THE Greater Manchester Bright Futures SCITT celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of trainee teachers on July 1.

Thirty trainee teachers threw their mortar boards in the air after successfully completing the 38 week initial teacher training programme and were recommended for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and PGCE.

QTS status will enable trainees to start their teaching career in September, with the vast majority of them having already accepted posts as Newly Qualified Teachers in primary and secondary schools which are part of the Alliance for Learning Teaching School.

Duncan Swainsbury, a secondary trainee “I would strongly recommend the GM Bright Futures SCITT to anyone considering teaching. The combination of hands on training in the classroom and focused support in the training room was the perfect way to prepare for my new teaching career”.

Secondary trainee, Eve Chancellor, added: “The professional mentors were amazing."

“The SCITT was a brilliant way to learn as you learn on the job from practising outstanding teachers and I found that far more useful than being sat in a lecture theatre. The support and advice has been fantastic.” echoed Emma Walton, one of our primary trainees.

Lynn Nicholls, headteacher at Sale High School, said: "We've really enjoyed working with the SCITT programme this year and have been so impressed with the calibre of trainees that we have offered three of them teaching posts at Sale High School for September.”

Kal Hodgson, SCITT director, said: “This is a great achievement for all the students graduating today. It has been a pleasure to be part of their teacher training experience and we feel proud that we are now sending out a group of truly inspirational, committed and talented teachers into our classrooms.” Hilary Langmead-Jones, SCITT Manager, added: “The students have done incredibly well showing great perseverance and resilience, juggling the many commitments of family life, work and the demands of our programme. Congratulations to them all.”