ROYAL Wootton Bassett Academy is now training teachers of the future.

With successive outstanding ratings from Ofsted, the school been granted school-centred initial teacher training status, which will allow it to train aspiring primary and secondary school teachers without any need for a partner university.

The academy, which is the lead school for the North Wiltshire Teaching School Alliance, began training teachers for the first time this month, but works alongside Bath Spa University to deliver a postgraduate certificate in education.

The academy’s brand of school-led teacher training is an alternative to the mainstream university approach taken by many graduates, which gives students more time in the classroom on the way to their PGCE and qualified teacher status.

Amy Dodson, 25, of Stratton, in Swindon, is one of those studying with the academy and Bath Spa this year.

She said: “It’s really informative because you get a taste of the school straight away.

“I have a large group of friends going down the university route, but I prefer the hands-on approach of this.

“The benefit of this course is you see how teachers set up for the school year from the start.

“If you wait six weeks to go in, you find bonds have already been made between your mentors and their pupils.”

Emma Ashton, 21, of Wootton Bassett, is training in primary education.

She said: “We get that integrated approach.

“Anything we are struggling with in the classroom can be put right by our own teachers, and if there’s anything we are taught we need to put into practise, we can do that immediately.”

The 11 primary and two secondary schools in NWiTS mean students with the academy have a choice of schools for their placements .

Trainees spend the majority of their time in the classroom with children and their mentors, and then receive additional training at Bath Spa University and Wootton Bassett Academy.

Headteacher George Croxford and his deputy, Steve Kneller, will focus on moulding teachers they ultimately want to teach in their own schools once qualified.

“From next year the entire process will be dealt with by us,” George said. “We can ensure everything is spot on.

“I don’t believe there is a better education for a teacher than from current practitioners, which is what we will offer here.

“An added bonus is we get to train the teachers we want to ultimately teach here. We will get to mould our own staff as well as those who wish to teach at primary level with our partners.”

For more information on training as a teacher with Wootton Bassett Academy, contact the school or follow application instruction on UCAS, searching for North Wiltshire SCITT.