Teaching is an exciting and rewarding profession. If you are looking for a change of career and are seeking a place on the PGCE/QTS programme or the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP), then Forest Independent Primary Collegiate (FIPC) could be a major factor in helping you to achieve your objective. The FIPC partnership schools lie within the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Enfield and the county of Essex.

Our SCITT (PGCE route) is based upon a school partnership scheme which currently involves 23 schools.Schools employing GTP trainees vary, although some of our partnership schools are also involved in this programme. The collegiate taught course takes place in its building on the Limes Farm Junior School adjacent to Limes Farm Infant School site, Limes Avenue in Chigwell, Essex IG7 5LP. This creates a community dedicated to teaching and learning. The FIPC is close to the three undergrounds: Chigwell, Hainault and Grange Hill linked with local buses.

All our schools have a very high commitment to ITT in whatever form it may take. The Management Committee is very active and rigorous in reviewing current practice and seeking ways to improve what we have on offer. There is a supporting network of committees representing mentors, subject tutors and trainees.

                                                  The key strengths are:

• an established, close knit partnership with many former trainees now acting as mentors
• a well structured academic and practical course with an effective focus on understanding how to manage pupils' behaviour
• the good range of contrasting placements which prepares trainees well to teach in a diverse community
• the two week placement in a special school which is a powerful stimulus for many trainees in positively influencing their subsequence practice
• the development of trainees as confident and reflective practitioners willing to take risks in their training

                                             Ofsted June 2010