Our partnership
Our partnerships with primary, secondary and early years schools form the foundation of our teacher training.
Training the next generation of teachers with our partnership schools
We pioneered the model of school-based teaching training more than 50 years ago. This approach to learning through practical teaching in the Sussex ITE Partnership continues to underpin our courses. It also prepares our trainees so they can meet the Teachers’ Standards.
In 1993, the Sussex Consortium of Teacher Education and Research was established. It has since overseen a partnership between the University of Sussex and more than 200 local primary, secondary and special schools in the South East. Together we work to select, train and assess generations of new teachers. The result of this long-established relationship is that our trainees receive excellent support, both from schools offering professional practice placements, and from the experienced teachers who act as mentors supporting our trainees and offering models of good practice.
We are committed to high quality, evidenced-based teacher education inspired by best classroom practice. Collectively we recognise, support and develop a generation of reflective practitioners who make a meaningful difference to the students in our schools.
Mission statement
Our work is driven by three key approaches that underpin our teacher training:
- reflective – critically reflecting on theory, policy and practice to positively impact on children’s lives, develop teacher identity,
and promote longevity in the profession - responsive – tailoring learning and experiences to individual needs in an ever-changing society, whilst enriching and supporting our schools through authentic partnership working and communities of practice
- research-driven – empowering teachers to be creative, confident and adaptive through research-driven curricula and practice.
Our policies
See the policies that inform our work in Initial Teacher Education (ITE):
- ITE POLICY 2024/25: Admissions Safeguarding Panel Process [PDF 104.64KB]
- ITE POLICY 2024/25: Balancing Workload and Lives [PDF 211.93KB]
- ITE POLICY 2024/25: Equality and Diversity [PDF 178.59KB]
- ITE POLICY 2024/25: Safeguarding [PDF 195.19KB]
- ITE POLICY 2024/25: Suitability for Professional Practice [PDF 174.04KB]
Our resources
Our Partnership extends to hundreds of Early Years providers, Primary and Secondary schools and Sixth Form colleges. Each course/phase has a wealth of resources to support Mentors and Professional Tutors with the successful delivery of placements. See below links to our Padlets for each course:
- Early Years ITE Partnership: Early Years Education MA with EYTS)
- Primary ITE Partnership: Primary PGCE plus Primary and Early Years Education BA
- Secondary ITE Partnership: Secondary PGCE subjects
In addition to Padlets, Primary and Secondary ITE courses have PebblePad resources which are shared directly with Mentors and Professional Tutors.
Contact
If you have any queries, email itepartnership@sussex.ac.uk.
If you would are a teaching provider and would like to join our Partnership, email Keith Perera, Deputy Head of ITE: k.perera@sussex.ac.uk.