Although students who have the support from their institution definitely find the programme easier, it is not strictly necessary. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, some have already taught for more than a decade, and might even hold senior positions in their educational contexts. Others are just starting out. We are conscious that this means our students have different needs. We have a school experience handbook, which suggests a number of lesson observations and teaching tasks, and these can be used to build a professional support-network within the school, enabling you to focus discussions and support in areas you need to improve in. Online discussions will be available to those students who use the handbook, to share experiences, and gain support from university, but the content of this handbook is not assessed - it is an additional support mechanism to help especially those early on in their careers to identify and address professional development.
Do I need to find a mentor in my school?