School Experience
School-based professional learning is a compulsory element of all programmes leading to a recommendation for QTS through Bath Spa University. The course involves the statutory requirement of at least 120 days of school experience in the form of block school placements undertaken in at least two different contexts with an additional 20 days of ‘Intensive Training and Practice’ in line with the DfE 2024 ITT Criteria.
Our current partnership schools are mainly located in the West London area and adjoining Home Counties. We have developed close links with a number of very good schools over a number of years, and offer placements within carefully chosen schools that provide an appropriate professional learning experience. The ethnic and cultural diversity of the schools we work with is a distinctive aspect of our provision and we are equally proud of the diversity of our student teacher cohort, who reflect the communities in which many of them go on to work as teachers.
In addition to the two placement schools, we offer student teachers the opportunity to gain experience in an additional setting. Previously these have included EYFS, primary schools, secondary schools, special schools, Pupil Referral Units (PRUs), young offenders’ institutions. This further demonstrates our commitment to preparing teachers to work with young people in a diverse range of educational contexts.
You will be allocated a school-based mentor, selected for their experience and expertise, who will be there to help you develop and learn while you are on placement. Teaching is a very challenging profession and with the help of your school-based mentor and your University tutor we aim to make sure that you have support every step of the way, encouraging reflection and development.