Tykes Teaching Alliance will endeavour to continue to help support and lead a sector led system of school improvement with a view to ensure that the children of Barnsley and beyond receive an outstanding education.
We will achieve this by:
Ensuring that all young people within our schools are awarded with the best possible opportunities and support to achieve their full potential.
Creating a collaborative approach to a self-sustaining school led system based on honesty and trust.
Hosting a pathway for teachers and our school community from pre-qualification to system leadership that will provide personalised continuous professional development (CPD) and learning opportunities.
Offering all school-based professionals CPD with a collaborative learning focus and joint practice development.
Providing opportunities, both individually and collectively, for leadership development within the alliance in order to create a sustainable approach to succession planning.
Enabling all staff to enjoy their chosen careers and to grow and develop in a nurturing, caring environment.
Together, Barnsley schools become part of something more…
Our promise to all our trainees is to deliver progressive school direct teacher training with support, guidance and professional development opportunities.
From the outset, dedicated, experienced mentors and staff within our family of schools welcome you and support you as a member of our school community.
Our team is committed to providing the very best training at the start and throughout your teaching year. They will drive, guide and develop you to prepare you to enter into the teaching profession.
Apply
Entry requirements for the courses are a 2:2 degree, along with GCSE maths, English and science (for primary) at grade C/4 or equivalent.
All teachers are expected to be competent in Fundamental English and mathematics. Initial Teacher Training (ITT) providers are expected to make an assessment of English and maths knowledge of a trainee before QTS is awarded.
The application window for the September 2023/2024 cohort will open via APPLY on 4th October 2022.
Please contact our team to find out more about your training options.
Tykes TA training is fun, innovative and exciting. Training with us will enable you to fulfil your ambition in becoming a future teacher.
From the amazing things you will experience and the day to day things that you will learn, you will certainly have structure and a supportive ‘family’ around you to progress.
School based learning is bespoke to all our individual trainees. You will have an experienced mentor to encourage and guide you throughout your training. You will also have additional support colleagues within your host school as well as tutors from SHU.
Specialist Leaders of Education (SLEs) deliver taught training sessions to ensure trainees are fully equipped to enter the teaching profession. The programme covered is innovative and relevant to the current climate and needs of the local region.
Our family of schools provides many opportunities for sharing excellent practice. Help and support is always at hand whenever you need it.
Nurture
You are safe hands, is our philosophy for all trainees. We foster a nurturing approach to all trainees and provide everything that you need to be the very best that you can be.
Our guiding principle is to support, nurture and grow trainees throughout the alliance.
We champion equality and opportunity for all and we host inclusive working environments for everyone.
At Tykes TA, we pride ourselves on a holistic support for trainees where the wellbeing of individuals is at the heart of working together. We care.
Grow
Graduating the programme means the award of QTS/PGCE qualifications (60 credits at Masters Level).
Upon graduation, Tykes TA offers all graduates support to gain employment.
95% of our trainees succeed to secure employment as ECTs before or after graduation.
We are a registered Appropriate Body for Early Careers Teachers (ECTs), therefore we can continue to support you throughout your first year of teaching and beyond.
We provide an extensive portfolio of career pathways that are available to every teacher starting their journey with Tykes TA.
We promote a breadth of continuous professional development courses, Early Career Teachers, Middle and Senior Leader training and National Qualification programmes.
68
Initial Teacher Training trainees have gained Qualified Teacher Status through Tykes TA over the last 3 years. We have a 100% pass rate!
516
Early Careers Teachers have successfully passed their Induction with the support of Tykes TA over the last 3 years. We have a 100% pass rate!
95
Barnsley Schools have connected with Tykes TA over the last 3 years to access services such as evidenced based CPD and/or bespoke School to School Support.
162
Schools across the wider region have utilised the services of Tykes TA over the last 3 years.
Join our family of schools – together we can be part of something more…
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School to School Support
View our individual system leader pen portraits.
Rachel Ward – Head of School
Specialist Leader of Education
Rachel Ward is the Head of School at Parkside Primary Academy and also part of the Future Leaders network. She has been an SLE since January 2012 and has worked with a range of different schools and staff including primary, secondary and special schools. As an SLE, she has worked with senior leadership more...teams undertaking school improvement, building capacity within these schools so they can become self-sustaining and continue to improve. Her work as an SLE in primary and secondary schools includes leading teaching and learning, designing and facilitating bespoke professional development programmes and working with both teachers and associate staff to move teaching from RI to consistently good or good to outstanding. She is also a GCSE history examiner, working for AQA for the past 10 years.
Areas of Expertise:
• School improvement
• Continuous Professional Development
• Learning and teaching
• Coaching for leadership
• History KS1-KS4
Jamie Leigh Fury
Specialist Leader of Education
Jamie Leigh is an outstanding practitioner with experience of teaching pupils across Key stage one and two. She has a passion for promoting a love of the Science curriculum and has raised the profile of science at Wombwell Park Street Primary School. Jamie Leigh has recently gained the Primary more...Science Quality Mark (PSQM) in her school. This subject is now one of the strengths and standards and progress continue to rise. Jamie Leigh’s outstanding subject knowledge has allowed her to deliver a range of CPD within school and at a wider level.
Lee McClure
Local Leader of Education
Lee is currently the Head Teacher at Springvale Primary School after a successful period as Head at Shawlands Primary School guiding the school from Serious Weaknesses to Good in 4 terms. He is an experienced leader supporting the development of a clear and effective overarching school vision, excellent more...communication systems, rich and engaging curriculum opportunities and team teaching opportunities that enhance high-quality CPD for all staff.
Rachael Cook
Specialist Leader of Education
Rachael has been a science lead for the past 7 years. During this time, she has raised the profile of science through implementing whole school projects including STEM weeks and science competitions, as well as linking with local STEM businesses to inspire and enthuse pupils. Rachael has formed more...and led an ENTHUSE Partnership for science with other local primary schools and is currently Deputy Lead of an ENTHUSE Partnership formed by Horizon CC, working with 10 primary schools to develop science teaching and learning. Rachael is an accredited STEM Associate Facilitator and delivers STEM courses on behalf of STEM Learning and the ENTHUSE Partnerships. In school, Rachael has carefully developed a science curriculum which focuses on clear end points, vocabulary and scientific skills, and has integrated this into the science curriculum offer. She has worked with and supported colleagues within school and beyond to develop teaching and learning in science. Rachael has also been a Curriculum Development Lead for the past 3 years, supporting SLT and subject leaders to form progressive long term plans for each non-core curriculum subject. Rachael is also an ITT mentor for Schools Direct and PGCE Students. She has recently completed the NPQSL qualification.
Rob Smith
Local Leader of Education
Rob is the Head Teacher at Summer Lane Primary School. Over the years, he has developed expertise in developing action plans to support teaching and learning and has a strong interest in assisting schools on the analysis of date. He enjoys working collaboratively to achieve the best possible outcomes more...for schools and children.
Rachel Parker
Specialist Leader of Education
Rachel is currently Deputy Head Teacher at Hoyland Springwood Primary School. Her area of SLE specialism is curriculum development and teaching and learning. She has held a range of curriculum leader roles and also has in depth experience in teaching KS2, in particular demonstrating outstanding more...practice in Year 6.
Dawn Bradshaw
Specialist Leader of Education
Dawn is the Head teacher at Gawber Primary School and former Year 6 teacher and Deputy Head teacher. She has extensive knowledge in teaching all pupils especially Year 6. Her areas of expertise include maths (she is a maths specialist teacher) assessment, Year 6 and SPaG.
Jenni Wyrill
Specialist Leader of Education
Jenni is an experienced KS2 practitioner and Director of Teaching and Learning where she continues to implement change in order to rapidly raise standards and improve progress across PACT. She has supported schools across Barnsley for many years as an AST and literacy consultant and adores more...developing creative curriculums. Jenni works closely with support staff and supports collaborations in the training, policy writing and planning for effective support staff practice. She also enjoys areas of research alongside working towards her Master of Education.
James Dransfield
Specialist Leader of Education
James is an outstanding practitioner of English and Acting Assistant Principal at Northern Education Trust Kirk Balk Academy working as part of the teaching and learning team with an oversight of the quality of teaching and learning for the school. In his role on the senior team, he has a strong more...understanding and wealth of knowledge with regards to all new to teaching programmes at ITT, ECT and RQT level. In this role, he has developed systems and packages of CPD that offer bespoke support and parallels the work provided by training platforms and providers that have then been utilised by the NTA and other training providers as a strategy of supporting those new to the profession. James is particularly passionate about quality first teaching and learning in the classroom as a key intervention strategy and how collaborative links can be made across the community in order to ensure the highest quality outcomes for all students in the local area.
Jo Upton
Specialist Leader of Education
Jo is an experienced practitioner and Deputy Head Teacher at Gooseacre Primary Academy. She has experience of teaching throughout the full primary phase, in particular demonstrating outstanding practise in Years 2 and 6. She has supported schools with the teaching and development of the maths curriculum more...and supporting newly qualified teachers. Jo is particularly interested in cooperative learning, and strategies to maximise pupil engagement and participation.
