It has been a fantastic start to the academic year for Colchester Teacher Training Consortium (CTTC), as we proudly welcome our largest ever cohort of trainee teachers across our Primary and Secondary programmes. The enthusiasm, professionalism and dedication shown by our new trainees has been outstanding, and it has been wonderful to see them engaging so positively with their centre-based training and placement experiences. From early school visits to their first teaching experiences, our trainees have demonstrated the passion, adaptability and reflective practice that sit at the heart of becoming an excellent teacher.
This half term term, we have also been delighted to welcome a number of new Lead Mentors and Lead Subject Mentors to the CTTC team. These expert teachers, drawn from our partnership schools across Essex and Suffolk, play a vital role in supporting our trainees and mentors throughout the year. They bring with them a wealth of classroom experience, subject expertise and leadership insight, helping to ensure that our training remains firmly rooted in current educational practice. Alongside this, we are very pleased to welcome new placement schools into our expanding partnership network, broadening the range of school contexts in which our trainees can learn and develop.
To celebrate World Teachers’ Day, CTTC was proud to gift each trainee a copy of What Happy Teachers Do – written by one of our very own Lead Mentors, Michelle Auton. This inspiring and thought-provoking book offers practical advice and encouragement for teachers at every stage of their career, reminding us all of the importance of wellbeing, professional connection and maintaining a sense of purpose in teaching. It was a fitting way to celebrate a profession that changes lives every day.
We are also delighted to welcome Clair Bishop to our administration team. Clair will be supporting the smooth running of our training programmes and the day-to-day coordination of our dedicated training base in central Colchester. Her attention to detail, warmth and professionalism have already made her a valued member of the CTTC team.
CTTC staff have continued to engage in a wide range of professional development opportunities this term, ensuring that our programmes remain up-to-date and closely aligned with national developments in teacher education. This has included taking part in professional discussions on SEND and inclusion, and working closely with colleagues from the Teaching School Hub to refine how ITT providers map and uses the new ITT Core Content Framework (ITTECF) progression statements. These collaborations ensure that our trainees benefit from a curriculum that is evidence-informed, ambitious and fully compliant with DfE and Ofsted quality requirements.
Our network of mentors has also benefitted from a strong programme of professional learning, including this term’s Instructional Coaching session. These training sessions are designed to ensure our mentors feel confident, supported and equipped with the latest research-informed approaches to developing trainee teachers effectively. Mentoring remains one of the defining strengths of the CTTC partnership, and the continued investment in mentor development ensures our trainees receive the highest-quality guidance throughout their training year.
Looking ahead, applications are now open for teacher training starting in September 2026, and we are delighted to have already begun receiving high-quality applications from individuals eager to make a difference in local schools. Our recruitment and selection team has been impressed by the calibre of applicants so far, and interviews are already underway with prospective trainees who share CTTC’s commitment to evidence-based, inclusive and inspiring education.
As we start to conclude this first half term, we would like to express our sincere thanks to all placement schools, mentors and colleagues across our partnership for their ongoing dedication and support. Your contribution is central to the success of our trainees and to the continued strength of CTTC’s Ofsted “Outstanding” provision.
Finally, we extend our warmest congratulations to our new cohort of trainees, who have made an exceptional start to their teacher training journey. We look forward to supporting you throughout the year ahead as you continue to grow, reflect and develop into the teachers our children and young people deserve.
