Waterside Academy
Waterside Academy is a friendly and inclusive one-form entry primary school in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, serving children from Nursery to Year 6. As part of the Agora Learning Partnership, we are committed to providing high-quality education through our trust vision, "Today's learning for tomorrow's world."
We have high expectations for all pupils and place equal importance on academic achievement, personal development and wellbeing. Our school values are reflected in our Golden Rules: We show respect, We are kind, We look after property, We keep ourselves safe and We try our hardest.
Waterside Academy is a supportive and collaborative place to work, where staff are encouraged to develop their skills and share good practice. We are committed to professional development and welcome trainee teachers as an important part of our school community. Trainees benefit from working alongside experienced and supportive colleagues, gaining experience across a broad and engaging curriculum, and contributing to a culture that puts children at the heart of everything we do.
We pride ourselves on our warm relationships, inclusive ethos and commitment to helping every child succeed.
About our school experience
- Details
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During your placement at Waterside Academy, you will gain first-hand experience of life in a primary school and develop a deeper understanding of the teaching profession.
You can expect to spend time observing lessons across a range of subjects and year groups, seeing different teaching approaches and classroom management strategies in action. There will be opportunities to interact with pupils, support learning activities and discuss planning, assessment and curriculum delivery with experienced staff.
You will also learn about the wider role of teachers, including safeguarding, behaviour management, inclusion, adaptive teaching and working collaboratively with colleagues, parents and external agencies.
Where possible, we will tailor aspects of the experience to your interests and provide opportunities to ask questions about teacher training routes and career progression. Our aim is to give you a realistic, supportive and inspiring insight into teaching and life in a primary school.
- Start and finish times
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8 am to 4 pm
- Flexible
Teachers typically work between 8:00am and 4:30pm. However, staff have flexibility within this to organise their working day in a way that best meets their professional and personal commitments, provided that their responsibilities are fulfilled.
Student teachers would be expected to align their working pattern with that of their class mentor wherever possible, including attending relevant meetings, training sessions and school events, to ensure they gain the maximum benefit from their placement experience.
- Dress code
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Smart casual
- Teacher training
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Waterside Academy is committed to supporting the development of future teachers and has strong links with a range of teacher training providers. We regularly host trainee teachers and have recently supported students from West Essex SCITT, the University of Hertfordshire and Middlesex University.
As a placement school, we work closely with training providers to offer high-quality school-based experiences and mentoring. Trainees benefit from observing experienced practitioners, developing their classroom practice and gaining insight into all aspects of primary school life.
We welcome enquiries from prospective trainees and teacher training providers and are keen to support the next generation of teachers through a positive and rewarding placement experience.
Links to more information about our school
- Waterside Academy website
- Waterside Academy Get Information About Schools
- Ofsted report: Waterside Academy
- Performance information: Waterside Academy
- Teacher training: Waterside Academy
Entry requirements
You must:
- None
- DBS check required
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Yes - when in school. All visitors and placement students must comply with the school's safeguarding procedures. DBS and suitability checks will normally be completed by the teacher training provider or university before the placement begins. The school will verify documentation as required.
Placement availability
Waterside Academy is happy to work with a range of teacher training providers and programmes. We can offer placements of varying lengths, including short school experience visits, contrast placements and longer-term placements where Waterside Academy acts as the host school.
Placement availability is considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the needs of the trainee, training provider and school. We are generally able to offer placements throughout the academic year, subject to capacity and staffing arrangements. We encourage providers and prospective trainees to contact us to discuss their requirements so that we can identify the most suitable opportunities.
- School experience type
- In school
Location
- Address
- Rowans, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 1NZ
- Parking
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Yes - on site parking provided
The school has a small staff car park. However, there is ample on-street parking available in the surrounding area, with no parking restrictions in place.
- Disability and access details
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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
- Early years, Primary (4 to 11)