Our Courses
We offer two Teacher Training Courses:
Full Time (Course Code 34Q3) and
Part Time (Course Code E098)
About our courses:
Our courses enable participants to develop their understanding and experience of teaching through a combination of classroom practice and research.
Trainees are based in a local partner school from week one of the school year. From the outset, trainees’ weeks consist of a combination of days spent between developing experience in the classroom and taught sessions at our Castleman base.
Taught sessions are timetabled to compliment work in school and are supported by experienced colleagues. There are opportunities to work alongside a range of our partner schools. Our sessions are held at a variety of locations which provide opportunities for study as a well as hands-on experience in schools.
Trainees are assessed through a combination of evidence gathering and assignments which provide opportunities to combine research, reflection, practice and planning for implementation.
School experience is desirable, but not essential.
Part Time
The content of our part-time course follows the principles as our full-time course but takes place over 5 terms, with our trainees engaged in their course from Monday to Wednesday each week.
Our part-time trainees begin their placements (SE1) in the Spring term (January) & remain in their placement until the end of the Summer term.
SE2 begins in the Autumn term and trainees are in placement until the middle of the Spring term.
SE3 begins in the second half of the Spring term and takes our trainees to the end of the Summer Term.
School Placements:
Full Time
Our school placements begin from week 1 of the Autumn Term when trainees will join their first placement school for School Experience (SE1) where crucial foundations will be built. In the first term, trainees reflect on their experiences to date to build their teacher identity through the Developing Teacher module, exploring key areas such as reflective practice, behaviour for learning and professionalism. In the Learning Child module, trainees develop an understanding of the National Curriculum through engagement with the core and foundation subjects alongside learning theories and child development.
During the Spring Term, trainees have the opportunity to learn alongside colleagues in their second school placement (SE2), which will focus on gaining understanding of their alternative Key Stage. The second phase enriches trainees’ knowledge and understanding of a developing teacher. Inclusive practice is firmly embedded through the development of subject specific pedagogies and further exploration into the breadth of the role. Trainees also undertaken an enhanced placement week which enriches their professional development through linking theory and practice.
In the Summer Term, trainees will return to their base placement school to complete their final classroom experience (SE3). The final term sees the trainees immersed in classroom practice, embedding the skills and knowledge to become an outstanding teacher. Engagement in Professional Development days enables trainees to consolidate their understanding of how to support pupil progress in the classroom.
We have partnerships with around 20 different schools across Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset.
Course Hours
Training sessions at our dedicated training centre will generally be between 9.15am and 3.30pm. Taught sessions delivered at a hosting school may vary slightly but will be within 9am and 4pm. For school placements, trainees will be shadowing the hours of the school and that of their class teacher/mentor.
Training with CLN:
At Castleman Learning we are committed to engaging high quality, enthusiastic, motivated people in the teaching profession. We work in close partnership with The University of Worcester as well as a rich cross-section of local schools, to offer our successful primary teacher training. The breadth and strength of our partnerships allows us to bring together expertise from across our locality to provide the highest quality taught sessions and placements.
Our 5 – 11 years programme is school-based and our partner schools welcome our trainees into their placements from the very beginning of the academic year. We believe that the best way to experience all aspects of school life is to learn alongside leading, experienced professionals. Trainees are supported by school-based mentors and our experienced visiting tutor team. School-based learning is supported by regular taught sessions to help develop teaching skills with greater depth and understanding. Our taught sessions are led by a variety of experienced tutors and specialist school colleagues.
At Castleman Learning Network, we pride ourselves in supporting our trainees as individuals and with an understanding that trainees come into teaching with a range of experiences and strengths. We are committed to provide learning opportunities that prepare our trainees for the career ahead of them.
University of Worcester:
Rated as Outstanding by OfSTED (2023) the University of Worcester has a long-standing reputation for training excellent, highly employable teachers.
Our primary courses include a high quality tailored programme of training in all National Curriculum subjects, in addition to SEND, PSHE and RE.
International Students:
We can only accept International Students who have the right to study in the UK. You can apply if you:
- are an Irish citizen
- have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (you may still be able to apply)
- have indefinite leave to remain in the UK
*Please note that for EU students who are not in receipt of a UK government bursary/scholarship package, the fee is £9,790 per year (subject to approval of the government’s fee increase).
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
The full Admissions Policy for the University of Worcester can be found here: Admissions Policy 2025
Training with disabilities and other needs:
The University of Worcester offers a wide range of support and advice to disabled students and also to parents, staff and those external agencies supporting disabled students.
Our Disability and Dyslexia Service offers support, advice and guidance to students who have a disability, medical condition or Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD). This support lasts throughout a student’s studies at the University of Worcester. We also work with and offer support and advice to University staff on how to meet the needs of disabled students.
We can provide assistance through:
- Supporting disabled students with general enquiries
- Implementing special arrangements for lectures, exams and field trips. This might include notes in advance or special arrangements in exams.
- Where appropriate, we can arrange note takers, academic support tutors, library assistance, interpreters and transcribers.
- Help with applying for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) which is there to fund these types of support in higher education.
- Limited loans of equipment.
- Confidential advice and support for students and staff.
- Training and awareness raising workshops.
- Assistive technology.
