Saffron Walden County High School
At SWCHS, we believe that every child deserves to go to an excellent school. It should be a school that understands them, allows them to flourish and be happy, and helps them to achieve in order to make the best possible academic progress whatever their ability or circumstances. It can do this by providing them with inspiring teaching, a secure and caring environment, expert advice and guidance, and rich and motivating enrichment opportunities. Our objective is to develop the skills, talents and values of every individual so that they can achieve impressive levels of personal success and go on to make a positive contribution to society. All the evidence demonstrates that SWCHS is such a learning environment and can confidently call itself a local school of exceptional quality.
About our school experience
- Details
- Observations of lessons, time to discuss plans for training with expert colleagues and opportunities to interact with pupils where this is possible. Please note that we do NOT offer opportunities to teach pupils on these days, nor do we offer work experience blocks.
- Start and finish times
-
8:15am to 3.30pm
- Flexible
At candidate request
- Dress code
-
Business dress
- Teacher training
-
We are a partnership school for the CTSN SCITT and the Faculty of Education at Cambridge University.
Links to more information about our school
- Saffron Walden County High School website
- Saffron Walden County High School Get Information About Schools
- Ofsted report: Saffron Walden County High School
- Performance information: Saffron Walden County High School
Entry requirements
You must:
- Must not have been accepted onto another teacher training course
- Photo identification: Passport or driving licence
- If you wish to cancel a visit we ask for two working days notice.
- DBS check required
-
No, candidates will be accompanied at all times.
Placement availability
Our observation windows for this academic year are now closed. Our autumn term observation period will commence on 6th October 2025 and close on 28th November 2025. Bookings for this window can be taken from Monday 15th September 2025 when our new timetable will be in place. Please do not try to book for an autumn term visit before this date as your application will be rejected and you will be invited to rebook from 15th September.
Please note that we only offer observations on these days, not teaching episodes, nor do we offer work placements. Requests for school experience visits received out of term time will only be actioned upon return to school.
- School experience type
- In school
Location
- Address
- Audley End Road, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4UH
- Parking
-
Yes - on site parking provided
Parking available at front of school in marked visitor bays.
- Disability and access details
-
We offer facilities and provide an inclusive environment for students, staff and school experience candidates with disability and access needs. We're happy to discuss your disability or access needs before or as part of your school experience request.
- School phases
- Secondary (11 to 16), 16 to 18
- Subjects
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- Art and design
- Biology
- Business studies
- Chemistry
- Classics
- Communication and media studies
- Computing
- Dance
- Design and technology
- Drama
- Economics
- English
- French
- Geography
- German
- Health and social care
- History
- Maths
- Music
- Physical education
- Physics
- Psychology
- Religious education
- Social sciences
- Spanish