Trainee Primary Teacher (Initial Teacher Training SEND) - Apprenticeship (Y449)
About this role
Trainee Primary Teacher (Initial Teacher Training, SEND) – Apprenticeship Route
Agency: Supportive Bridge Staffing
Client: Lift Crescent View (Part of Lift Schools)
Location: Clyde Crescent, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 5QH
Position Type: Fixed Term (1 Year Full-Time Apprenticeship Programme)
Salary: £24,444.00 per annum (Earn while you learn – No tuition fees!)
Key Dates: Closing Date: 20 June 2027 | Mandatory Summer School: 2 – 13 August 2027
About the Role & Programme
Supportive Bridge Staffing is recruiting a Trainee Primary Teacher (SEND Specialist) on behalf of Lift Crescent View in Cheltenham. Delivered in partnership with Ark Teacher Training, this school-based Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Apprenticeship route gives you the opportunity to earn a full salary while working towards Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), and a Level 6 Apprenticeship—with zero tuition fees.
You will spend the majority of your time gaining hands-on classroom experience in small class settings (8–10 pupils), putting pedagogical theory into practice with dedicated 1-on-1 mentoring, weekly structured training sessions, and an intensive two-week Summer School to prepare you before the school year begins.
Key Programme Highlights
Zero Tuition Fees: University and training programme fees are fully funded through the Apprenticeship route.
Practical Classroom Experience: Gain hands-on teaching experience as an unqualified primary teacher, gradually taking on more teaching responsibilities.
1-on-1 Mentoring & Coaching: Benefit from weekly feedback, a dedicated subject tutor, and an in-school mentor.
Targeted Weekly Training: Spend half a day every week attending structured training modules alongside fellow trainees across the Ark Teacher Training and Lift Schools networks.
Mandatory Summer School: A two-week preparatory course (2–13 August 2027) covering foundational educational theory, lesson planning, and behavior management.
Eligibility & Entry Requirements
Degree: Undergraduate degree with a 2:2 classification or above (by the start of the programme).
GCSEs: Grade 4/C or above in GCSE English, Mathematics & Science (or equivalent).
SEND Experience: Minimum of 3 months experience working within Special Educational Needs (SEN/SEND) settings.
QTS & Residency: Must not currently hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Must possess full Right to Work in the UK for the duration of the training year.
About the School & Network
Lift Crescent View: Rated Good by Ofsted, Lift Crescent View is a specialist provision for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 children with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Led by Principal Liz Oakey, the school features small class sizes (8–10 pupils) and an ambitious curriculum designed to build self-esteem and raise pupil achievement.
Lift Schools Network: A national trust of 62 primary, secondary, and special schools educating over 35,000 pupils across England. Trainees benefit from a collaborative nationwide peer network, ongoing support into their Early Career Framework (ECF) years, and full Lift Schools employee benefits.