Mid Essex ITT has been training teachers within local secondary schools in Essex since 1994, making it one of the oldest SCITTs in the country. We are excited to have launched a new course, starting in September 2025, in partnership with local schools offering specialist provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

The course will run alongside Mid Essex ITT’s existing outstanding teacher training course with the following benefits and differences:

• You will attend the Thursday morning training with the rest of the secondary cohort
• You will attend the Thursday afternoon training with the rest of your subject cohort
• The remainder of the week will be split between a special school and mainstream school placement
• You will attend an additional eight days of training, focused on teaching in a special school
• Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a PGCE from Anglia Ruskin University

Am I eligible to train?

To be eligible to train as a teacher, you will need the following qualifications:

1. Degree at grade 2:2 or above (you can apply in your final year of your degree)
2. GCSE in English at grade 4 or above (or equivalent)
3. GCSE in Maths at grade 4 or above (or equivalent)

Candidates must be eligible to study in the UK. We are unable to sponsor student route visas.

You can read more about the eligibility requirements here

When is the deadline to apply? What is the interview process?

The final deadline to apply is 30th June 2026, though we always recommend submitting an application as soon as possible. If you are shortlisted, you will be invited for an interview. Dates are TBC. Successful candidates will also be asked to attend our two days of induction training in July. You can apply to up to four courses here.

Do I need to pay for the course? Can I pay using a tuition fee loan?

Tuition fees of £9,790 are payable by the candidate to Mid Essex ITT. A loan from Student Finance England is available for trainee teachers and you can find out more here.

Trainee can also access maintenance loans / grants from Student Finance England visit Support with living costs from gov.uk to find out how much you could borrow. 

What subjects are available?

Mid Essex ITT is a secondary teacher training provider, so you will be training part of the week in a mainstream secondary school. You will need to choose a subject specialism to teach in both of your placements. To be eligible you should ideally have a degree in this subject, or a related subject, or at least an A Level (grade C or above). You can find the list of subjects below, and the funding that is available.  

How do I apply?

You apply through the Department for Education’s Apply for teacher training website:

https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-teacher-training 

You will need to provide details of your qualifications, paid/unpaid work experience and write a personal statement. You will also need to provide details of two referees who will only be contacted if you are offered a place. You can find out more about the application process here.  

Will I get paid while training?

Whilst you are training, you might be eligible to receive a bursary, the same as the other secondary trainees. Bursary payments are tax-free and paid to you in ten, equal monthly instalments. Bursaries range from £5,000 - £29,000 and availability depends on your subject. You can find a list below. Further information about bursaries can be found here.
Candidates are advised to check their eligibility for the bursaries.  

What schools will I train in?

Our new course has been put together in partnership with the SEAX Trust. The SEAX Trust is a multi academy trust of five academies, each with their unique style and specialism. The SEAX schools are:

• Thriftwood School and College in Chelmsford
• Kingswode Hoe School in Colchester
• Grove House School in Brentwood
• Langham Oaks School in Colchester
• The Hawthorns School in Chelmsford 

If you are a leader or staff member at another special school in Essex and you are interested in finding out more about working together, please get in touch to discuss this with our friendly team. 

What is the deadline to apply?

Our final deadline to apply is 30th June 2026. However, we strongly recommend making an early application as places are limited. 

What are the course dates?

The course runs from 1st September 2026 – 30th June 2027. You will need to attend our two days of induction training, before the summer, on Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th July 2026. 

What qualifications will I receive?

Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a PGCE from Anglia Ruskin University. You can read more about the PGCE course here. 

What will the training involve?

The eight additional training days will take place at different special schools, where you will have a chance to have a tour of the school, meet staff and students and receive training from expert colleagues. The additional training days in 2025-2026* covered the following topics:

Training Day 1: The SEND code of practice and areas of need; SEN policy and legislation; ECHPs; different types of special school

Training Day 2: Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH); Trauma Perceptive Practice (TPP); de-escalation techniques

Training Day 3: Strategies for supporting neurodiversity

Training Day 4: Curriculum, adaptive teaching and assessment in special schools; enabling environments, cognitive overload and sensory awareness

Training Day 5: Safeguarding in special schools; preparation for adulthood and careers

Training Day 6: Literacy, phonics & oracy in special schools; therapies and intervention strategies including SALT (speech and language therapy), OT (occupational therapy), Art therapy, Music therapy

Training Day 7: Communication, including the use of assistive technology to support learning and teaching; autism; safeguarding for profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD)

Training Day 8: Outdoor learning, safeguarding in outdoor learning; including Duke of Edinburgh

 *This is subject to small changes for 2026-2027

Mid Essex ITT have developed this new course in conjunction with senior leaders from special schools in Essex to ensure it meets the needs of the children and schools in the area. It has been underpinned by the latest guidance from the Department for Education regarding ITT and special schools, ensures fidelity with the ITTECF and ensures compliance with the ITT criteria and supporting advice.  If you have any questions about the course content, please contact our Director who would be happy to help - [email protected]