A PROGRAMME that helps train teachers in Swindon and Wiltshire has been showered with praise and rated outstanding in its first ever Ofsted inspection.

The North Wiltshire School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) is in its third year of operation as a provider for initial teacher training.

As part of the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust, the SCITT works in partnership with Bath Spa University to enable trainees to gain a post graduate certificate in education working at 26 primary schools, 22 secondary schools and eight special schools across the county and further beyond.

Ofsted inspected the SCITT from June to November by visiting trainee teachers, newly qualified teachers and mentors and in all areas, such as overall effectiveness, outcomes for trainees, quality of training and leadership, the SCITT was outstanding.

George Croxford, Headteacher of RWBA and CEO of the Trust said,” This is a fabulous achievement for not only those involved in the inspection process but absolutely everyone linked to the SCITT from trainees to Headteachers of our partnership schools.

“The highest praise of all must go to the central team superbly led by SCITT Programme Manager Rhian Davies and administered by Kate Hopkins and Rhiannon Hayden with subject and phase leads, local experts, mentors and professional tutors all playing vital roles in the development of our outstanding new teachers.”

In their report, Ofsted said: “The overall effectiveness of the North Wiltshire SCITT is outstanding. Over the short time that the SCITT has been operating, leaders, trainers, mentors and partnership schools have shown great determination, ambition and vision in the creation of a training course that is of exceptional quality.

“Both primary and secondary trainees and NQTs demonstrate excellent practice in the majority of the standards for teaching. The standards of their personal and professional conduct are exemplary.

“The training programme is exceptionally well planned and enables both primary and secondary trainees to teach effectively with confidence and accuracy. As one NQT summarised, the training ‘has given me all the tools I need to teach’.

“The partnership demonstrates outstanding capacity to make further improvement. Open, honest and accurate self-evaluation underpins everything that the partnership does.”

The SCITT was also praised for producing teachers that are “fully aware of the need to raise the achievement of the most disadvantaged in their local region”.

Mr Croxford added: “Ofsted finished by saying that these judgements were very clear, they were in bold and there was no doubt. This is a wonderful commendation for our individual teachers, trainers and SCITT employees. It is fabulous recognition for every school, our cluster, our teaching Alliance and the wider partnership that is the SCITT. As accounting officer and Chair of the Management Board it is an absolute privilege to be part of the SCITT and to help to train people to join the best profession in the world. Thank you Rhi, Kate, Rhiannon and Team SCITT.”

Programme manager Rhian Davies said: “The inspection period began in June and finally ended on November 22. Huge praise needs to go to our trainees, NQTs and mentors who were under enormous pressure and produced outstanding results.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the outcome and delighted that Ofsted recognised that we live up to our vision.”