Our Co-op Values: How We Do Things

Our academies are located across the North of England, serving a huge variety of communities. We know the power that co-operation has to make a real difference in these places. That's why our "Way of Being" are at the heart of everything we do.

• Be yourself, always

• Do what matters most

• Show you care

• Succeed together

A week in the life of a trainee

A typical week blends classroom teaching, observation of experienced colleagues, mentor meetings, planning time and centre‑based or university sessions depending on the point in the year. Early on, you might spend more time observing, supporting small groups and practising discrete elements of lessons, whereas later phases see you taking responsibility for sequences of lessons and managing whole classes more independently. Alongside timetabled teaching, you take part in wider school life: staff briefings, professional development sessions, pastoral activities and events, which help you understand the full role of a teacher. Regular reflection—through weekly reviews, target‑setting and use of the Learn–Explore–Apply model—helps you make sense of what you are experiencing and plan your next steps.

Meet the cohort and alumni

Each year, Co-op Academies Trust ITT welcomes cohorts of trainees from a wide range of backgrounds, including local graduates, career changers, and colleagues progressing from support or associate roles in schools. Trainees often form strong peer networks within and across phases, supporting one another through study, teaching challenges and successes. Alumni move into Early Career Teacher roles across the Trust and beyond, with many going on to middle leadership, specialist and senior roles while staying connected through professional networks and PDI programmes. Their stories illustrate how the golden thread from ITT to leadership plays out in practice over time.

Your career pathway after ITT

Completion of ITT and the PGCE is intended to be the beginning of a long‑term career journey rather than a stand‑alone year. As you move into an Early Career Teacher role, you access structured support aligned with the Early Career Framework, including mentoring, reduced timetable and targeted professional development. Beyond the ECT years, the Professional Development Institute and partners provide access to National Professional Qualifications, subject and phase‑specific programmes, and leadership pathways so you can plan a progression route that could ultimately lead to senior leadership or headship. This coherent pathway is central to the Trust's strategy for attracting, developing and retaining excellent teachers.