School Direct
Train to be a teacher with the North Somerset Teaching Alliance (NSTA).
Six of our past trainees share their experiences of training with us in the videos below.
North Somerset Teaching Alliance
School Direct – Train to Teach
School direct programme
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 or Plymouth Marjon 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.
Why Choose NSTA
Successful candidates will benefit from the following:
- Awarded both QTS and PGCE status at the end of training year
- 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)
- Teaching experience in a minimum of 2 schools based in North Somerset/Somerset
- All schools lie within commuting distance of Bristol. Two schools are slightly further south and situated on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills.
- A wider pool of peer-support from joint sessions with the NSTA School Direct cohort and PGCE students
Key Information
We recommend prospective trainees attend one of our ‘School Experience days’. To book a place please contact Helen Twiggs at [email protected]
All applications must be completed online using the Government’s Apply for teacher training service. Unless you have a specific query, your contact with NSTA will only start once your application has been successfully completed and processed by Apply.
- Use this link to download a PDF with detailed information about the NSTA School Direct Programme and how to apply.
- Please see the Governments ‘Get into Teaching’ website for full information on funding your training, including tuition fee and maintenance loans and also bursaries and scholarships.
Current vacancies and partner details
| Use the Google Map link to access a map showing all partner schools and HEI providers in the NSTA School Direct programme. You can use the map to access the website of each partner by clicking on the relevant pin. |
Our vacancies for our 2023 – 2024 School Direct Programme are detailed in the table below. Recruitment opens on the 11th October 2022 for a September 2023 start. Please be aware that we close recruitment on 1st July 2023.
Places are allocated as people apply throughout the year and courses stay open until they are full. Apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
| Subject | Higher Education Institute | NSTA Home School |
|---|---|---|
| Art and Design | Plymouth Marjon University | Backwell, Churchill and Kings of Wessex |
| Computer Science | Plymouth Marjon University | Broadoak and Chew Valley |
| Drama | Plymouth Marjon University | Broadoak and Gordano |
| English | University of Bristol | Backwell, Churchill, Clevedon, Gordano, Kings of Wessex |
| Geography | University of Bristol | Backwell, Chilton Trinity, Churchill |
| History | University of Bristol | Backwell, Chilton Trinity |
| Mathematics | University of Bristol | Backwell, Broadoak, Chilton Trinity, Gordano, Kings of Wessex, The Blue School |
| MFL | University of Bristol | Chilton Trinity, Churchill, Clevedon, The Blue School |
| Music | University of Bristol | Broadoak |
| Physical Education (PE) | Plymouth Marjon University | Churchill, Clevedon, Gordano, Kings of Wessex and The Blue School |
| Psychology | Plymouth Marjon University | Churchill and Kings of Wessex |
| Religious Education | University of Bristol | The Blue School |
| Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) | University of Bristol | Backwell, Broadoak, Chew Valley, Chilton Trinity, Churchill, Clevedon, Gordano, Kings of Wessex |
Higher Education Institute links
Our current vacancies are also available on the Governments Find Postgraduate teacher training search tool
Within the search tool you can search by area or by training provider. We are listed as ‘North Somerset Teaching Alliance’.
This will show an up to date list of available courses.