The Coventry SCITT curriculum is fully aligned with the Initial Teacher Training Early Career Framework (ITTECF) delivered through a blend of centre-based training, school placements, and academic study. Our programme is designed to ensure trainees gain the knowledge, skills, and professional understanding required to become high-quality teachers, ready to meet the Teachers’ Standards and succeed in their careers. Our curriculum content is grounded in current research. It develops trainees’ ability to reflect on these in relation to their own practice. This supports trainees to explore and construct their own personal philosophies underpinned by a good understanding of evidence and research alongside their own experiences in the classroom.
Training is carefully sequenced to build cumulative knowledge, with core themes interwoven across the course. Learning is underpinned by current research and evidence-based practice, with explicit subject- and phase-specific content. All facilitators—experienced teachers and school leaders—deliver training with a clear understanding of curriculum intent and its practical application in the classroom.
We place a strong focus on the development of subject expertise, including for pupils with SEND and EAL. Primary trainees also receive specific training in Phonics, Early Reading, and foundation subjects. Teaching pupils with SEND is integrated throughout the programme.
Subject knowledge sessions, led by subject specialists, ensure trainees gain depth in their subject or phase. In addition, all trainees benefit from targeted Intensive Training and Practice (ITAP) weeks in managing behaviour, modelling, adaptive teaching and questioning.
Course Structure
Trainees begin their year in their main placement school, attending the first INSET day and then completing a SCITT induction week. This includes safeguarding, Prevent, and core training, as well as opportunities to build peer and staff relationships.
Training is structured around weekly SCITT days (typically Fridays), held at the SCITT or a partnership schools, with sessions led by expert facilitators. Monday-Thursday is spent in school, applying learning directly in the classroom.
Trainees complete two contrasting placements:
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Main placement (majority of the year)
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Second placement (five-six weeks in Spring term) to broaden experience across settings, age ranges, and contexts
Additional experiences include:
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A SEND placement
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An EYFS/KS5 experience (phase specific)
These provide valuable exposure to diverse educational settings.
Progress is tracked through five progress review meetings across the year, each held in school with a SCITT team member. Academic elements include two PGCE modules: two written assignments, one presentation, and one portfolio. Bath Spa University is the awarding body for the PGCE element of the course.