University-Led Secondary Offers

Professional Mentors (PM) co-ordinate trainees’ work and arrange a programme of experience which offers opportunities to explore whole-school or cross-curricular themes in detail. The Professional Mentor is responsible for collecting information from Subject Mentors to inform the completion and submission of the appropriate Assessment Profile to the given deadlines. The Professional Mentor ensures that Subject Mentors have sufficient capacity to undertake their role, including time to observe trainees and hold weekly meetings.

General Mentors (GM) have a more focused and specific responsibility. They play a leading role in working with trainees on the teaching of their specialist subject, providing information on school policy and practice, and providing feedback to trainees based on observation of classroom practice. General Mentors liaise with University Professional Practice Tutors about trainees’ progress and provide an avenue through which University provision is related to the specific circumstances of the school. The

General Mentor is responsible for tracking trainees’ attendance and reporting on this via each Assessment Profile during the placement.

General Mentors conduct one formal (timetabled) lesson observation per week, and one formal meeting per week in which feedback on the observation is provided to each trainee, with targets agreed for the next observed lesson (1 hour), as per the Partnership Handbook.

Please note: PM and GM roles should not be held by the same person. Each member of staff carrying out a mentor role is required to engage in University of Warwick mentor development training in accordance with the ITT criteria.

The Core PGCE programmes at the University attract a fee directly from the student to cover the expense of their training. This funding covers four main areas of expenditure:

• Academic and specialist staffing, dedicated teaching rooms and related facilities
• University student support infrastructure, including the library, Learning Grid, the most up to date ICT facilities and Student Support Services
• Placement-related costs, visits/online meetings by University Professional Practice Tutors, including the provision of any necessary interventions
• Funding paid to partnership schools as a contribution towards classroom-based training, engagement with the University’s mentor development sessions and partnership events

The funding for each Professional Placement has been determined at the below rates per trainee:

• PP1 Autumn Term 2025 £600*
• PP2 Spring and Summer Terms 2026 £1,000*

*Payments due to the partner school will be reduced by £45.00 per full week that the trainee is not present on placement. A change in the school’s Ofsted grading may impact on the University’s ability to place students at the Partner School, in line with Ofsted guidance.

Once a trainee has been matched to your school you will be asked to sign and return a copy of the Model 1 Partnership Agreement, which sets out the roles and responsibilities of the school and the University, and confirms the payment schedule. Payment of fees is dependant on the return of a signed partnership agreement.

A cancellation of contract is possible if a trainee's conduct has become unmanageable but must be done in full consultation with the University.
A formal letter from the provider must be sent to the Head of Secondary PGCE at the University once a termination of placement has been agreed in principle.

Any queries regarding funding or partnership agreement should, in the first instance, be sent to: partnership@warwick.ac.uk

Please note: Offers may be accepted at the discretion of the University in line with subject/student demand.

Each week while on school placement, trainees will have a contact day at the university.
This will be on either a Monday or a Friday, depending on their subject. Please see the division of subjects below: