Frequently asked questions

SCITT stands for School Centred Initial Teacher Training. It is a route to becoming a teacher that allows you to train in schools and is the perfect blend of hands-on school experience and academic learning.

SCITT training starts in school from day one, meaning you are exposed to outstanding teachers (and excitable children!) from the outset. Being constantly absorbed in a school environment means you can start building up the skills you need to become an incredible teacher before you start teaching your first lessons. But don’t worry, we ensure you have a perfect balance between study and hands-on experience and you will not be asked to teach a lesson before you are ready.

We are also a Research School, which means that all our practice is supported by the best available educational research that translates into great classroom-based practice. All our training practices are underpinned by educational research to ensure that you have access to and can effectively utilise the best available research in your classroom, so we know we are giving you the best possible experiences and development opportunities that aid your transition to teaching.

We offer primary (ages 5-11) and secondary (ages 11-16) teaching phases.

Our primary courses are:

• Primary

• Primary with maths

Our secondary school subjects are:

• Biology

• Chemistry

• Computer science

• Design and technology

• Drama

• English

• Geography

• History

• Maths

• Modern foreign languages

• Music

• PE

• Physics

• Religious education

Yes, though it varies by subject and phase. We recruit throughout the year but some courses fill up very quickly, such as history and primary, so if you are keen to apply then we would recommend that you get your application in early. However, we do consider applications right up to the end of the academic year (June/July), if we still have spaces available.

As part of our SCITT programme, in partnership with the National Institute of Teaching (NIoT), trainees will be awarded both Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) on successfully completing the course.

We do this as we believe it equips you with the reflective and professional expertise to make you the best possible classroom practitioner. In addition to receiving your PGCE, you will also earn 60 credits towards a Masters in Education if you choose to pursue this at a later date.

Core training sessions take place every Thursday from one of our training hubs. Our main training hub is located at Traynor House in Peterlee however from September 2025 we are launching our new training hub at Meadowdale Academy in Bedlington. This means trainees have two location options for their core training sessions with North East SCITT.

Training will start at your main placement school in September. Trainees will also complete a shorter 'contrasting placement' in January for six weeks before returning to their main placement schools for the remainder of the course.

With over 70 partner schools across the North East, placements are matched to trainees based on home location, subject/phase and availability.

No, this will be arranged by the North East SCITT team. We have a network of over 70 schools across the North East that we match to trainees based on subject/phase and location.

We also consider personal circumstances of trainees which can be discussed in more detail at the interview stage. Many trainees do not drive or have family commitments close that they need to consider - we will always match trainees to schools close to their home address whenever possible.

This is something we are happy to explore but please be aware we cannot always guarantee this option. Feel free to get in touch to chat with a member of the team.

Take a look at our funding information here.

Take a look at our month-by-month course breakdown here.

The course takes 11 months to complete and is full time.

You can find information on Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) here.

For the QTS qualification, your progress is mapped throughout the year at key formative assessment points with your SCITT tutor and your school mentor. This culminates in a final summative assessment at the end of the year.

All assessments are carried out in a supportive way and at points which correspond with your development opportunities.

There are three assignments for the PGCE qualification, two written assignments, and one online presentation towards the end of the course.

Every trainee is allocated a SCITT tutor, based on your subject and phase. Your tutor will support you both academically and pastorally throughout the year.

Our support begins even before you apply where we set aside time to discuss your options and your application with you. You’ll have one-to-one pastoral catch ups throughout your training as well as several wellbeing events through the year.

Support doesn’t end when you leave the course either – we pride ourself on being there for you when you become a new teacher through regular contact – our door is always open!

We support and guide all our trainees in applying for teaching positions. We help with personal statements when writing an application, provide mock interviews, and help you to prepare fully for the interview day itself .

Teaching interviews can be very different to those for other industries, so we take the time to make sure you’re prepared.

All trainees must be educated to degree level. If your degree is not relevant to the subject you would like to teach, but you have an A level graded B or above, you may still be eligible to train in that subject.

We consider qualifications and professional experience on an individual basis and we are happy to talk with you about your personal circumstances.

Every trainee is different and we like to give you the best chance of success with your application. Feel free to give us a call to discuss your circumstances on 0191 518 0222.