Olivia loved school so much she is back as a teacher – along with 15 other excellent new recruits

By Jill Dando News

Former students of schools in a multi academy trust are celebrating becoming new teachers inside the same group of academies 

Olivia Elliott (pictured) and Kieran Ward, former students of Castle Batch School Academy and Worle Community School Academy, in Somerset, have successfully gained jobs in schools within the Trust they previously went to school in.

Olivia Elliott

They are joined by Georgina Lodge, who went to Priory Community School Academy, and a growing list of others who were students at schools inside the Trust.

They have all successfully completed the TPLT Schools Direct programme.

From September, Olivia will be a teacher in science, Kieran in maths and Georgina in English. Olivia studied at the University of Exeter before taking up the Schools Direct programme. 

“I felt supported and inspired by my teachers at WCSA so I wanted to support and inspire other students like me to achieve anything they want to do in life.”

Olivia Elliott, Teacher, Worle Community School Academy

She said: “I loved being a student at this school and I’m so enjoying being back as a teacher. 

“I felt supported and inspired by my teachers at WCSA so I wanted to support and inspire other students like me to achieve anything they want to do in life.”

Popular and successful teacher training

The TPLT popular Schools Direct programme has produced 88 teachers over the last four years, with many of them returning to their former schools.

Jessica Crow was a student at PCSA and is now a teacher at The King Alfred School Academy.

Cherry Groves was a student at PCSA and will now be a teacher at TKASA.  

Georgina Lodge went from PCSA to a teacher at TKASA, while Oliver Grant took the route from PCSA to WCSA.

Rugby star to teach back at his old school

Ex-international rugby star Jake Caulfield went from PCSA and is now back as a teacher at the same school.

Meanwhile previous PCSA students Ellie Brownlee is a primary school teacher at CBPSA, Charley Williams is a primary school teacher now teaching at East Huntspill, and Sapphire Fortey is now teaching Geography at PCSA.

Natasha King teaches English at TKASA, and Charlotte Biggs is a drama teacher at TKASA having both previously been students at schools in the trust.

Denise Hurr, Head of Training School Alliance at The Priory Learning Trust, said: “It is such good news to see our former students becoming teachers in our schools and testament to the success of TPLT and our training programme. 

“Well done to the latest few to successfully train and there are many more to follow.”

It is currently the fourth year that the incredibly successful programme has been training up teachers.

“We really do grow our own teachers – this is not just an aspiration of our schools but an amazing reality.” 

Neville Coles, CEO, The Priory Learning Trust

Neville Coles, CEO of The Priory Learning Trust, said: “It is wonderful to see our pupils and students thriving during their time inside our schools, so much that they want to return as teachers.

“We really do grow our own teachers – this is not just an aspiration of our schools but an amazing reality.” 

The course is producing top quality home-grown teachers for Worle Community School Academy, Priory Community School Academy, The King Alfred School Academy, St Anne’s Church Academy, Castle Batch School Academy, Pawlett Primary School Academy and many other schools in the local area.

Please contact www.theplt.org.uk for more details about teacher training within TPLT. 

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