Why Choose CTTC?
Established in 2003, Colchester Teacher Training Consortium (CTTC) works in partnership with over 60 schools and colleges across Essex and Suffolk to train high-quality primary and secondary school teachers. Our training hubs are located in Colchester and Ipswich to serve the local schools and community.
CTTC is rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. In 2023, 100% of trainees commended the quality of CTTC’s curriculum, programme and support offered.
The school centred programme allows trainees to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) alongside a Master’s level Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) through a combination of taught sessions, academic research and school based teaching. CTTC trainees have excellent employment rates after qualifying, with 90% of all trainees securing ECT teaching posts between 2018 and 2023.
Our curriculum – a vision of excellence
The core aim of CTTC’s trainee curriculum is rooted in the partnership’s shared vision that the best available evidence indicates that great teaching is the most important lever schools have to improve pupil attainment (Education Endowment Foundation, 2021).
Colchester Teacher Training Consortium has developed its own unique curriculum to meet the requirements of the Core Content Framework, final assessment against the Teachers’ Standards for QTS, and the local needs of partner schools.
The trainee curriculum fully incorporates, and goes beyond, the five core areas of the Core Content Framework of behaviour management, pedagogy, curriculum, assessment, and professional behaviours.
CTTC provides new teachers entering the profession with the evidence-based knowledge and skills they need to become exceptional, critically reflective practitioners through a curriculum that reflects the principles of effective teacher professional development. The curriculum is fully underpinned by a robust evidence-base and trainees are provided with relevant reading to support their critical engagement with research.
The scope of the curriculum ensures that theory and practice are developed side by side with expert input used to develop trainees’ knowledge. Subject mastery is a key aspect of the curriculum, and trainees are supported by subject experts to develop their subject knowledge.
All trainees leave their training not only meeting the Teachers’ Standards, but with an in-depth knowledge of how pupils learn most effectively in their subject and age phase, along with the skills and knowledge of critical analysis and action research-based practice to continually impact on their professional development throughout their careers.
Our schools
CTTC works with around 60 schools across Essex and Suffolk. During their training, trainees have the opportunity to work at two of these schools. This provides an opportunity to experience contrasting school types and contexts, therefore offering a broad range of experiences for trainees.
Additionally, primary trainees visit a secondary school, a SEND setting, and a school specialising in English as an Additional Language (EAL). Secondary trainees visit a primary school and a Sixth Form college.
These additional visits give trainees the opportunity to experience the Key Stage before and/or after they are training in, enhancing their professional knowledge of the education system as a whole.
This map shows the locations of our partnership schools:
Ofsted Outstanding
CTTC was inspected by HM Ofsted inspectorate in March 2024 and was graded Outstanding. The inspection report is available here:
Wellbeing
Although very rewarding, an initial teacher training year is both challenging and demanding. CTTC are fully committed to supporting trainees to ensure they receive the best possible care, support, and experience from their training programme.
From the first week of the course, trainee wellbeing is placed front and centre of the course. Trainees receive advice on managing workload, developing resilience and their rights as an employee and the role of a trade union. Throughout the course, trainees are given support and advice on how to have an effective work-life balance, how to reduce stress and avenues of support.
A clear and concise Trainee Handbook is issued at the start of each academic year which details the calendar commitments of the training year, the assessment schedule, and other key dates. By sharing this important information at the start of the course, trainees are not subject to any last-minute surprises, and they can plan their training year around their life outside of their training.
All trainees are supported by access to a free, professional, and confidential helpline, available 24/7. Access to the helpline is paid for by CTTC as we recognise the value in trainees having an external support service, they can access at a time that suits them.
CTTC prides itself on being approachable and supportive to all trainees, and trainees consistently praise the support and wellbeing focus delivered by CTTC and in their training programme.