THIS year’s cohort of seven trainee teachers working with Ilkley All Saints’ Primary School and their partnership schools celebrated the end of their training with a graduation ceremony at Leeds Trinity University.

The trainees have all successfully completed their training and are now getting for teaching in the next academic year.

The teacher training programme which is designed by All Saints’ Primary School is setting a new vision for teacher training and the profession as a whole as they look to instil renewed inspiration and energy into entering the profession, embracing those who are uniquely talented and diverse in the broadest sense.

Chris Whitehead, who works across the field of education and specifically with the All Saints’ trainee teachers, recognises the importance of recruiting spirited individuals.

Earlier this month, Chris was a guest speaker at the Westminster Education Forum where he set out his ideas for making the profession more attractive.

“We must see teachers as a collection of individuals who hold shared values around education, rather than a collection of people who must conform to one notion of what good teaching looks like,” he said.

“There are talented individuals who can add value to the profession in many number of ways – it is our job to embrace them and support them, sometimes with space, time and freedom to allow them to be their own version of brilliant.”

Yet again, All Saints’ Primary School have been in a position to employ one of their own trainees. Bronwyn McMurrough will join their key stage 1 team from September alongside a previous trainee who was employed last year.

Bronwyn said of her experience of training to teach: “I cannot recommend training through the Ilkley All Saints’ partnership enough.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my training year and am very grateful for all the support and expertise I have received along the way.

“I am looking forward to September and joining the rest of the team at All Saints.”

Chris added: “The programme continues to go from strength to strength as 11 new trainees and two teaching apprentices will participate in the teaching programme from September.

“Well done to all those who graduated this year.”