Our primary training is currently delivered from our training rooms based at Stamshaw Junior School in Portsmouth and Dover Park Primary in Ryde, Isle of Wight. This allows us to work closely with schools across both locations while retaining the same high-quality, personalised approach that defines Portsmouth SCITT.

The programme is a one-year course leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Successful trainees qualify to teach children aged 5–11 years (Primary).

This is a full-time PGCE course. Trainees spend approximately 70% of their time in local partnership schools and 30% in our training centres, where they take part in carefully sequenced training, workshops and professional development sessions.

Throughout the year, trainees observe skilled practitioners at work and teach alongside experienced colleagues, gradually building confidence and competence in the classroom. High-quality mentoring is central to our offer, alongside consistent support from the Portsmouth SCITT team, enabling trainees to develop into reflective, resilient and effective early career teachers.

Training is delivered by Portsmouth SCITT consultants, expert colleagues from across our partnership, and the core SCITT team. This continuity is a significant strength of the programme. Since Portsmouth SCITT was established in 2000, many former trainees have gone on to mentor new trainees, strengthening our local and regional school partnerships.

Trainees may qualify via either the Professional or Postgraduate route. The Postgraduate route includes the award of 60 Master’s-level credits in addition to QTS.

Portsmouth

What many of our trainees have found especially motivating is the excitement and stimulation of learning to teach in Portsmouth. Many of them feel it is not just a job. The course helps them grow personally.

The city includes areas of social deprivation, and this means teachers here need high levels of commitment and skill. They have to expect a lot of themselves and of others. Trainees usually feel that meeting the challenge brings a powerful sense of achievement and reward.

A strong feature of the course is the mutual support that the trainees give one another. There will only ever be a maximum of 36 within the cohort – a good size for cohesion and diversity, whilst small enough to be friendly and for everyone to know each other personally.  Trainees forge lasting friendships and their learning about team work serves them well when they graduate to become Early Career Teachers.

Isle of Wight

Portsmouth SCITT is delighted to be delivering our outstanding initial teacher training on the Isle of Wight for the 2025/26 academic year. Working in partnership with a network of high-quality Island schools, we provide the same hands-on, bespoke training that has long defined our provision, with engaging face-to-face sessions delivered from our Island-based training room.

This marks an important milestone for Portsmouth SCITT, bringing our highly regarded training to the Island and offering local residents the opportunity to gain a PGCE with Qualified Teacher Status without the need for regular travel to the mainland. The programme mirrors the structure and rigour of our Portsmouth-based course and is delivered by a blend of experienced Portsmouth SCITT staff and expert colleagues from across the Isle of Wight.