Thanks for looking at CDAT’s dedicated Teacher Training website. If you are thinking of embarking on a teaching career, you’re making a great choice – and we would love to support you on your training journey, and hopefully into the start of your time as a teacher.

We believe our Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programmes provide a high-quality and distinctive path to becoming a primary school teacher. We offer 2 distinct routes – our 5-11 programme (focusing on Years 1 to 6) and our 3-7 programme (which focuses on Early Years and Key Stage 1). Both lead to the award of QTS with a PGCE.

Our programmes run for a full school year – from early September until mid-July. During their training year, trainees spend the vast majority of their time in school, learning from expert current practitioners. Trainees in previous years say that they have loved being part of a school team right from the earliest stages of their training. They also really value the support they get from the teachers in their schools and from their personal tutors.

Time in schools is supplemented with a comprehensive training programme, also delivered by successful serving practitioners, with occasional PGCE days led by our colleagues from Anglia Ruskin. Taught sessions are delivered in a hybrid model. Face-to-face sessions at our training centres in Runcorn and Stockport are supplemented with additional online sessions and periods for self-study.

We believe this blend of quality taught sessions and well-supported school placements provides a great route into teaching, preparing trainees well for an exciting career in teaching.