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The Wessex Schools Training Partnership (WSTP) is a provider of the Graduate Training Programme.  They are committed to providing high quality graduate teacher training in order to provide a source of high quality secondary school teachers in the Poole and Bournemouth area.

The WSTP offers an alternative to the traditional university based route for Initial Teacher Training (ITT) in secondary schools.  It offers ‘on the job’ training with a salary of £15817 plus employer pension contributions.  The training programme lasts for one year.  The programme is based on gaining practical teaching experience in the classroom.  This is underpinned by a wealth of support from experienced professionals who provide mentoring, seminars and tutorials to develop the skills needed to teach effectively.  This enables you to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) by the end of the programme.

We have been part of the Training Partnership from its outset in 2005 and have successfully trained  23 teachers  at our school through this paid route into teaching.

All these teachers gained first teaching posts in local schools. Two have gained positions as Heads of Department and various others have positions of responsibility in their schools.

This year at Poole Grammar we have four GTP trainees on main school placement in Mathematics, Biology, Geography and English.

We also supported trainees in History, Geography, RP and Mathematics on their initial placement during this round of training.

In addition to providing mentoring support for the trainees, PGS also contributes to the programme of Learning Seminars and Training Days that provide the trainees with the theoretical and practical expertise that enable them to gain QTS.

Extracts from the OFSTED report 2009

‘the outstanding quality of personal support for all trainees, particularly provided by advisory support tutors, which contributes to their good progress”