South Craven has a long-standing reputation of being at the forefront of training the next generation of teachers.
We work with a number of teacher training providers in the region and work particularly closely with Red Kite SCITT, Leeds Trinity SCITT, Northern Lights SCITT and Leeds Beckett PGCE course.
We continue to deliver high quality training sessions led by experienced classroom practitioners. Drawing on our long experience of working closely together, we have created an excellent school-based Initial Teacher Training programme which is tailored to individual needs and aspirations.
Our love of training does not end at the training year - we also have a full programme of NQT, RQT and lifelong Teacher Development. Whether you are a new graduate, about to graduate or you are considering a change of career, our courses will give you the foundation you need for a great career in teaching.
Why Teaching?
Listen to some of our staff discuss their experience of teaching and why they enjoy working at South Craven School.
Testimonies
We pride ourselves on the fact that the trainees who have benefitted from training at South Craven want to come back and work with us.
Here are some testimonies from staff members that trained with us:
"The programme was well organised and I felt really well supported across all departments at school with lots of input across different teams. My mentor and NQT coordinators gave so much of their time and energy to helping me get the most I could from my first year of training and I always had someone to turn to. It was helpful being able to reguarly meet with the other new members of staff or trainees so we could discuss concerns, ask questions and compare experiences, which always felt reassuring.
I am so proud to work at South Craven and feel so lucky to be a part of this team who all want the best for each and every student and colleague (which is a lovely feeling!).
The location is beautiful and worth every minute of my commute because of all the staff, the headteacher and the students. We have a great mix of rural and urban communities at which increases the diversity of views, backgrounds and cultures in our staff and students and I think this is what contributes to having such a great community feel."
"I enjoyed my training placement at South Craven very much. My timetable included all year groups and abilities, ensuring my experience was varied. I had amazing support from the all faculty members - everyone was so generous with their time, making asking for advice very easy. In addition to subject specific training, the school ran a very comprehensive training programme on things such school policies, behaviour management, safeguarding and IT.
South Craven is a unique school with a very inclusive, student-focussed approach - a great place to start my teaching career!"
"Training at South Craven School gave me a great insight into the everyday life of teaching. There were opportunities to develop my teaching practice through training sessions and working with the Humanities Department. The ITT team and my mentor were always there with constructive support and guidance. My confidence in being a teacher definitely increased due to my placement here.
Being a teacher at South Craven School has given me the freedom and confidence to develop the skills I learned during my training. The collaborative nature of the Humanities Department supports teamwork, whilst also allowing room for individuality and creativity. The staff are friendly, supportive and genuinely care for each other and the students, and every day is a pleasure to teach here. Students are encouraged to be themselves and take risks in all aspects of school life, and they can leave their time here knowing they are more knowledgeable and respectful members of the community. South Craven School really cares for its staff and students and I feel privileged to be a teacher here."
Comments from our Trainees
“You have such a lovely school and such supportive, inclusive and warm staff – I couldn’t have been happier."
“I genuinely enjoyed working in the school.”
“Couldn’t have been better”
"The training has been fantastic and incredibly useful.”
“Really enjoyed my experience at South Craven, the support I’ve received has been fantastic.”
“ I have very much enjoyed my time at South Craven. The first term has been one I will always remember. Working with such a supportive cohort of staff who are always there to give advice and guidance."
School Experience
Spending time in a classroom is the ideal way to strengthen your application for teacher training.
School experience gives you the chance to watch lessons and see for yourself what it is really like to be a teacher – and allows you to draw on your own examples in your application and interview.
At South Craven we offer you the chance to experience what it is like to be in a classroom.
If you are thinking of going into teaching and would like an opportunity to be in school then please contact Karen Higson directly at k.higson@southcraven.org or call 01535 639748.
Getting Here
We are fortunate to be in a beautiful location in North Yorkshire with excellent transport links:
Bus stop just outside with routes to Skipton and Keighley
8 minutes drive from the nearest railway station (Steeton and Silsden) with routes to Bradford and Leeds (both approximately 30 minutes away by train)
Red Kite Alliance is a partnership of secondary, special and primary schools, collaborating to help each other improve the outcomes for young people. Members have a shared moral purpose to work together to improve the learning and achievement of all the young people in our schools. We firmly believe that we are ‘stronger together’ and the partnership between staff in membership schools enables all partners to benefit by both contributing to and receiving expertise and support from each other.
This school-led approach brings benefits to all the schools involved and helps our school continue to develop and innovate. Our students benefit from the Alliance’s work as it impacts directly on the quality of teaching they receive. Red Kite Alliance is run by schools for schools to help ensure all our young people have the opportunity to achieve their potential.
In addition to our Red Kite Alliance membership, we also work with Red Kite Teaching Teacher Training and Red Kite Teaching School Hub.
Red Kite Teacher Training
Red Kite Teacher Training offers school-based routes into teaching through a large partnership of Primary, Secondary and Special Schools based in and around North and West Yorkshire. Initial Teacher Training programmes are tailored to individual needs and aspirations in partnership with the University of Leeds. With a proven track record of supporting and bringing talented teachers into the profession, experienced practitioners deliver outstanding training in schools within the partnership. In addition to the School Centred Initial Teacher (SCITT), there is an Assessment Only route for professionals already employed in a school.
We are proud to host trainee teachers in our school bringing fresh ideas and research-led ideas to our classrooms. Mentoring and training facilitation opportunities provide professional growth opportunities for our staff.
Red Kite Teaching School Hub is one of 87 centres of excellence for teacher training and development serving a network of schools across North Yorkshire and its partnership schools in West Yorkshire. The teaching school hub programme is part of a comprehensive strategy dedicated to supporting teachers throughout their careers with the goal of improving education across the region. It forms part of the implementation of a national recruitment and retention strategy to raise teacher quality and effectiveness.
Our newly qualified teachers follow the Early Career Framework with Red Kite Teaching School Hub. The two year programme provides support and development to provide newly qualified teachers with the best start to their careers.
Our teachers and leaders have access to a suite of National Professional Qualifications, providing nationally recognised qualification steeped in rigorous educational research.
We value the professional development opportunities for our staff to facilitate and support the delivery of Red Kite Teaching School Hub provision.
