About Us

The Dorset Teacher Training Partnership (DTTP) was formed in 1999, due mainly to the need for localised training because of the considerable distance to the nearest University offering a route into teaching. The predominantly rural nature of Dorset also meant that newly qualified teachers needed to be prepared for a teaching environment where mixed age and mixed ability classes were the norm. This continues to be the case and the number of schools wishing to be involved with the Partnership has increased year on year.

The Partnership comprises approximately 30 local infant, first, primary and middle schools; other partners include The Thomas Hardye School, Dorset Local Authority and Kingston University. The Partnership is recognised as a SCITT; SCITT stands for School Centred Initial Teacher Training which means that school partners assume shared responsibility for the management of the course.

The DTTP course has been accredited by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) and complies with the Requirements for Initial Teacher Training and the Professional Standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Trainees who complete and pass this one year course achieve QTS and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE – with 60 credits towards a Masters degree) awarded by Kingston University.

As a previous SCITT trainee I know how beneficial the SCITT course is for future teachers, so I was very happy to do the full circle and become a SCITT mentor. It is great professional development and has made me a lot more reflective of my own teaching. I also enjoy the different and new ideas the trainees have given to lessons and new insight into teaching ideas. Nicola Ashby, SBT.

Headteachers recognise that their schools benefit from being involved in the initial teacher training. For example, as staff become involved in the training process they immediately engage in professional development. Also, the addition of motivated trainee teachers supports the enrichment of classroom activity enabling children to interact with a greater variety of professionals.

Since 1999 the DTTP has trained 192 teachers for the profession. Many of these teachers are currently employed in local schools and some continue to support the SCITT by acting as school based tutors for new trainees.

The DTTP works closely with other Initial Teaching Training (ITT) providers in the South and South West. This promotes collaboration between providers and helps to improve the quality of teacher training. Providers in the Dorset, Poole and Bournemouth area run some joint courses for trainees and school mentors. In July a combined Graduation Ceremony for the Dorset, Poole and Bournemouth trainees celebrates their success as embark on their new careers in the teaching profession.

Graduation 2007