As we near the end of another successful academic year, there is plenty to celebrate at GORSE SCITT. Our Lead Mentors have now completed their final round of observations, and our trainees are well on their way to achieving Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

June also marked the conclusion of our central training programme. We were delighted to finish with an inspiring session from the Virtual Schools team, who shared valuable insights into their work supporting children looked after (CLA). Alongside this, trainees attended their final subject sessions and have now moved into school full time as they complete the final stage of their training.

A key highlight of the month was our Professional Mentor Conference, where Professional Mentors from across our partnership came together to explore the latest developments in Initial Teacher Training (ITT), share best practice, and discuss how we can continue to provide exceptional support for trainees. The role of the Professional Mentor is central to the success of our programme, and we are incredibly proud of the high-quality guidance and encouragement our trainees receive throughout their placements.

Recent trainee feedback perfectly captures the impact of this support:

‘I cannot thank my mentor enough for all of the support, guidance, and encouragement she has given me throughout this year. She has always been there when I needed advice, reassurance, or simply someone to talk things through with.

Most importantly, she believed in me during the times when I struggled to believe in myself, and her confidence in me has played a huge part in helping me grow into the teacher I am today. I am incredibly grateful for everything she has done for me and the impact she has had on both my professional development and personal confidence.

I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor.’

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our mentors and Professional Mentors and mentors for their dedication, expertise and unwavering support throughout the year. Their commitment has made a lasting difference to our trainees’ development.

We look forward to sharing one final update next month as we celebrate the successful completion of another fantastic year at GORSE SCITT.