Ark Teacher Trainee - STEM

Discover the joys of teaching and get rewarded while you train, with new STEM cash incentives available for 2024!

Who are we?

Ark Teacher Training is an ‘Outstanding’ teacher training programme offering the perfect mixture of theory and classroom practice to develop you into the best teacher you can be. We believe that every child, regardless of their background, deserves to have access to a great education, which is why we work mainly in areas of low income with a history of academic underachievement.

Most of our trainees, particularly recent graduates, are put on the School Direct (SD) Bursary/Non-Salaried route. The amount range depending on the subject you wish to teach.

How is the programme structured?

You’ll be based in a school of your choice from day one, spending the whole academic year watching your students progress. At the end of your training year, you’ll have achieved the following:

• QTS (Qualified Teacher Status)
• PGCE (postgraduate certificate in education) in your chosen teaching subject

After successfully completing your training year you can progress onto our highly supportive, tailored ECT (early career teacher) programme. We will help you secure an ECT role at your school or at another one in the Ark network and guide you through your first few years of teaching.

What support is available to me during the programme?

“99% of trainees feel their wellbeing is well supported by the Ark Teacher Training team.”

We are committed to providing high-quality professional learning for our teachers. On our teacher training programme, you will benefit from:

• Your own Ark Teacher Training tutor.
• Continuous support throughout your training year and beyond, including an in-school coach and weekly training sessions.
• Being able to practice teaching strategies before entering the classroom.
• A curriculum based on leading educational research and a unique focus on subject curriculum.
• A supportive network of tutors, other teachers, and trainees past and present.

Key requirements:

To join any Initial Teacher Training Programme in the UK, candidates must satisfy the below criteria as set out by the Department for Education (DfE). You must:

• Have a minimum grade C/4 in Maths and English GCSE or equivalent (and a Science subject if you are applying to teach Primary). If you hold high school grades from a country outside of the UK, please ensure your grades in maths, English (and science if teaching primary) meet our overseas eligibility criteria before applying.
• Hold (or will hold by September 2024) an Undergraduate Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent).
• Have the right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the programme (until August 2025)
• Not currently hold Qualified Teacher Status.
• A degree or A level in a related subject 
• Evidence of a commitment to working with young people
• Experience of overcoming challenges successfully 
• Ability to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct
• An aptitude for teaching

Candidates who do not currently hold a minimum of grade C or 4 at GCSE level can complete a GCSE equivalency test through www.astarequivalency.co.uk or www.equivalencytesting.com. We can accept a pass in these tests as meeting the GCSE requirement. 

Diversity and Inclusion 

At Ark Teacher Training, we have a particular responsibility to advocate for diversity and inclusion in teacher training to make a positive difference to the lives of our pupils. We believe that inclusivity and the representation of people, circumstances, identities, cultures and ethnicities from all sections of society make us stronger as individuals and as an organisation. 

We are committed to attracting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce, with a broad range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We have therefore taken steps to address our own internal bias and consider how our recruitment practices are impacting diversity. We welcome any candidate requests for reasonable adjustments to the selection process in order to ensure equal access to all candidates.  

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in our academies. To meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding the welfare of children, and this will be tested at interview. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. 

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