School of Education
Sparkenhoe School Direct
Sparkenhoe School Direct is a group of schools uniquely placed to deliver a rounded set of teaching experiences. The lead school is Sparkenhoe Community Primary School, based a stone's throw from the University of Leicester in the historic area of Highfields. This vibrant, diverse, multicultural region of Leicester boasts excellent community relations and is an exciting place to train and work. We aim to place the majority of our students with Sparkenhoe as their main school and offer at least one alternative school placement in a contrasting locality.
The Federation Schools
The group contains inner city schools: Sparkenhoe Community Primary School, Medway Community Primary School and Shenton Primary School. We also have exciting opportunities with Overdale Infant School – based in the southern suburbs on the border of Leicester and Leicestershire. It also contains a number of county schools, primarily St Cuthberts C of E School in Great Glen, however we also have the opportunity to place students with Foxton Primary School, Hallaton C of E Primary School and Billesdon C of E Primary School.
Sparkenhoe Primary is an outstanding school that is rightly proud of its status and reputation. It is well-known for its pupil progress and performance success. The school is renowned for offering its students a wide and varied curriculum, ranging from performances in its 200-seat on-site theatre to trips to Paris.
St Cuthberts is in the village of Great Glen, approximately five miles (12 minutes) from Leicester city centre. The school is a busy, family-oriented school, with a wonderfully diverse and enriched curriculum.
Overdale Infants is lively, happy, successful school with extremely enthusiastic children, parents, staff and governors. The school takes children from F2 through until Year 2, with four classes in each year group providing them with a secure and friendly learning environment in which they can fully develop their skills and talents. Pupils are taught within an innovative, creative curriculum and achieve excellent academic results.
The individual schools each have a long history of the supportive nurturing of students, new staff and volunteers, delivering outstanding placements to students from many universities, and have been the starting places of many successful careers in education through different routes. We have all worked in close partnership with the University of Leicester for many years providing placements for students, and some schools host at least two focus days a year for students. Members of the schools have been guest lecturers at the University and sit on the Partnership Management Group. We also accommodate a wide range of visitors from educational establishments across the world - most recently, Japanese trainee teachers and the Egyptian Minister for Education.
Feedback from students and visitors always highlights the fact that we are welcoming, hospitable and effective schools, with motivated pupils who are keen to learn. PGCE students who visit on focus days and placement students alike routinely apply for jobs at our schools, and we have an excellent track record of employment with our School Direct graduates.
What we offer
We will offer high-quality training in addition to the University course. Mentors will be handpicked from our highly-experienced staff and will work alongside successful applicants to nurture talent and foster potential. Current trainees in our schools have experienced a robust and holistic (yet bespoke) program of induction and support that has enabled them to excel. Our mentors work in tandem with the University of Leicester to ensure that the support package is delivered seamlessly.
Location
Contact
Dan Cheetham
dcheetham@sparkenhoe.leicester.sch.uk