How to Apply

The Compton SCITT Partnership will be recruiting from early October for Initial Teacher Training (ITT) places starting in September 2025, with our application cycle running until late June 2025. Applicants can search for available places on the Department for Education website.  All applications need to be completed through Apply for Teacher Training.

What We Offer

We offer School Direct Non-Salaried courses in the Secondary phase (11-16) where you can choose your placement school. On DFE Apply please select The Compton School course.

We also offer a School Centred Training Route (‘SCITT’) in the Secondary phase (11-16) where we will discuss the placement school if you are invited to the interview process. On DFE Apply please select Compton SCITT course. 

Please see the link here for a detailed explanation of the difference between these routes.

Preparing For the Application 

Certificates:

You will submit your GCSE and A level grades (or equivalent) on your application and certificates will be requested at interview, therefore it would be worth having these ready.

For your degree (or equivalent), you will enter the classification (or potential result) and will need the original document if called to interview. You may also need the modules you completed, or are in the process of completing, that make up your final grade if your degree does not directly match your chosen subject to teach. 

Personal Statement: 

Personal statements are a crucial part of your application as they are your opportunity to show your enthusiasm for teaching a particular subject. 

Section 1 is on why you want to teach and can be up to 600 words. Talk about why you think you would make a great teacher. You could include:

• the personal qualities that will make you a good teacher and what has motivated you to consider teaching 

• your understanding of the demands and rewards of teaching

• your contribution to the life of a school outside the classroom such as running extra-curricular activities and clubs

• details of any paid or unpaid work experience you have working with young people and what you learnt

Section 2 is on why you are suited to teach your subjects or age group and can be up to 400 words. Describe your knowledge of the subjects you’ve chosen. You could include:

• any relevant work or unpaid experience

• your degree and degree modules or other relevant qualifications, such as A levels

• any relevant skills, interests or achievements

• your understanding of the national curriculum

• If you’re concerned about your subject knowledge, please contact us as ‘subject knowledge enhancement’ courses are available in some subjects. 

Your Referees: 

You need two references before you can submit your application. Get in touch with your chosen referees as soon as you can to ask if they’re happy to write you a reference.

Your references for teacher training need to be from named individuals rather than (for example) a human resources team or academic department. They’ll confirm how they know you and if they know any reason why you should not work with children.

If you’re still at university or got your degree in the last 5 years, one reference must be from someone at your university who can comment on your academic ability and potential. If you already work in a school, you’ll need a reference from your headteacher

You should not ask a family member, partner, or friend for a reference.

If you receive an offer:

Before you start your training, we will check whether you’re safe to work with children through an enhanced DBS check.

If you’re missing certain qualifications, we may ask you to do an equivalence test or take a ‘subject knowledge enhancement’ course.