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 in early 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 NQTs 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.
49
Initial Teacher Training trainees have gained Qualified Teacher Status through Tykes TA over the last 3 years. We have a 100% pass rate!
461
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.
133
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…
Enter your email address below to sign up to our mailing list.
School to School Support
View our individual system leader pen portraits.
Jeni Lowrie
Specialist Leader of Education
Jeni is KS1 leader and classroom teacher at Worsbrough Common Primary School with experience in both phases, in particular demonstrating outstanding practise in year 2. She has experience leading a range of curriculum areas including ICT, PE and Science. She has supported teaching and learning more...in other schools as an SLE and facilitated CPD for staff and trainee teachers. In addition to this Jeni has been involved in the development and mentoring of NQTs. Jeni is an Apple teacher and has had a key role in the Barnsley Apple Regional Training Centre to facilitate a range of CPD with a focus on using technology in the classroom to enhance teaching and learning. Jeni is passionate about innovative education and creating a love of learning.
Nicola Jahangir
Specialist Leader of Education
Nicola is an outstanding and experienced secondary practitioner who is currently an Associate Director of Science for Northern Education Trust. Currently based at Kirk Balk Academy in Barnsley, Nicola’s role enables her to support and develop the science departments at academies within the more...Trust. As part of the wider science director team, Nicola continues to implement change in order to raise standards. Her previous roles include leader of KS3 and KS4 science, 2nd in Science and Head of Science. 22 years teaching experience in Rotherham and Barnsley has enabled her to help shape future science teachers through supportive guidance and mentoring. Her passion for quality first science teaching and vast knowledge of the curriculum, allows for pupils to be inspired, motivated and ultimately become successful in science. Furthermore, Nicola also facilitates seminars for Teach First and delivers training to specialist and non-specialist science teachers within Northern Education Trust.
James McClure
Specialist Leader of Education
James is Deputy Headteacher at Milefield Primary school. He is an outstanding practitioner with a wealth of experience across the primary sector, having led a number of curriculum areas including: Mathematics, English and IT. He has extensive knowledge and understanding of teaching more...and learning across KS1 and KS2 with particular expertise in Y5&6. He is a dedicated and highly motivated member of the school leadership team who has successfully supported and led improvement at a whole school level. He is resilient and driven in his determination to provide high quality education and provision for all pupils. Within his role as DHT, James has effectively supported both teachers and support staff as part of continuing professional development and regularly leads training to upskill staff and ensure consistency and high expectations. James places importance on leading by example and leads the development of teaching and learning through working effectively with colleagues to plan, teach and collaborate on best practice. James works strategically and clearly understanding school improvement priorities, working with leaders to a all levels to develop and enhance curriculum provision. His SLE areas are Curriculum and Teaching & Learning. James has recently successfully completed NPQH.
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.
Anna Silverwood
Specialist Leader of Education
Anna is an experienced and outstanding FS2 Leader at Summer Lane Primary School. She has had experience of working in both KS1 and the Early Years Foundation Stage. At Summer Lane, Anna has developed both the indoor and outdoor areas and has developed the planning in FS2 to inspire and excite the children more...to learn. This has had an impact on the teaching and learning within the school. Anna has a love for developing early writing and early reading within the early years and has supported others to promote this love of learning within the classroom.
Anna has also mentored NQTs over the past four years and has mentored school direct trainees.
Ross Taylor
Specialist Leader of Education
Ross is an experienced practitioner and Assistant Head Teacher at Mapplewell Primary School who has taught across both KS1 and KS2. Ross' particular areas of expertise as an SLE are in reading and writing, in his current role at Mapplewell Primary school he leads on literacy, data and moderation. more...Ross has a clear understanding of how to create both a reading and writing culture within school and enjoys working with schools and individuals to help raise the standards in these areas. With over 10 years' experience of teaching across South Yorkshire, Ross has breadth of experiences to draw from.
Nicola Simpson
Specialist Leader of Education
Nicola is an experienced and outstanding practitioner and SLE at High View Primary Learning Centre. She is currently Deputy Headteacher/Core Strategy and KS1 Leader with a focus on Foundation Stage and KS1. Her specialisms are in teaching and learning, phonics and teacher training. Nicola has more...supported schools and individuals in a number of areas particularly in raising the standards of teaching and learning within KS1. Nicola quality assures NQT assessments as part of Tykes TSA Appropriate Body statutory functions.
Dean Buckley
Local Leader of Education
Dean is the Principal at Kirk Balk Academy also oversees Kearsley Academy in Bolton as an Associate Executive Principal. Having supported numerous senior leaders and Principals from across his own Trust, Dean has a secure understanding and a track record of school improvement; particularly regarding more...the use of data to inform intervention and raise achievement, curriculum sequencing for an enhanced quality of education and collaborative learning techniques and a praise culture to transform provision. Being an Associate Executive Principal has meant that Dean has had the opportunity to influence the quality of education across the north of England whilst maintaining his own Headship in Barnsley; the town in which he has spent his entire career. Dean is 100% committed to Kirk Balk being an outward facing school and sees his LLE role as an ideal opportunity to develop strong working relationships with other schools and develop, even further, the talented individuals within them for the benefit of Barnsley children.
Catherine Gallagher
Specialist Leader of Education
Catherine is ICT lead and SENCO at High View Primary Learning Centre. She has been teaching for several years and has experience of working in both KS1 & KS2. Her specialism is the teaching of ICT but she also excels at behaviour management techniques in the classroom. Catherine has worked with more...companies delivering training on the use of iPads as an aid to teaching and learning and also has an excellent subject knowledge of the new computing curriculum.
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.
