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.
Jane Robinson
Specialist Leader of Education
Jane is Assistant Headteacher and SENCO at Hoyland Common Primary School and has over 14 years’ SENCO experience. She has supported a number of schools with their SEND provision including SEND Policy development, identification of SEND, monitoring and analysis of data and more...tracking systems for SEND, managing interventions and tracking their impact. She has experience of advising and supporting teachers with quality first teaching for children with SEND. Jane worked on secondment for the Local Authority with the SCI Team advising schools on a range of strategies to support children with Social Communication and Interaction difficulties. She has led staff meetings on all areas of SEND need and has a good knowledge multi-agency working. She has also carried out whole school SEND Reviews.
Katy Falconer
Local Leader of Education
Katy is the Head of School (Primary) at Holy Trinity and was the previous Head Teacher at Jump Primary School. She has experience of developing leadership, analysing data and action planning to improve outcomes at all levels. She particularly enjoys working as part of a team.
Katie Rose
Specialist Leader of Education
Katie is an experienced KS2 practitioner and was the literacy leader at Shawlands Primary School. She has implemented whole school changes to the writing curriculum to embed SPaG objectives, ensure cross curricular links and consistency of pitch, expectations and challenge. The subject is now more...one of the strengths of the school and standards and progress have continued to rise over the past few years. Katie has outstanding subject knowledge and has worked with a variety of schools to deliver CPD to staff of all levels. She loves being involved in research and development opportunities and is currently working within her own setting to investigate the benefits of whole class guided reading. Katie has recently moved to Summerfields Primary Academy.
Simon Tabbner
Local Leader of Education
Simon is the Head Teacher at Silkstone Common Junior and Infant School. He brings together his experience as an AST, a Deputy Head Teacher and currently works with Leeds Carnegie to develop teaching and learning. Simon enjoys working collaboratively with other schools looking at data, curriculum more...and the engagement of pupils to ensure the best outcomes.
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.
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.
Adam Fidment
Specialist Leader of Education
Adam is an outstanding practitioner who has worked across KS1 and 2. He is a classroom teacher at Wombwell Park Street Primary School with experience of managing children with challenging behaviour. Adam has experience in leading a variety of area including; computing, mathematics, Online more...Safety, website development, assessment, home learning and wellbeing, with specialisms in behaviour and SEN. Adam has supported a number of colleagues and other school within the area to raise standards in behaviour management and encourage a positive approach to supporting the SEMH needs of our children.
Rachel Knox
Specialist Leader of Education
Rachel is an experienced practitioner and Deputy Head Teacher at Gawber Primary School. She has experience of teaching throughout the primary phase; however, specialises in UKS2. Rachel specialises in the teaching of English and has been the Lead Moderator for Barnsley LA for the last few years. more...Rachel has supported schools and individuals in a number of areas with a focus on raising the standards of teaching and learning.
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.
Gerry Foster Wilson
National Leader of Education
Gerry is the CEO of Every Child Matters Academy Trust. She is an experienced NLE working with schools in a variety of contexts. Gerry has a track record of school improvement including moving schools in special measures to good. Gerry has worked at both national and local level writing national strategy more...and delivering CPD to ensure that this was successfully developed at both national and local level. She has a wide range of experience of leading multi-agency services to meet locally set targets. Gerry represents Headteacher colleagues at the Trust Executive Group and on the Barnsley Alliance Board. This has enabled her to contribute to both educational and wider service policy. She has 3 years’ experience of working as a lead OFSTED inspector. Gerry is currently working alongside the local authority to offer specialist SEND provision to meet the needs of the borough.
