Become a Partner

• Over ten years of experience in training new teachers via a succesful school centred model, offering both QTS and PGCE routes into teaching.
• A full suite of routes, from Assessment Only and apprenticeships to bursary-led, salaried and unsalaried, with both full and part time options available.
• Each year about two thirds of trainees go on to gain employment in partner schools - and we know that others returrn as soon as vacancies become available!
• High quality in person training - our trainees are part of a growing network, with excellent opportunities for networking and mutual support.
• Exceptional level of in school support with trainees and mentors receiveing a minimum of four in person visits per year.
• Outstanding staff development opportunities from mentoring to subject tutoring and working as a Lead Mentor, all backed up with a carefully planned programme of mentor and tutor development.
• Trainee placements are accompanied by a payment to the school, facilitiating mentor release time.
• A well qualified and experienced core team of locally-based staff, on hand to provide support and guidance.
• A commitment to partnership: our schools have a voice in our strategic decision making through the termly Steering Group which actively seeks the input of partners.

The full requirements of becoming a partner are outlined in the Partnership Agreement which is signed at the beginning of each academic year before trainees join your school. Astra is fundamentally a partnership model and we look for schools who share our values.

In general terms, we look for our partners to:

• Appoint an ITTCo (Initial Teacher Training Coordinator) to coordinate the school's involvement with Astra - this is likely to be an exisiting senior leader or, in certain cases, a highly experienced middle leader.
• Agree to release mentors and ITTCos for training and mentor time so that all Astra trainees receive high quality mentoring and expert colleague input.
• Play an active role in the publicising the SCITT and promoting teacher training in our area.
• Encourage and promote staff involvement, whether as mentors, tutors or other expert colleagues.
• Provide a supportive and welcoming environment to our trainees.

Astra schools are in Buckinghamshire and the surrounding areas. Our 'patch' extends from Aylesbury Vale to the very south of the county and includes Amersham, Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross, Marlow, Wycombe and surrounding towns and villages. We also have partner schools in the Hemel Hempstead, Rickmansworth and Uxbridge/ Hillingdon areas. 

We work with primary, secondary and special schools. We include selective, non-selective and comprehensive schools in the secondary phase. Both in primary and secondary phases we welcome maintained and independent schools.

Our training is based at schools across the partnership: many of our partners host training days, alongside offering training placements.

In the first instance, contact Andrew Millar (Co-Principal) for an informal discussion via hello@astra-alliance.com. We'd love to come and talk about Astra with you in your school and to share the possibilites of involvement.

If you are looking to host a trainee for forthcoming academic year, the earlier you contact us, the better!