‘Exceptional’ teaching training wins praise from Ofsted

A Newcastle-based teacher-training provision has been graded as ‘exceptional’ or ‘strong standard’ across all criteria in its recent Ofsted Report, and at both primary and secondary levels.

Inspectors of Sacred Heart Newcastle School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) partnership in Fenham found ‘Inclusion’ and ‘Professional Behaviours, Personal Development and Wellbeing’ to be ‘exceptional’, while all other aspects were judged to be of a ‘strong standard’.

Sacred Heart was among the first cohort of providers to be assessed using the new criteria and grading system, making the achievement all the more impressive.

“Leaders offer notably high levels of support and care to its trainees,” stated the Report. “This facilitates a culture in which trainees are completely at ease to disclose additional needs and barriers, meaning they receive timely and highly effective support that enables them to thrive.

“Robust systems exist through which additional needs and barriers are swiftly identified. This enables leaders to put highly effective support in place, which often has a transformational impact on trainees’ ability to complete the programme successfully.”

It continued: “Trainees receive highly effective support to develop, and be able to reflect on, their own professional identity. They demonstrate a very strong commitment to learning, actively seeking opportunities that will help them to shape and develop their practice.”

Sacred Heart SCITT is the largest school-based Initial Teacher Training partnership in the North East, with more than 50 partner schools spanning six local authorities, from Northumberland to Durham.

The Ofsted inspectors recognised the strength and scope of the ‘ambitious’ curriculum which is “informed by high-quality research” and sequenced to have “maximum impact on trainees’ classroom practice”.

“There is a very purposeful integration between centre-based training, intensive training and practice (ITAP) and trainees’ school experience,” they noted. “This careful approach leads to trainees developing a deep and thorough understanding of behaviour management.”

There was also praise for the provision leaders, who were described as having “a clear and ambitious vision that has pupils at its heart”.

“The provider’s distinctive approach to recruitment means that trainees are recruited to the teaching profession rather than simply a training programme,” added the Report. “There is an unwavering commitment to ensuring that only the very best candidates should be in the classroom.”

Sacred Heart SCITT Director Louisa Connolly was delighted with the results.

“We are incredibly proud that our recent Ofsted inspection has recognised the high quality of our SCITT and the dedication that underpins everything we do,” she said. “This achievement reflects the collective commitment of our trainees, mentors, school leaders, staff, and partner schools, all of whom play a vital role in creating an exceptional training experience.

“We know that great teachers change lives, and there is no greater responsibility than preparing the next generation of teachers for the children and young people in our region. By equipping new teachers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to inspire young people, we are helping to ensure that children and communities across our area benefit from the very best education for years to come.”

Applications to start teacher training in September 2027 will be open from mid October. For more information, please visit: Sacred Heart Newcastle SCITT | Teacher Training | Sacred Heart Newcastle SCITT, Fenham, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 9YH, UK