Hosting a teacher placement with Best Practice Network  

  • Trainees are interviewed and ready to begin their ITT placement
  • Mentor training is integrated within scaffolded session plans to streamline training requirements
  • We can undertake the in-school mentor role centrally for you through our remote mentoring offer, removing internal capacity issues
  • Trainees are in classroom 4 days a week; supporting, and then leading, whole class teaching
  • Hosting a student teacher gives you the chance to nurture talent and develop your future teachers

What are the benefits? 

  • Placement fees: Receive placement fees of up to £1,450, and a mentor grant of up to £1,072 per trainee
  • Entry to our prize draw: The first 500 schools to pledge have the chance to win a £1000 investment into their school library
  • Receive a ‘Teacher Training Partner’ badge in recognition of your commitment to teacher training and development
  • Hassle-free administration: BPN will take care of all trainee paperwork and administrative tasks for you
  • Dedicated support: Gain a dedicated placement co-ordinator to provide support tailored to your school's needs 
  • Priority access to prospective trainees in your area

 


The Mentor Role

We know the importance of expert mentors and their impact on the development of student teachers. As of September 2024, school-based mentors are required to complete up to 20 hours of initial mentor training.

School-based mentors


Our mentor training integrates 20 hours of training within scaffolded session plans designed to support the weekly mentor meetings. This unique approach helps ease the demand on school workload and capacity, encouraging participation with initial teacher training.  

Mentor selection:

  • Mentors typically need to be experienced teachers and have taught for at least three years
  • Mentors must have strong subject knowledge in the phase of education they are mentoring

Mentors should have the capacity to provide regular, structured support for the trainee teacher, which includes:

  • Regular observations of the trainee’s teaching
  • Holding weekly progress meetings
  • Providing timely feedback and setting developmental targets

✅Receive a grant of up to £1,072 per mentor

Find out more about school-based mentors

Remote mentoring offer with Best Practice Network 

If your school has limited capacity for mentoring, Best Practice Network can undertake the role on your behalf!

This unique offer will ease the demand on school workload and capacity, helping your school participate with initial teacher training.

  • Provided for your school at no cost
  • Mentoring is undertaken remotely by one of our expert mentors
  • Observations in-school conducted by classroom teachers

 

 

How is Initial Teacher Training delivered?

The programme is full time (minimum of 30 hours a week) and runs for four terms. Student teachers spend 4 days a week in the classroom and  complete their practical training in 12 months. This also includes placements at their host placement school (school A) and in a contrasting placement school (school B). 

Depending on the type of placement you offer, you will receive payment fees to help your school support a student teacher: 

✅For host placement schools: receive payment fees of £1,200 per student teacher

✅For contrasting placement schools: receive payment fees of £250 per student teacher 

 

 

Host placement school (school A)


Student teachers will spend September - December training in their host school. 




Contrasting placement school (school B)

In January, student teachers will spend 6 weeks in a contrasting school placement. 

Host placement school (school A)


Following the contrasting placement, student teachers will be back in their host placement school in the spring and summer term to complete the rest of their training.

 

 
Pledge your school 




Become a certified 'Teacher Development School'

The Teacher Development School badges have been created to recognise schools that have invested in their staff's professional growth. The badges are awarded to schools who have enrolled their teachers in programmes across the DfE's "Golden Thread," which includes:

  • Initial Teacher Training (ITT)
  • Early Career Framework (ECF)
  • National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)

Schools that are dedicated to the continuous professional development of their staff through Best Practice Network, will be awarded a bronze, silver or gold badge. 

 

 

 

"I would like to express how delighted we are as a school with the programme so far. I have two members of staff participating and the skills and knowledge they have gained so far is incredible."

Rebecca Lyon | Headteacher | Barkston & Syston CoE Primary School 

 

Want to find out more about Initial Teacher Training? 

Visit our trainee page