Apply now to train as primary teacher in 2026

Graduates considering a career in teaching are being invited to apply now for the 2026 intake of a Barrow-based programme.

Applications have opened today for the Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) Primary programme, delivered through a partnership between South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust (SCMAT) and the University of Cumbria.

The one-year course, hosted at Chetwynde School in Barrow, offers trainees the opportunity to gain both a PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) from the University of Cumbria.

Successful candidates will train within SCMAT schools, benefitting from hands-on classroom experience while being supported by expert educators across the Trust and University.

Steve Jefferson, Acting CEO of SCMAT, said he was delighted the programme to develop future teaching staff was under way with its first cohort.

“This is an exciting time for the town with the opening of the state-of-the-art Barrow Campus, which is a remarkable learning environment for higher education students.

“We are proud to be growing our own teachers in South Cumbria, ensuring schools in our communities have the talented and committed workforce our pupils deserve.

“This partnership with the University of Cumbria provides high-quality teacher training with placements rooted in local schools, creating strong pathways into the profession.”

Dr Ruth Harrison-Palmer, Dean, Institute of Education, Arts and Society at the University of Cumbria, said: “As a top provider of teacher education in the North West, the University of Cumbria is proud to maintain strong partnerships with a wide range of schools and educational settings, including the South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust.

“Our new campus in Barrow welcomed its first students this semester and as a university in and for Cumbria we will continue to collaborate closely with employers and organisations to ensure that together we respond to the needs of our industries and our communities, enabling them to thrive now and for generations to come.”

The programme is open to graduates aged 21 and over who are passionate about education, enjoy working with children and are motivated to make a difference in their community.

The next cohort will begin their studies in September 2026 at Chetwynde School, with placements available across SCMAT schools including Newbarns, Ormsgill, Vickerstown, Cambridge, Chetwynde and South Walney Juniors. The places are non-salaried but student finance is available, and those who complete the programme will be guaranteed an interview with SCMAT at the end of the course.

Apply here.

You can find out more about SCMAT’s Primary PGCE teacher training programme at the upcoming University of Cumbria Barrow Campus Open Evening on October 22nd from 4pm to 7pm. For further details, please head to www.cumbria.ac.uk/events/open-days/

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