The Course

Our School Direct Programme forms an important aspect of the professional development role of the partnership. Through School Direct, we wish to recruit, nurture and develop new and exciting talent to the profession as part of our drive to promote outstanding teaching and learning.

With a tailored in-house professional development programme and a culture of sharing best practice within and across schools, Penistone Area Partnership provides an excellent setting for School Direct.  As a result, 100% of our School Direct trainees have found employment each year.   A fantastic achievement. 

Working in conjunction with Sheffield Hallam University, we offer placements in primary and a wide range of secondary subjects including English, Maths and Science.

You will be trained in a highly supportive and aspirational environment and will develop the rigour, professional knowledge, understanding and skills necessary for the delivery of creative, purposeful and challenging teaching and learning.

As part of your School Direct training with Penistone Area Partnership you will:

• Be supported by outstanding teachers within your area, have a school-based mentor and an academic tutor from Sheffield Hallam University who will be a specialist in their subject area.
• Benefit from high quality sessions with other PGCE students at Sheffield Hallam University where research informed practice and the theoretical under-pinning of classroom practice will be shared and critiqued.
• Take part in innovative in-school seminars throughout your training.  These sessions will introduce a different aspect of pedagogy such as lesson design, positive behaviour management and assessment for learning. Blending teaching theory and practice and delivered by the leading teachers in school, they are designed to complement your University programme of study and build to a research project of your choice to be completed in your final term.

This comprehensive training programme will lead to a PGCE which includes qualified teacher status and can be used as the first third of a post-graduate Master’s Degree, should you wish to continue with academic professional development in the early part of your teaching career.