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Research demonstrates that high quality CPD for teachers has a significant positive effect on pupil outcomes and is the most cost-effective way to boost pupil attainment

How We Select Our Trainees

Application Form

We will assess your application form to see if you have met our entry requirements. It is important that your application is presented in an accurate and professional manner. Your personal statement is your opportunity to provide your reasons for wishing to pursue a career in teaching, to mention any additional skills you may have and to reflect on your experiences.

You are expected to provide an academic reference from your University as the main reference on your application form. We can only accept professional references. 

Interview

All suitable applicants will be invited for interview, subject to availability of places. This takes the form of a personal interview with our school staff and usually includes a senior manager and the identified mentor or relevant head of department. The majority of our interviews are currently taking place online. 

Practical

Candidates will be assessed to determine their suitability for the course and will be required to participate in short teaching episodes. This may involve leading a teaching session for up to 30 minutes or talking through how you would teach a lesson and reflecting in interview as to what went well and areas for development.

Good communication skills

Teachers are required to communicate with a wide range of people from pupils through to parents and other teachers in both written and verbal form therefore it is essential that applicants have (and can demonstrate) good communication skills.

Experience in schools

Getting classroom experience will help you decide whether teaching is right for you. We encourage applicants to visit our partnership schools to gain classroom experience. This experience wil support your application but we must state that school experience is not essential and that we welcome applications from all interested candidates.

On a school experience visit, during your time in a school, you will have the opportunity to:

  • talk with teachers about day to day school life
  • observe teaching and pastoral work
  • watch a range of lessons and age groups being taught

Commitment to teaching

Teaching is an extremely rewarding career and people who become teachers feel that they have the opportunity to make a real difference to people's lives. However, it is a challenging and demanding career both in terms of the training and the actual work. Therefore to ensure that we train teachers who go on to become successful, it is essential that applicants are fully committed to a career in teaching and understand precisely what such a career involves.

Broad subject knowledge

In order to communicate knowledge to their pupils effectively, it is essential that applicants have a sound grasp and understanding of the subject that they wish to teach. This knowledge comes from an applicant's degree but can be strengthened by relevant experience within that field. There are often opportunities or subject knowledge enhancement courses especially in the shortage subjects.

Enthusiasm

We are looking for applicants to be enthusiastic, not just about the subject that they teach but also about transferring that knowledge on to others. Previous experience has demonstrated that the more enthusiastic teachers are about what they are teaching then the more responsive pupils tend to be.


The BTSA and every partner school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.  All staff and volunteers must share this commitment.  Successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced Criminal Record Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service along with other relevant employment checks, including overseas criminal background checks, where applicable. All new trustees, employees and volunteers will be required to undertake safeguarding training in induction which will be regularly updated in line with statutory guidance.