Express your interest in becoming a teacher . . . . . . . . Click here Book onto our next Get Into Teaching Event . . . . . . . .
Express your interest in becoming a teacher . . . . . . . . Click here Book onto our next Get Into Teaching Event . . . . . . . .
Initial Teacher Training
in Partnership with TES Institute
BTSA is proud to offer high-quality primary and secondary teacher training across more than 50 schools in South Essex and Southend-on-Sea in partnership with Tes Institute (the accredited ITT provider). We have a small and supportive partnership feel, knowing each of our schools and trainees well, while also being part of, and utilising the resources of one of the largest school-based ITT providers in the country.
We strongly believe we offer the most thorough and robust ITT programmes in the region and help to train and equip confident, knowledgeable and competent teachers who are well-prepared for their career in one of the most rewarding professions and ready to make a difference. Headteachers in our area recognise the quality of BTSA/TES Institute trainees and schools actively choose to work with us and are keen to recruit and retain our trainees, many of whom progress quickly.
Our thorough and robust programme maximises time spent in the classroom and helps to train knowledgeable and confident teachers who are well-prepared for the next steps of their new career. We use evidence-informed approaches, underpinned by current and relevant research, opportunities to plan implementation with regional leaders and support from expert classroom practitioners to deliberately practice putting theories into action.
Our programme is carefully structured to support development across each of the core areas of practice, and trainees benefit from a wide range of training experiences which are thoughtfully designed to help embed theory and put it into practice.
How is the Programme Structured
We offer a school-based route with a blended approach to learning, leading to QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) and an optional PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education)
On the programme you will:
be placed in a mutually selected partnership school, learning from expert colleagues,
have an in-school mentor with weekly mentor meetings and planned opportunities to plan, deliberately practice and reflect on teaching strategies, as well as a TES Pathway Tutor who works as an external mentor to support your progress throughout the year,
Have a protected study day with input from specialist subject leaders and national leaders of education,
have weekly face-to-face training with other BTSA trainees, consolidating learning and considering how theory is put into practice in our local context. All of our sessions are led in partnership with schools by local leaders of education.
undertake a contrasting second school placement, as well as progression visits to the key stages before and after those in which you train, you will also visit a range of other local schools as well as a SEND specialism unit or school.
We offer ITT courses in:
Primary (age 5-11)
Primary with Mathematics (ages 5-11)
Art and Design,
Biology,
Business studies (ages 14-19)
Chemistry,
Computing,
Design and Technology,
Drama,
English,
Geography,
History,
Mathematics,
Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) – French, Spanish and German,
Music,
Physical Education (PE),
Physical Education with EBacc (PE with EBacc),
Physics, Religious education (RE).
Our Partnership Schools
BTSA is proud to be a preferred ITT provider for many of our 50 partnership schools. Use the map and the expanding lists below to see the schools that work with us to deliver school-based teacher training.
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Kingston Primary School - Thundersley - Lead Primary
Bardfield Academy - Basildon
Bournemouth Park Academy, Southend
Briscoe Primary School - Basildon
Canvey Infant School - Canvey Island
Canvey Junior School - Canvey Island
Edward Francis Primary School - Rayleigh
Ghyllgrove Primary School - Basildon
Hadleigh Infants School - Hadleigh
Hadleigh Junior School- Hadleigh
Hilltop Infant School - Wickford
Hilltop Junior School - Wickford
Jotmans Hall Primary School - Benfleet
Kents Hill Infant Academy - Benfleet
Kents Hill Junior School - Benfleet
Lubbins Park Primary School - Canvey Island
Montgomerie Primary School- Benfleet
Northwick Park Primary School - Canvey Island
Quilters Infant School - Billericay
Quilters Junior School - Billericay
Rayleigh Primary School - Rayleigh
South Benfleet Primary School - Benfleet
Stambridge Primary School - Rochford
St. Teresa's Catholic Primary School - Basildon
The Robert Drake Primary School - Benfleet
The Westborough School - Westcliff-on-Sea
The Wickford Church of England School - Wickford
Thundersley Primary School- Benfleet
Westwood Academy- Thundersley
William Read Primary School - Canvey Island
Winter Gardens Academy - Canvey Island
Woodham Ley Primary School - Benfleet -
The Appleton School - Benfleet - Lead Secondary
The King John School - Thundersley, Benfleet - Lead SecondaryBeauchamps School - Wickford
Belfairs Academy - Leigh on Sea
Castle View School - Canvey Island
Chase High School - Westcliff-on-Sea
Greensward Academy - Hockley
Shoeburyness High School - Southend
Southchurch High School - Southend
Southend High School for Boys - Southend
Southend High School for Girls - Southend
St Bernard's High School - Westcliff-on-Sea
St Thomas More High School - Westcliff-on-Sea
The Billericay School, Billericay
The Bromfords School, Wickford
The Deanes School, Benfleet
The Eastwood Academy, Leigh-on-Sea
The Fitzwimarc School - Rayleigh
The James Hornsby School - Basildon
The King Edmund School - Rochford
The Sweyne Park School - Rayleigh
Westcliff High School for Girls - Westcliff-on-Sea
William de Ferrers School, South Woodham Ferrers
Woodlands School - Basildon
Click here Book onto our next Get Into Teaching Event . . . . . . . . . .
Click here Book onto our next Get Into Teaching Event . . . . . . . . . .
Hear from some of our past trainees
Emily
Libby
Simmi
Entry Requirements
To apply for a teacher training programme, you must have the following:
GCSE grade C/ Grade 4 in Maths, English (primary trainees also require Science GCSE).
A degree at classification 2:2 or above. If you wish to teach in the secondary sector, a large proportion of your degree should be in the subject you wish to teach, usually a minimum of 50%.
Course Fees, Bursaries and Scholarships
Course fees for our September 2026 programme are £8,625 incl VAT (QTS only) or £9,535 incl VAT (PGCE including QTS).
Finance for training is available from the Student Loans Company.
Depending on the subject that you wish to teach, you may be eligible to receive a tax-free ITT training bursary or scholarship from the DfE. The amount of funding that you may be able to receive depends on the level of your degree qualification, the subject that you wish to teach and you meeting all of the eligibility criteria.
£31,000 (Scholarship): Physics, Chemistry, Computing
£29,000 (Bursary): Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Computing
£22,000 (Scholarship): French, German or Spanish
£20,000 (Bursary): Design and Technology and Languages (including ancient languages)
£5,000 (Bursary): Biology and Geography
Scholarships are usually available to applicants with a 1st, 2:1 or master’s degree or a PhD.
Bursaries are usually available to applicants who have a 1st, 2:1, 2:2 or master’s degree or a PhD.
Further information can be found on the Get Into Teaching website
Next Steps
Find out more
Attend one of our Get Into Teaching events to find out more about our Teacher Training Programme, and ask one of our team any questions that you have about the programme.
How To Apply
All teacher training applications are through the APPLY website: http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching
Once you have applied via the website, we will review your application and then invite you to an online interview. We will email you with full details of your interview arrangements.
Preparation tips:
You will need two referees, who will complete their references online.
Your personal statement should outline why you want to be a teacher and what personal qualities you have that make you suitable to start your training.
Please list all of your previous employment and work experience, not just that which relates to teaching.
You may wish to attend one of our online recruitment events to find out more about the programme.
Search for your chosen fee funded or employment based teacher training course and review your qualifications to check you meet the requirements for your course and chosen subject.
For further information about our programme, please view our YouTube recording:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icmvY8GwLXk&feature=youtu.beTo find out more about our interview process and what happens next, click here
SAFEGUARDING NOTICE TO CANDIDATES
BTSA and every one of our placement schools 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.