Postgraduate school-based routes into teaching
Train with Aquila – Become a Teacher Who Makes a Difference
Do you want a career that shapes lives, strengthens communities and makes a lasting difference for children? Training to teach with Aquila offers the opportunity to begin your teaching journey within a supportive, values-led trust of primary schools, where people are nurtured, potential is recognised and excellence is grown.
Why train with Aquila?
At Aquila, we believe that great teachers are developed through strong relationships, high expectations and a shared commitment to children’s learning and wellbeing. When you train with us, you will:
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learn in real classrooms, working alongside experienced and committed teachers
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be supported and mentored by staff who are invested in your development
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train within a trust that values collaboration, inclusion and professional growth
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feel part of a wider community, united by a shared moral purpose
We are proud to support trainees not just to qualify, but to grow into reflective, confident and resilient teachers.
Your training journey
Training to teach with Aquila combines practical, school-based experience with high-quality professional learning. All routes lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), enabling you to teach in state-maintained schools in England and Wales. Depending on the route, you may also complete an academic qualification such as a PGCE or PGDE, supporting your development as a reflective and confident professional.
Teaching across the primary phase
Aquila is a trust of primary schools, educating children across:
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Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS): ages 0–5
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Key Stage 1: ages 5–7
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Key Stage 2: ages 7–11
Primary teacher training spans two key stages. Throughout your training, you will gain experience across the primary age range, helping you build strong foundations and discover where your strengths and passions lie.
Preparing to apply
We encourage anyone considering teaching to spend time in schools before applying. Observing lessons, volunteering or gaining classroom experience provides valuable insight into the profession and helps you make an informed decision. Our schools welcome prospective trainees who are curious, reflective and eager to learn.
If you would like to explore training with Aquila or arrange a school experience, please contact us for further information.
Applying for teacher training
Applications for postgraduate teacher training in England are made through the Apply for teacher training service on GOV.UK:
https://www.apply-for-teacher-training.service.gov.uk/
For guidance on routes into teaching and application support, visit Get Into Teaching:
https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/
Aquila Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Offer
Aquila, The Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust, is offering training places for trainees keen to become outstanding primary teachers who can inspire and motivate children with a joy of learning. We will offer bespoke training in a lead school which is graded Good or Outstanding, supported by a mentor within the school and an experienced university tutor. You will build relationships with staff and pupils from day 1, gradually building your teaching commitment until you are ready to lead the class for the majority of the week, giving you excellent preparation for your nest step as an early career teacher.
The training is a mix of practical experience in school, including observations of and by key staff and supported academic study. You will be able to select the level of qualification which is accredited by Canterbury Christ Church University. Every successful trainee will be awarded Qualified Teacher Status but you might also opt to complete more academy study and achieve a Post Graduate Certificate in Education or Masters level credits.
We are working with CCCU to devise effective training because we recognise within our Trust, and in education in general, an issue with appointing sufficient high quality newly qualified teachers. As a MAT, we want to train excellent practitioners for all our schools and provide a clear understanding of what is distinctive and different about working in a church school in a multi-faith environment. We want to retain the best trainees from each cohort and offer a clear pathway of training and support from the first steps into the classroom through to executive leadership.
Within the training, you will specialise in early years, key stage 1 or key stage 2 and pick a curriculum subject which particularly interests you to study in more depth. However, all trainees will have the opportunity to observe and teach in a contrasting key stage so you have a good understanding of the learning before and /or after your chosen year group. You will also teach every subject in the primary curriculum. Subject specialist training days are available at CCCU to develop your interests or to develop areas of weakness.
By clicking through the Aquila website you can see some information about each of our schools and the links to their websites will tell you more. However, there is no guarantee that a particular school will be offering training places, or if they are, that they are not already well advanced in the recruitment process. Should you wish to train in a particular school, please contact them directly before making your application.
If you stay within Aquila, as an early career teacher you will be well supported and have regular focussed meetings with a mentor in school. You will access the training for early career teachers and the additional Aquila training sessions developed from our very successful NQT training. Although you won't be expected to take on leadership of a subject the skills and interests you developed in training will be useful. As you progress in your career, you will take on subject leadership, supported by the Aquila subject leadership networks. There are training opportunities to enhance your leadership skills from middle leadership to senior leadership including nationally recognised qualifications.
Postgraduate school-based routes into teaching (tuition fee)
As the name suggests, the postgraduate school-based routes into teaching (tuition fee) route of study is unpaid; trainees are a CCCU student for the year. They will carry out the qualifications and safeguarding checks. This is a very popular training programme for those students who prefer to spend their postgraduate training year in a school, rather than in the university. Aquila recognises the commitment involved in this training route and always try to offer a full-time teaching position in one of our schools after the training year.
We work closely with Canterbury Christ Church University who certify successful trainees. We also offer bespoke additional training and well-being sessions so you will develop a supportive network of peers in other Aquila schools. You are able to opt for Qualified Teacher Status only through this route but can also add additional study to achieve a PGCE and Masters level credits.
- Although your training is based in a school, they’re not your employers, and in many ways, your training will be similar to training programmes in universities and colleges.
- You’ll pay fees but you might be eligible for funding through tuition fee loans, training bursaries, or scholarships. Details of finance and funding can be accessed through CCCU.
Fundamental English and Mathematics Skills
How should ITT providers assure fundamental English and mathematics skills?
Since September, we have continued to work with MillionPlus, UCET, NASBTT, Teaching Schools Council and ITT providers. We have mapped their current recruitment and course content against the required fundamental skills.
The vast majority of ITT providers are covering the fundamental skills already. Providers do not need to cover a topic at interview if candidates already demonstrate the required skills or will be able to develop this skill during the course. There is no expectation to introduce tests or assessments.
Some ITT providers have very innovative approaches to assessing and developing candidates and trainees. These ideas are being shared by providers and representative bodies.
https://www.ucet.ac.uk/11286/fundamental-english-mathematics-proficiencies-faqs
If you have any feedback or ideas, please contact us at: Skills.TESTS@education.gov.uk
How will Ofsted inspect fundamental skills?
Ofsted will expect providers to comply with the requirements set out in the ITT criteria:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-criteria/initial-teacher-training-itt-criteria-and-supporting-advice
Ofsted will simply continue to inspect ITT providers’ recruitment and selection of trainees. Inspectors will continue to ask:
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Going forward, inspectors are likely to ask ITT providers how they:
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Ofsted will not expect ITT providers to have any particular recruitment and selection process. Ofsted will not expect evidence about recruitment to be presented in any particular manner.
I would like to thank you for your continuing contribution to this work and the wider work of the Department.
Yours sincerely,
Rachel Hope
Deputy Director, Teacher Services
Information about GCSE Equivalency Tests
CCCU has been running GCSE equivalent tests for students who do not meet the requirements for English, maths and science. However, a decision has been made that they will not be offering these tests in the future. In line with most other universities, CCCU will be using a company called Equivalency Testing. It is hoped that they will be able to arrange test dates at the University and we are liaising with them regarding this. The main difference is that it will be a more expensive option for students, but it will provide them with a transferrable, nationally recognised qualification. Students will also book the tests through Equivalency Testing (link below). They can do this at any time and do not need to wait until they have been made an offer.
Useful Links
Useful Websites
Department for EducationBursary DetailsEquivalency Tests
Canterbury Christ Church University
Useful Links for Aquila School Direct Students & Mentors
CCCU Data Protection Information for Students
DfE Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy Paper
Aquila-School-Direct-Partnership-Agreement.pdf