Teacher Training

Torfield and Saxon Mount Academy Trust works in partnership with the University of Brighton to offer teacher training opportunities. This is a Schools Connect partnership and we work with the University and our partner special schools to offer a range of PGCE programmes to train new teachers. Our programmes offer trainee teachers opportunities to complete school based teaching practices in both mainstream and special school settings. This approach provides an interesting and attractive experience that could broaden a successful candidates future employment opportunities; we know that teachers with SEND experience are attractive to both mainstream schools and special schools and our routes provide such experience. These programmes typically offer two teaching practices within a special school. A third teaching practice takes place within an appropriate contrasting mainstream setting. The PGCE qualification means that successful candidates are qualified to teach their subjects or specialism within mainstream or special schools.

Our Schools Connect partnership offers placements at Torfield School in Hastings, Saxon Mount School in St Leonards on Sea and St Mary's School and 6th Form College in Bexhill. We hope to include other special schools who we work closely with into the partnership soon. All of our programmes are taught – This means the school provides the school based experience and support, and the University provides the taught element of the programme. The current programmes that we are recruiting to for are shown below. All applications must be made through UCAS. The Get Into Teaching website and candidates may be invited to interview at both the school they are applying to and the University of Brighton as part of the selection process:

• Torfield School and St Mary's School offer Primary PGCE
• Saxon Mount School and St Mary's School offers Secondary English, Secondary Maths and Secondary Biology PGCE

Torfield is a 4-11 special academy in Hastings. We are federated with Saxon Mount School in nearby St Leonards. This is an 11-16 special academy. Both schools are successful. In their most recent inspections, Torfield was judged 'Outstanding' (Ofsted, March 2023) and Saxon Mount was judged ‘Good’ with Outstanding features (Ofsted November 2017). More detailed information about our organisation can be found at our website: www.torfield-saxonmount.com. 

In October 2021, the way to apply for postgraduate teacher training in England is changing. You will now use Apply for teacher training, a new GOV.UK service.

Apply for teacher training is easy to use and gives clear guidance to help potential teachers make strong applications.

To learn more about the new service and to get help with your application, visit Get into Teaching.

For further information please use the links below:

University of Brighton Department for EducationUCASGet Into Teaching