Dorothy Stringer School has an excellent and long-standing reputation for high quality Teacher Training. In partnership with the Schools of Education at Brighton and Sussex Universities, we train up to 36 Trainee Teachers a year, across most subjects following various routes. Our trainee teachers consistently rate their experiences here as good or outstanding.

Our intention is to instil a lifelong passion and enthusiasm for teaching and learning in all our trainee teachers. As a city school, Dorothy Stringer has a comprehensive intake of students. As such we are able to provide our trainees with a wide range of pedagogical and classroom management skills necessary to engage and challenge all pupils with a variety of learning needs.

Establishing the conditions in which pupils are happy and enthusiastic about learning is central to our practice; skilful, committed and vibrant teaching is at the heart of our school. We believe trainee teachers, who are continually supported by experienced mentors and classroom practitioners, bring a vitality and enthusiasm to our school and our students. We offer a rich and diverse programme of Professional Studies, drawing on the experience of many experienced practitioners in the school, both teaching and non-teaching staff.

We strive to promote excellent practice through example. This, together with sustained mentoring and support, enables our trainees to become confident, knowledgeable and skilful teachers. Trainees are also expected to participate in the varied and dynamic fabric of school life beyond the classroom. They take part in our rich extra-curricular programme in order to understand the benefit and joy of educating the whole child. Under supervision our trainees also provide care for our students as co-tutors in the pastoral system and work with the SEND department, providing nurture and additional support to our most vulnerable students. This element of their work ensures they are well prepared for the myriad of roles they are expected to play in their ECT period. It also allows trainees to establish an understanding of a range of whole-school issues, the values and assumptions that underpin them, and their application to school and classroom practice.

Our commitment to excellence and aspiration for all whilst developing the whole young person is the foundation for our student teachers to go forward to inspire and educate the all pupils they will have the privilege to teach over the coming years.

 The diverse and dynamic training programme on offer at Dorothy Stringer, alongside the skilled and professional mentoring trainees receive, mean we produce teachers who are ready and excited to gain employment. This is of great value when we seek to recruit staff: indeed over a third of our current teaching staff was trained at the school.