Subjects on Offer

We are looking for excellent graduates who are committed to making a difference to the lives of young people.

We usually have teacher training places available in the following subjects for applications:

• General Primary Teaching
• General Primary with InclusIon /SEND
• Art and Design
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computing
• Design and Technology
• D&T
• English
• Geography
• History
• Maths
• Modern Foreign Languages (Spanish and French)
• Music
• Physics
• Physical Education (course full)
• Religious Education

We asked some of our trainees what they thought about their chosen course and what they did to prepare for the training year:

“I love the course I’m doing. The training in the Tame River school has been fantastic and I have been supported throughout.  The PfL days at the University of Cumbria have been invaluable, giving me the confidence to undertake required practicals and the General Education Study days have been very informative linking theory with practice.  I am delighted with the balance between external training, Teacher Gold Standard training with my colleagues in school and the Initial Teacher Training as a SD trainee.

I undertook a SKE course in my subject as it had been so long since I had completed my degree.  I also spent time reading BBC Bitesize and doing lots of quizzes/tests online in physics and chemistry. Whilst working in school prior to starting my course, I observed teachers and their delivery, organisation of classes and how they dealt with behaviour.”

Lorraine – Science – trainee

“As an English trainee in a Tame River School, there is a breadth of material you need to engage with and the University does a great job of exposing you to this. As well as that, the opportunity to plan hypothetically schemes of work collaboratively with other trainees at PFL days means you’re able to critically think about how a curriculum should be taught – an invaluable experience.

The PFL days also provide you with the opportunity to critically discuss the length and breadth of the curriculum as well as giving you an opportuinty for you to strengthen your subject knowledge.  The English faculty is very strong, indeed, and hugely supportive.

To prepare for the training year I completed a Subject Knowledge Enhancement course.  This was extremely helpful and involved me beginning to understand the reflective practice needed for teaching. I also spent time working in a school as a TA which gave me some preparation for the reality of school life, providing an chance to immerse myself in the wider school environment e.g extra curricular clubs and duties –  a repsonsibility you will undertake in your own teaching career.”

Hania – English – trainee

“I love it. After 12 years of working a 9-5 office-job I am so glad I decided to train to teach. The school direct option was absolutely the best decision for me as the balance between teaching time and learning time is perfect and I have landed so fortunate in training across two Tame River Educational Trust schools. Getting to spend the majority of my time on the job in such a school provides the experience I need as well as a real taste of life as a teacher. Also, the GES and PFL days, whilst providing plenty of insight into the pedagogy and different aspects of teaching, also provide a welcome change-of-pace at the end of the week and an opportunity to catch-up with the other trainees.  The link between the Trust’s Teaching and Curriculum Institute and the Everyone Learning Alliance makes for very joined-up training and learning.

I completed a 20-week SKE course to bring my maths knowledge back up to an acceptable standard which has proven to be beneficial when teaching.”

Nathan – Maths – trainee

“I am very, very happy with the course, in terms of the support and learning provided on placement and with the content delivered on GES and PfL days.

I worked in a school for a year before my training year. Of course, it doesn’t necessarily have to be for that long but getting experience in a school environment really prepares you for your training year. As my subject is PE, I also worked over the summer at tennis camp which helps develop important skills that are useful during the training year.  Both Tame River schools’ PE departments sit in the Performing Arts and Sports Faculties which really allows for a great team dynamic in strong curriculum areas.”

Helen – PE – trainee

Over the last few years, many of our trainees are working in a Tame River or Tame River Partner school.