Our secondary School Direct route is led by Tavistock College, in partnership with Plymouth Marjon University. In addition to the other secondary schools within our Trust, we work in partnership with a number of other secondary schools within Devon and the wider area.
For 2023–24 we will be offering 13 secondary subjects:
The Devon and Cornwall Cooperative Alliance (DACCA) is part of the Dartmoor Teacher Training Partnership, run by the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust. Working in collaboration with Plymouth Marjon University, we have many years of experience of offering a high-quality secondary education training route in a wide range of subjects. With our route you can train while you teach to earn your PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Our programme is aimed at nurturing the teachers of tomorrow and the leaders of the future.
‘It’s been a great year and I have felt fully supported throughout. It has been clear that my progress has been the focus of the training providers. Thank you.’
You are based in your main placement school from the first day in September. You are treated like a full member of staff and with that comes the same expectations of professional standards and behaviour. Your main placement lasts for the whole of the autumn term and the summer term. During the spring term a minimum of 6 weeks will be spent at a second, complementary placement school.
Over the course of the training year you will be given the maximum exposure possible to teaching across different year groups, key stages and topics within your subject. Opportunities to look at whole school provision in areas such as special educational needs and/or disability (SEND) and provision for disadvantaged students will also be encouraged.
During the academic year there are regular University days for the taught PGCE element, subject knowledge days and a range of conferences on topics including behaviour management and diversity issues.
Excellent support for trainees within placements is of paramount importance and we are proud of the support we offer to our trainees. Our schools, and their staff, are passionate about supporting the teachers of tomorrow and value the opportunity to be part of each trainee’s journey.
During both the main and alternative placements, you will be allocated an experienced teacher, who, as a designated mentor, will lead your training within the classroom and subject department. You will work alongside this teacher to plan, deliver and assess teaching and learning as well as gain experience in all aspects of secondary teaching.
In addition, Plymouth Marjon University allocate you a tutor. The tutor visits you in school during the year and provides support for the taught PGCE element.
Tavistock College is the lead school in the partnership and co-ordinates the recruitment process. This will usually involve an interview day spent at Tavistock College which includes the formal interview, a student panel exercise and the opportunity to talk to staff and pupils.
Our university partner, Plymouth Marjon University, will be involved throughout the day. If the placement is at another school in the partnership, staff from that school may also be involved. It is a rigorous and thorough process, designed to get the best match of applicant to the places available within our Trust schools.
Entry to the course is conditional on:
Our secondary teacher training brochure can be downloaded here:
Our partners at Plymouth Marjon University have published an extensive guide called How to Get into Teaching, it is an excellent resource to help potential trainees secure their place and prepare for life as a trainee teacher. The guide covers everything from choosing a route into teaching, to teacher training personal statements, interviews, applying for your first teaching job, understanding the Early Career Framework and much more. It includes a downloadable teacher training survival guide, written for trainees by trainees.
