Are you a trainee teacher? We are here to help

18 May 2020

We recognise that it is a very challenging time for trainee teachers. You should be consolidating your skills and knowledge this term in a school environment, but instead you find yourself in a very challenging position, possibly feeling under equipped to start teaching in September.

At the National Centre for Computing Education, we are providing specific support for trainee teachers to help you develop your subject knowledge, subject specific pedagogy, general teaching pedagogical skill, and network with other teachers in the same position as you. Whether you are a primary or secondary trainee, we have different CPD opportunities that will support you at this time.

We are running a programme of remote and online CPD over the summer term which are all free to participate in, and aimed at improving classroom practice and confidence. Each of the remotely delivered courses is led by one of our accredited facilitators and consists of a series of short sessions with structured tasks in between.

Secondary Computing trainees

The Computer Science Accelerator Programme is a free training programme perfect for trainee teachers who want to enhance their current subject knowledge and benefit from the expertise of experienced educators to prepare for the classroom.  

The programme can help you to gain the confidence to teach this high demand subject across the curriculum, and tailor your learning to your development needs. We offer flexible, short modules, which are available online via the FutureLearn platform and remotely through live sessions delivered over the course of a week. As well as giving you the opportunity to fit your learning around other commitments, all our courses are quality-assured and mapped to the curriculum in England, so will help you to apply the latest best practice. These modules can also potentially help support you to evidence the subject knowledge element of your teaching standards, with several universities already stating they will accept this.

Once you successfully complete the programme, you are eligible for a bursary of £920, to be paid to your school or college once you gain employment (state-funded English education only). This will be payable when claimed within one academic year of gaining Qualified Teacher Status.

As computing trainees the computer science accelerator programme is just the start of your journey of CPD with us. Once you complete the Computer Science Accelerator Programme and pass the test you will be awarded with our ‘teach GCSE computer science certificate’, awarded by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. This forms part of the bigger certificate ‘Teach Secondary Computing’ which you can work on in 2020 and 2021.

Non-computing specialists

Whatever subject you specialise in, we welcome you to support us in our drive to have computer science taught in every secondary school in England. You have the opportunity to develop or enhance your subject knowledge of a second subject, allowing you the opportunity to teach two different subjects in any school, making yourself potentially more employable.

With the increasing demand for digital skills, now is a great time to develop your subject knowledge in computer science. We have specific pathways to support in choosing the correct journey for you, whether you are a complete beginner or have some experience we have the correct selection of courses for you. We also have created a diagnostic quiz, which will help you identify the topics that you need most development in.

So that you can start to develop your support networks and to ensure you are on the course with people in a similar position to yourself, we have worked with our regional network to host ITT - Invitational only courses (these courses are currently being held remotely). Whether you are a university-based trainee or a school-centred trainee, you are very welcome to join these courses to share and communicate experiences with other ITT students.

Primary trainees

We also have computing CPD for primary teachers, whether you are a beginner or looking to lead in computing, there are courses available to you. We have developed six remote learning courses and two online courses that will help you with your subject knowledge and pedagogy. You are also eligible to complete the Computer Science Accelerator Programme (outlined above).

Get prepared for September

As well as subject specific courses, we have developed a number of other opportunities to support you in getting ready to be back in the classroom in September.

In August, we are hoping to be running a residential summer school for those who have just completed their training and NQTs. This intense weekly course will cover subject knowledge and pedagogy and provide time and space to reflect upon your practice working in a highly supportive and stimulating environment.

If you are still worried about behaviour, planning or assessment before starting your career in teaching full time, STEM learning’s online foundation courses are available between now and September to increase your confidence.

If you are reading this as an ITT provider, there is the possibility that we can work with and support your computing and non-computing trainees with a bespoke tailored approach. If this sounds of interest to you, you can enquire at p.thornton@stem.org.uk