworking, energetic and a motivated individual who is willing to take on new challenges, embrace change and is keen to join our team of committed professionals.

Trainees will lead classroom teaching within their placement school four days a week with each Friday set aside for training. Teaching commitments start with co-delivery of parts of a lesson and gradually increase until you are delivering whole lessons. As your confidence increases you will deliver sequences of lessons, building to 4-days per week teaching time by July 2025.

As part of their programme of study trainees will also complete a second placement at a contrasting school.

Entry requirements

Qualifications needed

An undergraduate degree at class 2:2 or above, or equivalent.

If you need to improve your subject knowledge, you may be asked to complete a subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) course.

 Grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths, or equivalent qualification.

We’ll consider candidates with pending GCSEs.

We’ll consider candidates who need to take a GCSE equivalency test in English or maths.

If you do not hold a GCSE in English or Maths at grade 4 (C) or above or equivalent you can apply to take an equivalency test. We accept equivalency tests from:

Personal qualities

We look for candidates who genuinely enjoy working with children and young people; who support our vision, that every child should have access an excellent education regardless of background and who are committed to ensuring positive outcomes for children.

We are also looking for candidates who:

  • Role model Best Practice Network’s values - strive for excellence, act with integrity, work together and inspire learning
  • Have a positive outlook
  • Are patient and adaptable
  • Have good interpersonal skills
  • Are friendly and approachable
  • Have good organisational skills and excellent time management

Other requirements

Alongside meeting all of the eligibility criteria, and having original certificates of all your qualifications, you must pass the pre-programme checks.

These will include an Enhanced DBS and Prohibition Order checks, and a Medical Questionnaire to assess your fitness to work.

Applying

If you would like to apply for any of our teaching apprenticeships please apply direct through the link provided on each advert