Initial Teacher Education placement providers

The calendar for the 2024-25 academic year will be published soon.

In the meantime, please contact the Placements team via email at placements@yorksj.ac.uk for specific information.

The information booklet for the 2024-25 academic year will be published soon.

In the meantime, please contact the Placements team via email at placements@yorksj.ac.uk for specific information.

The placement agreement will be sent out to be signed before the commencement of any student placements. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of York St John University, student teachers and schools.

The Placement Agreement is being reviewed in line with the Reaccredited Programme.

In the meantime, please contact the Placements team for specific information at placements@yorksj.ac.uk.

All applicants for Initial Teacher Education courses (both undergraduate and postgraduate/PGCE) are subject to the following checks at admissions stage, which are completed by the Admissions team:

Prior to interview invite 

• Qualification check based on application form evidence: GCSEs, A levels and degree where applicable.
• Review of application form: personal statement and reference check (reference check for undergraduate only at this stage).

At interview

• Safeguarding form sent out prior to interview and if content declared, this is discussed at interview. Questions cover the following:
  • Overseas living or travel: police statement of good conduct will be requested if response is yes.
  • Gaps in employment history and education.
  • Any unspent convictions: confidential criminal conviction process will be followed.
  • Any adult cautions/spent convictions not protected: confidential process followed if appropriate.
  • Previously started and left a course for safeguarding reasons.
  • Previously started and left an ITE course for any reason.
• Certificate/qualification check.
• ID and evidence check for DBS.
• Passport check for Right to Work.

Following interview

• Proof of any missing qualification(s) or equivalency tests to be taken will be an offer condition.
• Reference check for PGCE only, following conditional offer.
• DBS enhanced check (includes Children's Barred List check).
• Overseas Statement of Good Conduct, where applicable.
• Medical Fitness to Train to Teach questionnaire.
• Right to work in UK check.
• Checks of all DFE prohibited teachers lists, including GTC, QTS and Section 128.

At enrolment

• Childcare disqualification check. Please note that this is completed by the Registry team, rather than Admissions.

Before the start of their course, all Initial Teacher Education students will have an enhanced DBS check carried out as part of our admissions checks. They will also require verification of identity, address and qualifications.

The following checks are completed by our Admissions team:

• Prohibition from Teaching
• The Children's Barred List
• Medical check
• Overseas checks (where relevant)
• General Teaching Council Sanctions
• Section 128 Barring
• Disqualification Declaration Form
• Right to Work Check

You will be sent a safeguarding confirmation letter for each student that you host on placement with us. 

We advise all students that it is best practice to carry their paper DBS certificates and photo ID with them when attending placement, to be able to provide these to schools upon request.

In 2022 the Department for Education published a market review of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) across England both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. This produced a suite of recommendations which would help transform the sector and increase standards. Many of these recommendations were accepted or amended and turned into policy. These included changes in requirements for mentor training and development for colleagues supporting ITE student teachers on placements, as well as the introduction of ITAP (Intensive Training and Practice) placements.

Gov.uk - Offer a trainee teacher placement

All staff wishing to mentor students during their placements, from September 2024, will need to undertake 20 hours of training.

This training will be provided free of charge by York St John and our Mentor Development team. York St John mentor training includes an in-person training day, which will be a great experience and opportunity to connect with other mentors and will count towards your 20 hour requirement. The rest of the hours will be completed using our online training platform Pebblepad.

Dates

We have in person training events throughout the year, so when you decide to partner with us you will be able to book on to the next available date. Please email the Placements team at placements@yorksj.ac.uk to ensure your contact details are up to date, so we can send you information regarding the next available mentor training.

Pebblepad

Pebblepad may be familiar, as it is also used for our student workbooks. Information and training on Pebblepad will be provided to all trainees and mentors.

Intensive Training and Practice Placements (ITAPs)

Some will be included within the placement block and some as standalone placements. Please contact the Placements team via email at placements@yorksj.ac.uk for more specific information.