Two teacher training providers have announced they are to join forces to create one hub, delivering teacher training courses, access to career development programmes and leadership opportunities in education throughout Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Inspiring Leaders School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) is recognised as an outstanding provider, currently working with hubs in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

Its primary Nottinghamshire hub is within the Flying High Partnership, which has previously worked with 4Derbyshire Teaching School Alliance, bringing about school improvement, teacher training, and career progression across both counties. Now the two groups will join for primary Initial Teacher Training in a hub to be called Flying High 4Nottinghamshire, 4Derbyshire.

Paul Goodman, deputy chief executive of The Flying High Trust and Teaching School Alliance (TSA), director (Candleby Lane TSA). He said that the new hub will pool the expertise and resources of each group to bring unique opportunities to trainees.

“Through this new partnership, we hope to not only deliver outstanding teacher training, but a package of professional development and support that will follow teachers through every stage of their career,” he added.

Speaking of the bespoke system on offer to trainees, Paul said: “Through our partnership of schools and Inspiring Leaders, we will support you through your training year, enable you to secure a teaching position, support you in the early stages of your career and ultimately enable you to progress to middle leadership, senior leadership or even headship.

“We believe that this package of support, extending throughout a career, makes this a unique partnership in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire with which to train and teach.”

Russyn Cast, ILTT Hub Leader for Flying High Partnership, added@ “This is fantastic news for both for those who train with us, and for the schools across our respective alliances. By bringing the 4Derbyshire ITT provision and the ILTT Flying High provision together to create a single Flying High Hub as part of ILTT, we will strengthen the sense of team and the depth of working relationships. The greater resource base of schools and lead teachers will give trainees even better access to exemplary practice in a diverse range of settings.”

The partnership will also mean that Derbyshire trainees can choose to train with an outstanding SCITT, in a high-quality school that is within a reasonable distance from their home.

Victoria Jones, training and development manager, welcomed the news, saying: “I am delighted and excited to see what this new opportunity will bring to both Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

“Working together will only build on our strengths to offer fantastic opportunities to our trainee teachers. Our shared values and aim to not just to be here to train teachers, but to train, develop and support the best teachers for our children and schools.”

Picture are trainee teachers at Creswell Crags, spelling out ILTT (Inspiring Leaders Teacher Training) to celebrate the merger. From left to right are Joanna Davis, Georgia Dabell, Andrea Houston and Bethany Elvin.