New teacher training sub-hub brings teaching opportunities closer to Oxford and Reading

Training to be a teacher in the Oxford and Reading region has just got easier, thanks to GLF Teacher Training, which is part of the GLF Schools Multi-Academy Trust.

​The new GLF Teacher Training Oxford and Reading Sub-Hub offers training in both secondary and primary phases and is designed to meet the teacher-training and recruitment needs of the Trust’s schools across the region.

“Travelling to other GLF teacher-training bases has been an issue for candidates in the past, which we hope this new sub-hub will solve, whilst keeping all our GLF trainees connected,” explained Nerys Lucas, Communications and Operations Officer at GLF Schools.

On completion of the programme, which is provided alongside delivery partner Inspiring Future Teachers, trainees will gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), with the option to ‘top up’ to a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at the University of Brighton.

“This flexible model ensures that trainees receive both practical classroom experience and academic grounding into best practice,” said Ms Lucas. “Trainees will be supported by expert leaders from local Oxford and Reading schools to ensure this sub-hub has a regional flavour.”

Covering Reading, Abingdon, Didcot, Oxford, Kidlington, Bicester, Banbury, and surrounding rural areas, the Sub-Hub can offer students placements at both GLF Schools, as well as other partner schools.

“All GLF schools located in the Oxford and Reading area are actively involved in the Oxford and Reading Teacher Training Sub-Hub,” continued Ms Lucas.

“The Sub-Hub is also happy to work with other like-minded local schools that are committed to excellence in teaching and learning. This collaborative approach will help build a strong, practice-led network that supports continuous improvement across the region.”

Based at GLF member Aureus School in Didcot, the Sub-Hub will be co-led by Highdown School in Reading, which is also part of the Trust.

“We are incredibly proud to be the home of the new Teacher Training Sub-Hub,” said Aureus Headteacher Kirsty Rogers. “This initiative reflects our commitment to excellence and to developing both students and future educators.

“We are excited to welcome aspiring teachers into our community and support them as they build the skills and confidence needed to thrive in the profession.”

“Teaching is one of the few professions where you can have a tangible impact on young people for up to seven years of their lives. We look forward to supporting the next generation of teachers in Oxfordshire and Reading as we lead on the teacher training provision for the GLF Sub-Hub,” said Highdown Headteacher Laura Mathews.

The first local trainees started the programme at Aureus School this September and can look forward to graduating in July 2026.

“The application rate for this, our first year, has been encouraging, proving the appetite for initial teacher training at GLF Schools in the Oxfordshire region,” said Jen Hammond, who is Deputy Director of GLF Teaching School Hub (TSH).

“We were delighted to welcome the first cohort of trainees to Aureus School in September and to growing this new regional hub in the coming years. As we expand further, we envisage our portfolio increasing the teacher training provision in order to offer placements across all our GLF Schools in the region.”

Angela Rodda, Director of GLF TSH, added: “We are keen to meet the initial teacher training recruitment needs of all GLF schools, and the launch of our Oxford and Reading new sub-hub of GLF Schools Teacher Training is an exciting step towards this for all our GLF schools in this region.”

In addition to the new sub-hub, GLF Teacher Training are also launching a new website this Autumn, to coincide with the DfE application window opening on the 7th of October for prospective trainee teachers looking to start their training in September 2026. "The new website - www.glftt.org - will contain all the information, support and advice a potential trainee teacher could want to make an informed decision on how and where they would like to train to teach" advised Nerys Lucas.

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