About us
Suffolk & Norfolk SCITT
Welcome
Our Context
We are delighted to welcome you to Suffolk and Norfolk SCITT
We are a dynamic, high-quality, well established teacher training provider which offers a range of school-based routes into teaching. If you are considering a career in teaching, then we cannot wait to meet you.
We're proud of our profession and are privileged to be able to work with so many inspirational trainees as they start their journey to become excellent teachers and future school leaders. No day is ever the same and the rewards of working with young people are incredibly hard to top!
Personalised
Personalised
We offer high levels of support for your professional and academic needs. Your support from the SCITT programme will be from a range of SCITT tutors who will guide you through your training with regular visits and frequent meetings and dialogues. You will also be supported by a mentor and the professional tutor in your placement school.’
Relational
Relational
The importance we put on building relationships with each other and your mentor and SCITT Tutors is recognised by what our alumni say about how supported they felt by everyone who was involved in their training.
Ethical
Ethical
We will encourage you to develop a commitment to professional learning throughout your teaching career. We want you to become resilient and reflective teachers who stay in the teaching career so you can make a difference to the life chances of young people.
Hear From Our Trainees
Meet The Course Leadership
Led by our dedicated team of experienced education professionals, our team of tutors, wellbeing and administration support staff are proud to deliver high quality support throughout your experience
Jo Seller
Primary Senior Trainer
Jo Seller
Jo worked in schools in Suffolk as a primary school teacher in various roles for ten years before joining Suffolk and Norfolk SCITT. Jo has been the Primary Senior Trainer for Suffolk and Norfolk SCITT programme since 2014. She is passionate about trainee well-being and is a trained Mental Health First Aider and is driving the programme forward on developing our awareness and commitment to promoting positive mental health, equality, diversity and inclusion with our trainees and partnership schools.
Anna Richards
Executive Leader
Anna Richards
Anna has worked for Suffolk and Norfolk SCITT for over six years and is proud to be the Executive Leader of one of the biggest SCITTs in the country. Prior to this she worked in a range of primary and special schools finishing her teaching career with five years as a primary head teacher.
Whilst working in schools, Anna saw first-hand the positive impact trainee teachers have on a school community and on school improvement. It is this experience that informs her work with Suffolk and Norfolk SCITT
Dr Sally Wilkinson
Primary Course Leader
Dr Sally Wilkinson
Sally has worked in primary schools in Suffolk as a teacher, senior leader and headteacher. Before taking up the role of Primary SCITT Leader in December 2017, she worked as a school improvement adviser for Suffolk LA.
Sally is passionate about the power of education to transform lives. The next generation of outstanding teachers are the future of education and she feels privileged to be part of the SCITT team training teachers to work in Suffolk and Norfolk schools.
Kate Sida-Nicholls
Secondary Leader
Kate Sida-Nicholls
Kate taught English and other Humanities subjects in schools for eighteen years before becoming involved in Initial Teacher Education. Kate has been leading Suffolk and Norfolk Secondary SCITT programmes for the past eight years.
The phrase ‘don’t put lids on kids’ and aspirations for all, underpins the Secondary SCITT programme as this approach is key to promoting social and economic success for all students in our local region.
Janet Bell
Primary Assistant Leader
Janet Bell
Janet has worked in primary and middle schools in Suffolk as a teacher, senior leader and headteacher. She then worked as a local authority adviser, developing middle leader courses and working with NQTs, before becoming involved in the GTP and SCITT as they started in Suffolk.
Janet strongly believes in building supportive, positive relationships with trainees, mentors and tutors so that the whole team thrive and learn together.
Sandy Thornton
Sandy Thornton
Sandy worked in primary schools in Essex and Suffolk as teacher, advanced skills teacher, SLE and assistant headteacher for seventeen years before joining the Suffolk and Norfolk SCITT in April 2020.
Sandy is passionate about learning and believes in a ‘can do’ approach. She is an advocate for growth mindset and is proud to be part of the SCITT team, aspiring trainee teachers to reach their potential.
Meet Our Business Support Team
Emma Howes
Emma Howes
Business Support Officer for Secondary and Primary Salaried programmes
Molly Flowers
Molly Flowers
Business Support Officer for Primary programme and Primary Recruitment
Ade Burch
Ade Burch
Business Support Finance Manager
Lucinda James
Lucy James
Business Support Co-ordinator for Secondary programmes and Recruitment
Emily Wilson
Emily Wilson
Business Support Officer for Primary Programmes
Take a Glimpse Into Our Courses
Our Online Networking Platform
We know that teachers and teacher training students have as much to give as they have to learn – which is why we’ve developed a powerful digital platform to support students and alumni to interact, share good practice, raise questions and mutually support each other.