Trainee teacher

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🌟 Trainee Teacher Opportunity –Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre, part of GLF Schools Trust.

Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre is looking for a trainee to train in a range of Secondary Subjects on the fee-funded route. Business, Chemistry, Computing, English, Geography, Drama, Design and Technology, History, and Maths.

Could this be you?

Are you a passionate graduate based in or near Reading and ready to begin your teaching career at Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre?

🌱About Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre

Highdown School is a place where tradition meets innovation, from the 16th-century tythe barn to the state-of-the-art computing facilities, and this rich heritage, coupled with our dynamic teachers, means that Highdown is a place where pupils achieve more than they thought possible.

Highdown has high academic standards, with passionate specialist teachers in every department from Mandarin to Further Maths to Textiles. This summer, 80% of the pupils passed English and Maths at GCSE, and over 20% of A-Levels were graded at A or A*. But Highdown's co-curricular offer is where the school comes alive, there is something for every child to excel in and to develop their resources, skills and resilience so they can feel confident in embracing their future.

Highdown’s recent Ofsted report in 2024 confirms it is a ‘good’ school. Ofsted states, “High expectations for pupils’ behaviour and academic achievement mean that the school supports pupils’ ambitious aspirations effectively. Pupils are invariably polite, respectful and kind” (Ofsted, 2024)

🌱About GLF Schools

Highdown School is part of GLF Schools, a Multi-Academy Trust comprising 43 schools, with a strong presence in the South East region, including both primary and secondary schools. Through our partnership with Inspiring Future Teachers (IFT), we offer a variety of locally delivered teacher training routes — from employment-based options to fee-funded pathways.

We are committed to training, developing, and employing our trainee teachers as Early Career Teachers (ECTs) across all our GLF schools. We have a specific teacher training base in Banstead in Surrey, Didcot, Oxfordshire, and in Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre in Reading, offering candidates a choice of where to do their Friday core training.

🏫 About the Trainee Teacher Programme.

We are excited to offer aspiring teachers a fantastic opportunity to train at Highdown School, supported by our expert GLF Teacher Training Hub. You’ll benefit from:

1. High-quality, school-based training and placement at Highdown School
2. Locally delivered training sessions
3. Mentorship from experienced teachers committed to your development

You’ll also gain practical, hands-on experience across your chosen age range.

🎓 Qualifications Required

To be eligible to apply, you’ll need:

4. A UK bachelor's degree (2:2 or above, although some 3rd class degrees may be considered)
5. GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 (C) or above (plus Science for primary)
6. Right to work and study in the UK, with 3+ years of residency in the UK/EEA

🔹 Fee-Funded Route

Unpaid training placement, but eligible for:

7. Tuition Fee Loan (up to the full cost of the training)
8. Maintenance Loan (up to ~£13,000- means tested)

Training fee costs:

9. £9,535 (QTS + PGCE)
10. £9,035 (QTS only)

🔹 Part-Time Route (over two years) This is a pilot route for 26-27 and available for some subjects/routes

11. Year 1: £7,145 | Year 2: £4,762
12. PGCE is not available on this route

🌱 Why Train with GLF Teacher Training?

13. Local training: Receive weekly training in your area by local expert practitioners — no long commutes!
14. Collaborative Trust: Work alongside a network of professionals across the region within GLF schools
15. Personalised support: Your wellbeing and workload are prioritised
16. Career progression: Many trainees secure ECT positions in our GLF Schools. 96% of last year's trainees secured an ECT position with our support.

📍Placement School- Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre

All trainees have two placement schools, and GLF Teacher Training ensures your second placement school is carefully matched to ensure reasonable travel and the right fit for your training needs.

Safeguarding Statement

GLF Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Employment is subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

As a Trust, we are happy to discuss flexible working opportunities. GLF Schools recognises and celebrates the diversity of its schools and their communities. There is a shared commitment across the Trust to develop further a culture of respect, where discrimination is not tolerated, and individuals are treated equitably and fairly and feel a sense of belonging. We strive for an inclusive environment where staff, children and students are comfortable to express their own identity, should they wish, in which diversity and inclusion is of mutual benefit for everyone in our schools. We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups including those based on ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

We reserve the right to withdraw this vacancy at any time ahead of the closing date if there is a good level of response. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application as early as possible.

We also reserve the right to interview shortlisted candidates ahead of the closing date.

Please be advised that references may be requested on receipt of your application. Please state if you wish this to be delayed until shortlisting/interviews have taken place.