Subject Specialism Programme (SSP)
The Subject Specialism Programme (SSP) is subject focussed element of course. It has been designed by our subject specialists. This programme is made up of fifteen intensive days spread over the course. Ten out of the fifteen days are in the first term to give the trainees a greater subject input at the beginning of the course.
Subject Specialism sessions ensure that you have the required subject knowledge for teaching by taking the information outlined in the General Professional Studies sessions e.g. lesson planning, assessment, personalisation and relating this to your subject.
There are three assignments and at least five subject specialist tasks.
Our Applied Science course has been developed by a Science Advanced Skills Teacher. In addition to the subject specialism training outlined above. The training specifically involves:
- Training at King James 1st Community College and Teesdale School
- Observing Science teachers
- A day with the Institute of Physics
- A day working on misconceptions in Science
- A visit to a factory
- A day at the Science Learning Centre in Durham
- Teaching in the Health Tec (simulated hospital environment)
Applied ICT course is jointly run by a specialist from the Local Authority and an Advanced skills teacher. The training specifically involves:
- Training at St John's RC School
- Stop-frame animation
- Adobe suite
- Visit to Glass Factory, Sunderland
Applied Art and Design is run by a Head of Department from one our local Partner Schools.The training specifically involves:
- Training at Bishop Barrington School, Bishop Auckland
- Working with Primary schools on an Art and Design project
- Working with art specialists on different skills
- Excellent opportunties with our Partnership Schools e.g. trips to Barcelona and London
- Teaching in a light manufacturing environment
Leisure and Tourism is currently run by a Local Authority Specialist and an Assistant Headteacher from Parkside Community Sports College. The training specifically involves:
- Training at The Work Place and Parkside School
- Opportunity to visit local tourist facilities e.g. Beamish, Newcastle's Sage, Baltic and Hancock Museum
- Organising a trip for a group of students
- Lesson observations of specialist practitioners
Health and Social Care has been developed by a Local Authority specialist and a teacher from Sunnydale School, Shildon. The training specifically involves:
- Training at The Work Place
- Opportunity to visit local resource facilities
- Organising a trip to the Health tec for a group of students
- A visit to Teesside University
- Specific ICT software for Health and Social Care
- Training at The Work Place and Durham Johnston School
- Visit to a Primary School
- A visit to Beamish to organise a Mathematics trail
- A visit to Durham Cricket Club to investigate opportunities for Mathematics
If you are interested in training to teach Mathematics, check out our Mathematics Incentive Package on the FUNDING page
SUBJECT KNOWLEDGE for TEACHING (SKfT)
As part of the training, all trainees audit their subject knowledge prior to the start of the course. Any significant gaps in knowledge and understanding may need to be addressed prior to the start of the course. We recommend that all trainees become familiar with a range of specifications for their subject prior to the start of the course and the National Curriculum in their main subject or a related subject. Some of the Examination Boards used by County Durham schools are:
AQA: www.aqa.org.uk
Edexcel: www.edexcel.org.uk
Contained within the specifications is the subject content that the trainees will be expected to deliver and a list of resources that could be used.
