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 2021/2022 cohort will open via UCAS on Tuesday 13th October 2020.
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 Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs), 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, Newly Qualified and Recently Qualified Teacher programmes, 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…
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School to School Support
View our individual system leader pen portraits.
Bek Griffin
Specialist Leader of Education
Bek is an outstanding practitioner at Hoyland Common Primary School with experience working in KS2. Her current roles at Hoyland Common Primary School are: Y6 teacher, TLR for Curriculum Innovation and The Reconnection Curriculum, and Science lead. Through these roles she has worked more...with staff across both Key Stage 1 and 2 to develop practice and enhance teaching and learning. Her SLE areas are Leadership of Curriculum, Leadership of Continual professional development, and Science.
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.
Theresa Smith
Specialist Leader of Education
Theresa is an outstanding and driven practitioner, who is Head Teacher at High View Primary Learning Centre. Her specialisms are literacy and SEN. Fully updated of the current SEN changes, Theresa is strategically managing the transitional period across schools. With an enthusiasm for literacy, more...Theresa has implemented changes through schools that have raised standards and improved progress. Theresa designed and delivers Tykes TSA's Subject Leader programme.
Karen Brown
Local Leader of Education
Karen Brown is the Headteacher at Cherry Dale Primary School and is passionate about all things school improvement. She particularly enjoys whole school curriculum development, with emphasis on children accessing a knowledge rich curriculum. Karen promotes all staff being able to access CPD and more...deliver quality first teaching to every child. Karen has previously worked as a leader within an academy trust and also experienced working with Challenge Partners in collaboration with others schools as part of peer reviews.
Tom Banham
National Leader of Education
Tom is the CEO of HCAT. He is an experienced NLE and provides school to school support to schools in a variety of different contexts. He is a lead facilitator on the NPQH Programme and is the Chair of the South Yorkshire Teaching School Hub and represents South Yorkshire Teaching Schools at the EMSYH Regional more...Summit and Local Area SRIB. Alongside this he is also a member of the Barnsley Alliance Board that facilitates the strategic sector led school improvement of Barnsley Schools. He also is a representative of the Barnsley Formula Funding review Group for the Local Authority. This network of support enables him to access an array of specialist knowledge and expertise from a diverse pool of system leaders ranging from NLES, LLES, Consultant Heads, SLES and other field experts across the whole of the Education Sector and beyond.
Jeannette Stratton
Specialist Leader of Education
Jeannette is the Head Teacher at Lacewood Primary School in the Dearne. With nearly 27 years experience as a teacher, Jeannette's particular areas of expertise as an SLE are reading, special needs and assessment; she has also worked with schools in implementing strategies to improve reading. more...Additionally, Jeannette is a certified Irlen Screener with the ability to assess children for Irlens Syndrome & can advise on Irlen filters & provide Irlen Overlays.
Aiden Tallant
Specialist Leader of Education
Aiden is an outstanding practitioner at Hoyland Common Primary School with experience working in KS2. His current roles at Hoyland Common Primary School are: KS2 leader, ICT Lead and he has a TLR for Curriculum Innovation and Teaching and Learning, through these roles he has worked with staff across more...both Key Stage 1 and 2 to develop practice and enhance teaching and learning. In addition to this, he has also supported other schools as an outstanding teacher and SLE. His SLE areas are ICT, Curriculum, and Teaching & Learning. Aiden has a clear understanding of how to create a current, knowledge and skills based curriculum which meets the needs of all learners after recently implementing changes to practice and policy within Hoyland Common Primary School. Aiden has recently successfully commenced a new role as a Director of Learning at HCAT.
Jodie Douglas
Specialist Leader of Education
Jodie is an outstanding teacher with a passion for Mathematics, and ensuring every child is challenged, and supported to make progress and build confidence. She has been teaching for 6 years and has experience of working across KS1 and KS2. Her current roles at Worsbrough Common Primary School more...are: Year 6 lead; Co-Maths lead; and P.E team member. In addition to this, Jodie has mentored PGCE students ensuring they are equipped with the skills required to be an outstanding, engaging, and supportive teacher. She has also mentored ITT students for Tykes TSA offering extra CPD and support for the areas of the Maths curriculum where their subject knowledge needs further developing.
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.
Victoria Till
Specialist Leader of Education
Victoria Till is a tenacious and hardworking individual who always has the needs of her pupils at the heart of everything she does. She has led effective change in the EYFS unit and led a growing staff team to ensure positive outcomes for all. She is a confident and determined leader who inspires those more...around her with her positive attitude and proven track record in raising standards. She has led network days across her Trust in all elements of EYFS planning and teaching as well as assessment. Victoria has developed staff within school in terms of their leadership; working alongside our Phonics leader to ensure rapid and sustained progress across EYFS and KS1. She has also developed a culture and ethos which is bespoke for the unit she works in yet aligns with our school vision and core values. She works well with all stakeholders and leads all parental workshops throughout the school year. Her key knowledge and skills are undeniable and make her the perfect candidate to support people in any area of the curriculum.
