Primary Teacher Training Lead Mentor - North Devon Area

Remuneration: £300 per day (approximately 20 days per year, to be agreed)
Area: North Devon
Job type: Self-employed
Start date: September 2025
Apply by:  Friday 4th July 2025

Overview
Due to expansion, we are seeking an experienced and passionate Primary Teacher Training Lead Mentor to join our SCITT training programme from September 2025. If you're committed to developing the next generation of outstanding primary teachers, we'd love to hear from you.

The Role
As a Lead Mentor on our SCITT training programme, you’ll support a portfolio of North Devon-based Primary trainees to ensure successful progress toward QTS and the completion of their PGCE. You will visit trainees in school four times a year (with an additional introductory meeting) to monitor their progress and the quality of their placement.

Through expert coaching and feedback, you’ll help trainees build strong pedagogical foundations and ensure their teaching practice reflects the highest standards. You will also play a key role in developing and supporting school-based mentors, ensuring consistency, quality, and shared high expectations across placements.

For more information, please see the Job Advert at the link below.

To apply, please return a completed application form (see link below) to 
[email protected].
 
To be returned by the closing date: Friday 4th July 2025
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Give a little background about your teaching career so far – how many years teaching, schools, age groups, subject specialisms, leadership roles…
Before starting my teacher training journey, I was a speech and language therapy assistant, working with both primary and secondary aged children. I have now secured my first teaching job at a small village primary school where I will be teaching year 5.

Why did you want to be a teacher?
I wanted to become a teacher because I’m passionate about making a positive impact on children’s lives. As a values-driven person, I want to make a difference in the world, and what better way than by supporting children during their early years of education and life in general! I love the relationships you can build with young children and how rewarding it is to watch them grow, learn, and thrive in a supportive classroom environment.

Why did you choose Exeter Consortium Schools’ Alliance as your training provider?
I chose Exeter Consortium because of how you learn on the job and are put in placement from the beginning. I wanted to get into school straight away, so I knew the SCITT route was for me. Also, everyone at the Consortium was so supportive through the application and interview process which helped in deciding to train with them. It is important to me to be around people who are supportive and genuinely have your best interests at heart, and put the time and effort in to get to know you personally. This sums up the team at Exeter Consortium.  

What were your favourite aspects of the course?
I’ve really enjoyed the training days we’ve spent visiting different schools in the area, where the focus has been on something that school does particularly well. I always come away from those days feeling inspired and full of ideas to bring into my own teaching.

Did you find Exeter Consortium to be supportive and welcoming?
I can’t speak highly enough of how supportive and welcoming the Exeter Consortium team has been. They make you feel truly valued and listened to, and no question is ever too small or overlooked.

Describe your time training to teach in three words:
Rewarding, inspiring, dynamic.

What advice would you give to prospective trainee teachers?
There’s no job quite like teaching, and that’s what makes it so special. Every day is different and brings new challenges, but that’s exactly why it’s so rewarding. If you’re thinking about taking the leap, I’d say go for it! I have no regrets and I’m so excited to begin my first teaching job this September.

Give a little background about your teaching career so far – how many years teaching, schools, age groups, subject specialisms, leadership roles…
My teaching career began as an apprentice TA working in an SEN school, this led to me successfully gaining employment within the school and I stayed there for 9 years whilst completing my degree part time. I worked with children across years 3 to 7. I am now going to be working as a KS1 teacher in Exeter.

Why did you want to be a teacher?
Ever since I was a child, teaching is something I have always wanted to do. I loved school and enjoyed learning and would line all my toys up and pretend they were my class. Then working as a TA, I experienced first-hand the rewards of working with children. Seeing the joy on children’s faces each day. Seeing the progress and small successes and how this all contributed to the bigger picture of the child’s learning journey.

Why did you choose Exeter Consortium Schools’ Alliance as your training provider? 
I chose Exeter Consortium as I wanted to continue working with children witnessing and being a part of their learning journeys. Training with Exeter Consortium allowed me to get stuck in straight away, being in the classroom from day one. I am so pleased I chose this route into teaching as it has allowed me to feel prepared for the next stage in my career.

What were your favourite aspects of the course?
My favourite aspects of the course were the GPS sessions, gaining new knowledge to put into practice and learning in a hands-on way often engaging with the learning and experiencing it how a child would. Attending these sessions with other ExCo alumni created a warm and safe environment where we would all share ideas and successes, making those training sessions invaluable. The ITAP weeks were also a favourite - visiting other schools and seeing how training is implemented there and taking these forward into my own practice. This has really shaped who I am as a teacher.

Did you find Exeter Consortium to be supportive and welcoming?
Exeter Consortium were beyond supportive, they always have the time to listen and offer ways of support tailored to each trainee. Exeter Consortium feels like a family with mentors and trainees all supporting each other to become amazing teachers!

Describe your time training to teach in three words:
Exciting, happy and interesting!

What advice would you give to prospective trainee teachers?
This year is like nothing else, embrace every opportunity and take everything you can from your placements and training sessions, these experiences are invaluable. The rewards you get from this experience compares to no other. Be proud of yourself for embracing the challenge and think of your end goal of why you want to be a teacher!

Give a little background about your teaching career so far – how many years teaching, schools, age groups, subject specialisms, leadership roles…
Before starting my teacher training, I worked as a classroom assistant in a SEND and SEMH school, supporting children with high needs. Before that, I was at home raising my young family and helping my husband run our family business. My time as a teaching assistant really confirmed how much I enjoyed being in a school setting and working closely with children.

Why did you want to be a teacher?
I've always loved spending time with children and being part of their learning and development. Teaching has always felt like such a meaningful and important role to me - some of my own teachers made a lasting impact, and I’ve looked up to them ever since.

Working in an SEMH setting showed me how powerful a caring, consistent adult can be in a child’s life, and it made me want to be that person for others.

Why did you choose Exeter Consortium Schools’ Alliance as your training provider? 
Exeter Consortium stood out because of its connections with local primary schools in my area. Living in a rural location with a young family, the fact that their partner schools are nearby made a big difference for me. I was also really pleased to see that they work with the University of Exeter, where I did my degree - it felt like a great fit.

What were your favourite aspects of the course?
I really appreciated the school-based approach. Being in the classroom from the very beginning helped me learn so much, especially since I didn’t have a huge amount of experience in mainstream schools before starting the course. It gave me confidence and helped me feel like part of the team early on.

Did you find Exeter Consortium to be supportive and welcoming?
Yes, absolutely. They’ve been kind, approachable, and always ready to help if I needed anything. From the start, they’ve made it clear that we’re supported, and that’s meant a lot during what can be a challenging year.

Exeter Consortium strive to be inclusive and committed to Equal opportunities. Are you able to comment on any way in which you found this to be the case?
I’ve really felt that everyone on the course is treated with respect and care, regardless of background or experience. There’s a real focus on inclusion, and the trainers make sure everyone feels heard and valued.

Describe your time training to teach in three words:
Inspiring – Resilient – Growing

What advice would you give to prospective trainee teachers?
Try to get as much experience in mainstream schools as you can before starting - it really helps once the course begins. And don’t be afraid to build relationships early. The teaching community in Devon is small and supportive, and making connections can lead to some lovely opportunities.

If there is anything else you want to add, or tell us about your experiences so far or aspirations for the future, please do!
Be kind to yourself - it’s a learning process and it’s okay to make mistakes. What matters most is that you reflect, stay open to learning, and keep showing up. It’s a tough journey at times, but it’s also so rewarding.

Give a little background about your teaching career so far – how many years teaching, schools, age groups, subject specialisms, leadership roles…
My teaching career began as a teaching assistant in a village primary school and now I am a Year 3 teacher in a two-form entry all through school in Exeter! 

Why did you want to be a teacher?
I wanted to be a teacher when I met my favourite primary school teacher. I thought “I want to be just like you”. They didn’t just educate me or take me on an educational journey but they were so warm and inviting and motivated me to learn with them. I take this into my practice daily and enjoy seeing my children's faces smile when they enter my classroom or they’ve understood an objective or have independently completed a task.  

Why did you choose Exeter Consortium Schools’ Alliance as your training provider? 
I chose Exeter Consortium due to its holistic approach to teacher training. I wanted to train in the deep end! Getting into school was important to me, I am so pleased I took the SCITT route compared to University providers as I feel completely prepared as an ECT1.  

What were your favourite aspects of the course?
My favourite aspects were simply the real life application of what we are trained to do in GPS sessions and during placement. We could instantly start implementing behaviour management techniques. The GPS sessions have really stuck with me and shaped my practice as a teacher. I also work with other ExCo alumni and the practice I see with them is shaped from ExCo. 

Did you find Exeter Consortium to be supportive and welcoming?
100%. I personally had life events I was not expecting but the mentors were incredibly supportive in adapting to my needs.

Describe your time training to teach in three words...
Fun, exciting, interesting!

What advice would you give to prospective trainee teachers?
Nothing will compare to this year, it is so worth pushing through to the end and reap the rewards as it only gets better! You should be really proud of yourself for taking on this challenge, it isn’t easy, but it speaks volumes about the person you will be standing in front of your class of 30.