School Direct

The NSTA, in partnership with local Higher Education Institutions, and other schools in our teaching alliance, leads a successful School Direct programme.  Our model blends the best of school based teacher training with high quality training support from either the University of Bristol and Bath Spa University. Students accepted on this course benefit from being awarded a PGCE and QTS at the end of the training year, with the possibility of being employed within the North Somerset Teaching Alliance (or other partner schools) the following year.

Successful candidates will benefit from the following:

1. Awarded both QTS and PGCE status at the end of training year
2. High quality training support from local Higher Education Institution (recognised by Ofsted as being Outstanding in the field of Initial Teacher Training in their most recent inspection reports)
3. Teaching experience in a minimum of 2 schools based in North Somerset.
4. All North Somerset schools lie within commuting distance of Bristol
5. Led by Backwell School (Recognised by Ofsted as being an outstanding school in the last two inspections)
6. A wider pool of peer-support from joint sessions with the NSTA School Direct cohort and PGCE students

We recommend prospective trainees attend one of our ‘School Experiences days’. Please download the School Experience Day with the NSTA for more information. To book a place please contact Helen Twiggs at htwiggs@backwellschool.net

All applications must be completed online using the UCAS Teacher Training application process. Unless you have a specific query, your contact with NSTA will only start once your application has been successfully completed and processed by UCAS.

• Details of bursaries and funding for postgraduate teacher training are available on the Department of Education website.
• General information on School Direct can be found on the UCAS website.
• Use this link to download a PDF with detailed information about the NSTA School Direct Programme and how to apply.