Initial Teacher Training

Welcome to Active Teacher Training at Neale Wade Academy. We currently offer secondary teacher training with two key partners, Ambition Institute and United Teaching.  

Ambition Institute is England’s largest professional development provider for teachers and school leaders. In 2023-24, 1 in 9 teachers and leaders in state-funded schools developed professionally with Ambition. 

United Teaching is an Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ teacher training programme with a strong presence in schools across England. 

Our courses lead to achieving QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) in addition to an internationally recognised Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Your PGCE will also give you credits if you want to complete a masters in the field of education later in your career. Both options mean that you will spend time in Cromwell or one of our eleven local partner schools which are located in Chatteris, March, Huntingdon, Wisbech, Cambridge and Ipswich. 

The key difference is that United trainees will gain QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) through attendance of Professional Studies sessions on Friday afternoons at Cromwell Community College in Chatteris and the PGCE is accredited by Bath Spa university. On the other hand, Ambition trainees will gain QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) from Liverpool Hope University and attend professional studies in Chatteris on Wednesdays (NB. Trainees do not travel to Bath or Liverpool).  

We are a Lead School and have been training teachers to teach for decades. This means that when you choose to train with us, you can be sure that you will learn your craft with our expert-led team of experienced mentors and our dedicated ITT (Initial Teacher Training) Team. We will provide you with expert support from your own mentor, who is there to support, challenge and encourage you as you learn. You are provided with a laptop for the duration of the course along with Viv-up, an employee benefit scheme to support health and well-being. 

Whichever pathway you choose, both courses lead to the same qualification(s) and both can be delivered part-time or full-time to suit. Additionally, it is good to know that we are able to place you in a number of local schools in order for you to complete your training. 

Click here to see our Information Pack for more details about us and our courses

Apply to Intial Teacher Training

You can apply to train to teach with us by following this link to the Gov.UK website, where you will find information regarding courses, getting funding, what qualifications you need and any other Initial Teacher Training information by using the below link: 

Gov.uk Website

In order to find the course you wish to study, you can search for Neale Wade Academy by the name directly or by our post code PE15 9PX. 

For courses starting in September 2026, applications are open from Wednesday 8 October on the Gov.UK 'Find Teacher Training Tool'.  The 'Find Teacher Training Tool' shows you all current availability for every course we have. Do not leave it too late as many courses have filled early in recent years! 

Contact us...

If you have any questions or want to call us for a chat or to arrange a visit before applying to one of our courses, you can contact Michelle Dodman, our dedicated ITT Administration Assistant, directly with any teacher training questions on 01354 697495 or email mdodman@cromwell.cambs.sch.uk. 

We encourage all applicants to come into school to see us if they wish to do so – trainees currently training with us often are able to provide the best reviews of what their course is like!