New teachers celebrate after completing Ad Astra’s in-house training programme
At a time when teacher recruitment and retention remains one of the biggest challenges facing schools, six newly qualified teachers are celebrating the start of their new careers after completing an in-house training programme with Ad Astra Academy Trust. That’s a fantastic cause for celebration!
The new teachers attended a special graduation ceremony at Hartlepool’s West Park Primary School after completing the Trust’s 10-month Train to Teach programme, with many already securing teaching roles.
A new route into teaching
Ad Astra’s Train to Teach programme enables participants to train on the job rather than following the traditional university-based route, with no previous teaching experience required.
Trainees gain daily classroom experience alongside support from experienced teachers and mentors, graduating with a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
For some of this year’s graduates, the programme has provided an opportunity to make a significant career change.
Caroline Hall, who previously worked in the financial sector for 30 years, has now secured a role at Barnard Grove Primary School.
She said: “Completing the Train to Teach programme has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It has challenged me, supported me and given me the knowledge and confidence to become a qualified teacher. I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my teaching career.”
‘A lifelong dream’
For fellow graduate Thomas Coverdale, who trained at Ayresome Primary School in Middlesbrough, completing the programme has meant achieving a long-held ambition.
He said: “Becoming a teacher has been a lifelong dream of mine, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see my dream become a reality thanks to Ad Astra’s Train to Teach scheme.”
Graduate Kayleigh Brown also highlighted the importance of combining classroom experience with support from experienced colleagues.
She said: “My training journey has been incredibly rewarding. The guidance of experienced teachers and supportive mentors, combined with daily classroom experience, has given me the confidence and skills to begin my teaching career.”
Celebrating the next generation of teachers
Helen Durnion, School Improvement Lead for Ad Astra Academy Trust and Train to Teach lead, said the graduation was an opportunity to recognise the commitment of the six new teachers.
She said: “The graduation ceremony was a wonderful, celebratory occasion.
“All of our trainees have been totally committed to the programme over the last 10 months, and many have already secured teaching roles.”
The programme is helping to develop new teachers from within the communities served by Ad Astra Academy Trust, which has ten primary schools across Teesside, County Durham and Hartlepool.
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East, said: “We are delighted to see six new teachers beginning their careers in North East schools. At a time when recruiting and retaining great teachers remains a challenge across our region and beyond, initiatives like this play an important role in bringing talented people into the profession and supporting them to build their careers here.”
Ad Astra Academy Trust is a Schools North East Partner Trust. If you’d like to find out more about our Partner School membership, click here.
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