What Type Of Courses Are There

Initial Teacher Education at Bath Spa University

Bath Spa University has a long tradition of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) dating back 60 years. Newton Park was officially opened as Bath Teacher Training College in 1950 and the University is now the largest provider of ITE in the area.

ITE programme

The ITE programme has been planned and developed in partnership with schools and settings to provide high calibre new teachers to work in the 21st Century education system. Together, the University and partnership schools and settings support the development of new teachers and enhance the quality of the teaching profession. We offer programmes in:

  • Primary and Early Years (3–7 age phase, full and part-time)
  • Primary and Early Years (5-11 age phase, full-time only)
  • Primary and Early Years (7-11 age phase, full-time only)
  • Secondary (11–16 age phase, full-time only). Subjects include art and design, design and technology, English, information and communications technology (ICT), mathematics, physics with mathematics, modern languages, music, physical education, religious education and science.

Subject Knowledge Enhancement Courses

We run pre-ITE subject knowledge enhancement courses, which are designed for graduates who are interested in teaching a secondary priority subject but who may not necessarily have a degree in that subject. The courses will help you identify your individual training needs and top up your subject knowledge in areas that would be difficult to address on your own. They run prior to the ITE programme and vary in length depending on the subject, which include modern languages, mathematics and physics. See page xx for further information.

Our philosophy

The ITE programme is underpinned by four key principles.  We believe that these are central to the process of becoming an effective teacher:

  • Effective learning takes place when knowledge is shared and contested with a wide range of learning partners
  • Professional discourse is robust and challenging
  • Research is used to investigate and challenge current practice and shape new ideas
  • Thinking skills are applied creatively and with purpose.

You will be expected to challenge your own thinking about the sort of teacher you are becoming, and how you will teach.

ITE curriculum

The ITE programme draws upon research, best practice and the use of new technologies to inform its curriculum. In all routes the ITE curriculum is designed to develop characteristics that will ensure you are well equipped to meet the demands of this challenging but rewarding profession.

The Bath Spa Teacher

Members of our ITE programmes are called Bath Spa Teachers (BSTs) because they are developing professionals who will succeed in schools and settings that reflect diverse and vibrant communities and make a strong contribution to the school in which they are placed. Through the programme our BSTs develop an understanding of education and its purpose within a community, hold a set of core beliefs and values and are passionate about education and learning. By the end of the programme BSTs are highly skilled individuals who possess expert knowledge and are committed to raising children and young people’s achievements as well as promoting and ensuring their well-being. At the end of the programme all BSTs will:

  1. understand education and its purposes within the context of the community
  2. hold a set of core values and beliefs
  3. be passionate about education
  4. be highly skilled
  5. be able to shape their own professional development
  6. possess expert knowledge
  7. work with colleagues to raise pupil achievement
  8. be caring and committed to promoting pupil wellbeing and behaviour
  9. be creative and innovative