Student Associates Scheme

What's it like to be a teacher? Find out more about the student associates scheme at the University of Worcester?

Places available on this scheme for students with an interest/qualifications (A Levels) in Science, Mathematics, ICT, or D&T, teaching within SECONDARY schools only.

Your chance to try teaching as a career, to enhance your CV, AND to be paid £40 a day!

What is the scheme about?
As a Student Associate, you'll work alongside teachers in the classroom to support, inspire and motivate children or young people, depending on your chosen age range.

You'll be working with pupils doing a variety of things from scientific experiments, solving complex problems, to helping pupils make themselves understood in a foreign country! You can sample the experience of teaching by working alongside professionals and the scheme is sponsored by the Teacher Training and Development Agency so you know it's got the backing of the profession.

What are the benefits?
This is a brilliant chance for you to:

* Gain experience of working with young people in a school environment
* Develop essential skills and experience, especially your communication skills
* Enhance your CV and employability
* Gain insights into teaching
* Have fun and feel that you are making a difference
* If you are a university of Worcester student, participation in the SAS will contribute towards the Worcester Award. Further info at www.worc.ac.uk/worcesteraward

In addition to this, you will be paid £40 per day in school!

Do I get any training?
Full training and support is given to all students!

There will be an induction programme for all and after induction you will take up a supervised placement in the classroom for a total of 15 days. There is no formal assessment but you will gain many essential skills and a broad understanding of the teaching and learning environment.

Which schools will be involved?
Students are expected to find their own placement school- which must be a Local Authority Secondary School within England. If accepted guidance will be given on how to go about this. The 15 days school experience must be carried out during the academic year, as and when suits both the student and school.

When can I start?
The scheme runs throughout the year.

Read more about the School Based Experience

Factfile
Entry requirements
Course content
Student views

What is the Student Associates Scheme?

The Student Associates Scheme is a programme funded by the Teacher Development Agency (TDA) and delivered by 47 providers throughout England. It gives students in higher education the opportunity to work in schools and colleges, gaining knowledge and experience of teaching and learning by supporting teachers and young people. At the end, they will have had a chance to explore teaching as a career, while studying for their first or postgraduate degree.

At the start of the scheme students are given training to prepare them for working with young people. They then in turn spend 15 days or more in a school or college. Working alongside experienced teachers, this gives them a first-hand understanding of the profession.

Depending on the commitment students want to make, they may contribute to the delivery of lessons, use their degree subject in the classroom and/or develop areas of particular educational interest. All students receive a payment for the time that they spend in school or college.

The scheme aims to enable students to make better informed decisions about career options in education and, for those who wish to do so, enter initial teacher training better prepared. Within the scheme there are opportunities to do work that is aligned with the Standards for qualified teacher status (QTS); to record experiences and have progress against the Standards assessed. Students’ experiences may later be taken into account in any future teacher training.
Benefits of the Scheme

Providers of initial teacher training have found that students who have participated in the scheme have had more confidence in seminars and the classroom; understood educational issues better; and had a headstart in their initial teacher training.

Schools found that students bring enthusiasm, energy and subject expertise to the classroom and give valuable support to teachers. Some found their participation in the scheme helped to improve links with further and higher education institutions.

Schools that had not previously been involved with training teachers found they could take part in this scheme and have staff trained as mentors. They formed a sense of what it is like to work with trainee teachers, before fully committing to involvement in initial teacher training.
Find Out More

If you want to find out more about the Student Associates Scheme, log on to the TDA website at http://www.tda.gov.uk/

Study options

Get in touch

Call in and talk to one of the Administrators in Bredon BB100.

SAS Administrator
01905 855175
sas@worc.ac.uk

Information about the National Scheme can be found on the Teacher Training and Development Agency website.

Anyone interested in trying out teaching who is currently enrolled on any type of HE course. Ideally you should be a good communicator and have an aptitude for working with young people and a commitment to equal opportunities. Applications from ethnic minority students are particularly welcomed. If you are already enrolled on a programme of study leading to a QTS award you will not be able to take part in this particular initiative. A Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure will be required.

Modules

Assessment

Academic department

Institute of Education

“Our high quality programmes and innovative teaching methods prepare and train the very best professionals. Worcester graduates have made a huge difference in the field of education.”
Professor Chris Robertson, Head of Institute

Employability

This is a brilliant chance for you to :

* Gain experience of working with young people in a school environment
* Develop essential skills and experience, especially your communication skills
* Enhance your CV and employability
* If you are a university of Worcester student, participation in the SAS will contribute towards the Worcester Award. Further info at www.worc.ac.uk/worcesteraward