Currently 53 organisations, including 46 higher education institutions (HEIs) are providing high quality induction and training experiences, closely aligned to the core programme for student associates, to prepare students in higher education for placements in schools.
The driving forces for the scheme are the impact of the student associates on young people in school and overall quality of provision.
Students progress during the 15 day placement will be assured and recorded using the Student Associates Scheme training entry profile, which they may later use to demonstrate their achievements when applying for an initial teacher training course.
Funding
Providers receive funding from the TDA based on the allocation of placement days.
The funding makes provision for a bursary to the student of £40 for each day spent in school. The balance of the unit of funding is to cover all other costs associated with running the scheme, including: marketing; non-school based training; payments to schools providing the training; and Criminal Records Bureau checks, as required.
Further information (students and schools)
Further information is available for:
- Students wishing to find out more about the scheme
- Benefits to schools participating in the scheme
- Benefits for school staff participating in the scheme
SAS - student survey report
A student perception survey was carried out following academic year 2006-07. A total of 1025 students responded giving us valuable feedback on their perception of the placement and what they thought they had achieved. Overall, the results were very positive. For example, 97 per cent reported that their placement was ‘rewarding and enjoyable’.
For further analysis of the results, please download a copy of the report.
SAS scheme 2008-2011
An open tender process was carried out in 2008 to invite new providers to run the SAS scheme. Current providers who had successfully recruited to their courses in the past were also invited to renew contracts, to run for a further three years.
Here you can view a list of all newly awarded SAS contracts starting in September 2008.

