Bourne Institute

An apprenticeship is a route to a recognised qualification, enabling colleagues to earn while they learn, gain practical experience, and develop the skills and confidence needed for long-term career progression.

Apprenticeships play an important role in our workforce by:

• Supporting career development through structured, on-the-job learning alongside formal study
• Building confidence, skills and experience across a wide range of roles
• Opening up opportunities based on commitment and ambition, whatever someone’s background
• Bringing fresh perspectives into teams and strengthening how we work together

We currently offer apprenticeships across a wide range of areas, including but not limited to:

• Teaching
• Finance
• School business management
• Administration
• Early years

The Initial Teacher Training is a fully immersive school-centred programme – aspiring teachers will be in the classroom from the very start. But full immersion does not mean that you will be thrown in the deep end: our trainees are mentored and have central training once a week.

Eligibility criteria:

• A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent with a 2:2 or above
• A GCSE grade 4/C or above in English and maths, or equivalent
• Primary candidates will also need a GCSE grade 4/C or above in a science, or equivalent
• Your degree or A-levels will need to be relevant to the subject/phase you wish to teach

Contact our People Team for more information.

Our Early Career Teachers programme is a vital part of every new teacher’s journey, helping them to build on what they already know, retain them in the profession and prepare them as potential future leaders. We recognise that every school is different, and that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work for everyone. Our programme is designed with just that in mind and our flexible and personalised programme design means more impact in less time for both ECTs and mentors.

• Built-in flexibility - Our updated programme introduces more flexibility, with the option for schools to tailor the sequencing of programme modules to their priorities and more personalised content for ECTs.
• Practical content - Our programme has been iterated working closely with ECTs and schools to ensure that it provides more impact in less time. Our strong focus on subject and phase specificity means that the programme always feels relevant and highly contextualised, cutting out unnecessary repetition.
• Mentor support - Mentors hold a central piece of the ECT jigsaw puzzle, and we’ve built in specialist development to support them in their role, with study materials that help them to understand the tools and theory behind effective mentoring and streamlined communications to save them time.
• Research led - Our research, design and delivery teams work closely together which enables us to be responsive to any feedback from our participants or mentors, ensuring that our programme design reflects relevant evidence into what training delivers the most impact on teacher quality.

Contact our People Team to find out more.

The National Professional Qualification for Headship will equip you with the knowledge, skills, experience and network to know how to lead a school. This course builds on the knowledge you already have as an experienced teacher and senior leader, and focuses on what you need to know and be able to do to effectively lead a school. You will learn:

• How to establish and drive your school’s strategic direction
• How to set whole-school culture, creating a safe and secure environment for pupils and adults to learn, work and develop
• How to ensure curriculum and lesson planning is effective across all areas of your school
• How to develop and maintain the quality of teaching in your school
• How to design and implement assessment practices which produce valid and reliable data, and how to drive actions based on this data through others
• How to ensure all pupils experience success and enjoy a positive school experience, including those for whom school is more challenging
• All aspects of statutory compliance you need to know as a headteacher, including safeguarding, exclusions, risk management, HR and finance
• How to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders
• All aspects of governance and external organisations you will need to manage as a headteacher

Who should take the NPQH?

The National Professional Qualification for Headship is aimed at experienced and effective senior leaders who have moved into, or aspire to move into, headship. You might be a serving Deputy Headteacher or a current Headteacher - whatever your current role or career aims, the NPQH will develop your ability to effectively lead a school.

How to apply:

• Applications are now open: https://niot.org.uk/form/npq
• In the Region and Associate College section, please choose East South, London
• In ‘Trust’ section, write Bourne Education Trust
• Please apply if appropriate, following a discussion with your line manager. 

Applications close in November and courses start in January 27.

For more information, please contact our People Team.

The NPQ for Senior Leadership (NPQSL) will give you the knowledge, confidence and practical tools to lead across a whole school and make a lasting impact on pupils, staff and outcomes.

Develop your expertise in leading teaching, shaping school culture and driving improvement at scale. You’ll learn how to contribute to strategic decision-making, support colleagues to perform at their best, and create the conditions for every pupil to succeed.

This is a nationally recognised leadership qualification designed to help you move into - and thrive in - senior leadership roles.

What you'll learn: 

On this NPQ for Senior Leadership, you will develop expertise in:

• contributing to and shaping your school’s strategic direction
• establishing and sustaining a positive school culture for pupils and staff
• leading high-quality teaching and curriculum implementation across a school
• designing and implementing effective assessment systems that produce reliable data without unnecessary workload
• using data to inform decision-making and drive school improvement
• developing, managing and supporting colleagues effectively
• working with internal and external stakeholders across the school community
• understanding statutory requirements, including safeguarding, exclusions, HR and finance
• engaging with governance and external organisations

How to apply:

• Applications are now open:  https://niot.org.uk/form/npq
• In the Region and Associate College section, please choose East South, London
• In ‘Trust’ section, write Bourne Education Trust
• Please apply if appropriate, following a discussion with your line manager. 

Applications close in November and courses start in January 27.

For more information, please contact our People Team.

The NPQ for SENCOs (NPQSENCO) will give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead SEND provision effectively and ensure every pupil receives the support they need to succeed.

You’ll develop expertise in identifying and meeting pupils’ needs, working with staff and external professionals, and creating inclusive environments where all pupils can thrive.

This is a nationally recognised qualification designed to support new and aspiring SENCOs to lead SEND provision and improve outcomes across your school.

What you'll learn: 

On this NPQ for SENCOs, you will develop expertise in:

• Identifying and assessing pupils’ special educational needs
• Planning and implementing effective SEND provision
• Supporting high-quality teaching for pupils with SEND
• Working with teachers to adapt teaching and meet diverse needs
• Using data and assessment to monitor progress and inform decisions
• Leading and managing SEND systems and processes across a school
• Working with parents, carers and external agencies
• Understanding statutory requirements and SEND frameworks
• Promoting inclusive practice and removing barriers to learning

Our NPQ for SENCOs is delivered over 18 months through a blended learning model designed to fit around your role in school.

The programme consists of seven modules and a final assessment. It includes 42 hours of online self-study, plus virtual school visits and masterclasses, plus four in-person days (each six hours), featuring practice clinics and coaching.

The programme includes:

• Local seminars - apply your learning with expert facilitators and collaborate with peers
• Virtual school visits - see effective SEND provision in practice
• Online masterclasses - hear from experienced SENCOs and sector experts
• Self-study modules - engage with the latest research and evidence-informed practice
• Implementation discussions - structured support to help you apply your learning in your school

You’ll also have access to a library of masterclasses and resources throughout the programme.

How to apply:

• Applications are now open:  https://niot.org.uk/form/npq
• In the Region and Associate College section, please choose East South, London
• In ‘Trust’ section, write Bourne Education Trust
• Please apply if appropriate, following a discussion with your line manager

Applications close in November and courses start in January 27.

Contact our People Team to find out more.

Staff at BET are encouraged to join our employee voice committees and research initiatives. Whether you’re interested in wellbeing, equality, technology in education, curriculum development or sustainability, there’s a perfect opportunity waiting for you.

BET People and Places:

Our People and Places committee plays a vital part in helping BET hear your voice about issues connecting workforce priorities and colleagues wellbeing with school environments.

We use these sessions to look at:

• People: colleague wellbeing and employment-policy consultation
• Places: estates investment, capital works, safeguarding and sustainability
• Compliance: health, safety and staff training across schools

BET Together:

BET Together is a colleague network open, on a voluntary basis, to everyone across the Trust who is committed to celebrating diversity, promoting equality, and creating a culture where every person feels valued, respected, and has a true sense of belonging. 

The group meets termly to share experiences, learn from one another and guest speakers, discuss inclusion initiatives, and help shape Trust-wide actions and priorities. BET Together provides a welcoming space for colleagues to have meaningful conversations, influence positive change, and support our commitment to ensuring everyone knows they belong at BET. 

BET Futures:

BET Futures aims to help BET close the gap between research and the classroom. It provides an opportunity to collaborate with diverse practitioners to explore cutting-edge educational ideas. Conduct research and share findings to impact real-world practices in our schools. 

Our current key areas include:

• What does a healthy digital diet look like for children and young people?
• What is the true impact of technology on the environment and how might we address this?
• Can we teach children and young people to identify misinformation?