The Amethyst Centre
The Amethyst Centre's vision is to provide high quality CPD for all staff, at all levels.
The Amethyst Centre embraces Cygnus Academies Trust's core purpose of 'realising ambition', our aim is to ensure that every child has access to the very best teaching, to enable them to realise their ambitions.
If we create a culture where every teacher believes they need to improve, not because they are not good enough but because they can be even better, there is no limit to what we can achieve - Dylan William
Train to teach
Becoming a teacher is often a desire that many people have at some point during their studies or careers; some suppress it while others act on it and change not only their life, but the lives of others around them. Regardless of your background and experience, it is never too late to teach – every year, thousands make the jump and train to teach.
Requirements
GCSE requirements
The basic requirements for GCSE grades if you want to train to teach are:
- a GCSE grade C (or equivalent) in maths and English to be able to teach at secondary level;
- a GCSE grade C (or equivalent) in maths, English and science to be able to teach at primary level.
If you have overseas equivalent qualifications, you should contact your preferred training provider to check on eligibility, as they make the final judgement on equivalency and may need you to provide National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC)-recognised qualifications.
Degree requirements
You need a degree to gain qualified teacher status (QTS).
Early Careers Teachers
As a Trust we know that the first two years of your teaching career can be challenging, but set the foundation for the future aspirations. To that end, we aim to give you the best start to your teaching career and ensure that you have the appropriate support and training to realise your ambition. Your induction tutor and mentor with guide and assist you through your first two years of teaching, ensuring that your individual training needs are met through weekly meetings, which will identify your next steps on your journey to excellence.
Our head of CPD is an Early Careers facilitator and we follow the core programme from the Education Development Trust. Our training is quality assured by the Thames Gateway Teaching School Hub.
Initial Teacher Training
KMT is our local SCITT, it offers a school direct route into teaching through this you will be based at one of our schools, training alongside one of our experienced teachers; working alongside your mentor we endeavour to ensure that you realise your ambition.
Weekly training is provided by KMT with full access to CPD at your placement school. Alternative Key Stage school placements are offered within the Trust, as part of your training.
CPD
The Amethyst Centre provides bespoke CPD to all of our school which allows Cygnus Academies Trust to cater specific training needs for all staff across the trust. Training varies from a whole school approach to individualised training programmes that are specifically tailored to meet requirement.
NPQ
Relevant National Professional Qualifications are signposted through our link with Thames Gateway Teaching School Hub.
National professional qualifications frameworks
Contact Us
Alison Cook
Head of CPD