A GROUP of primary schools across North Yorkshire and County Durham is looking for new recruits for its teacher training programme.

The Swaledale Alliance, an amalgam of 60 primary schools, is offering an Initial Teacher Training School Direct programme.

Every year the teaching school alliance trains around 15 new teachers via a School Direct programme in partnership with outstanding provider Barnard Castle-based High Force Education.

Initial teacher training is a major focus of the work of the Swaledale Alliance which also offers school to school support, the sharing of expertise and continual professional and leadership development.

Under the School Direct Programme trainee teachers spend a day learning theory with High Force Education and the rest of the week in the classroom at one of the alliance’s primary schools.

With more than 60 per cent of the programme involving practical application in the classroom, training is led by primary leading teachers, specialist leaders in education and recognised outstanding practitioners.

The recruitment drive is aimed at graduates or people seeking a career change. The course consists of 40 weeks of full-time, intensive training, from September to July, providing candidates with full Qualified Teacher Status PGCE qualification accredited by Northumbria University.

Applications are made via UCAS course code IFG-Portal in early October https://www.ucas.com/ucas/teacher-training.

Anyone interested can visit www.swaledalealliance.org or contact 01748-828126.