POSTGRADUATE STUDY
A guide to teacher training routes Some information in this factsheet is taken from The Department of Education and was correct at the time of publication. You are advised to go to www.education.gov.uk for the latest information.
INTRODUCTION In order to teach in the UK you will need to have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS); there are a number of routes to gain QTS which are shown in this factsheet.
KEY STAGES OF CHILDRENS LEARNING Age
Year
KEY STAGE
3-5
Reception
Early Years Foundation stage
5-7 7-11 11-14 14-16 16-19
1&2 3, 4, 5 & 6 7, 8 & 9 10 & 11 12 & 13 (College 1&2)
1 2 3 4 Post-compulsory education and /or training
SCHOOL EXPERIENCE School Experience Programme (Secondary Teaching Only) If you are interested in training as a secondary teacher then you may interested in the School Experience Programme (SEP). If you would like to spend time in a school, you may be able to arrange a visit through the SEP. The SEP is run by the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) and offers places to those wishing to commence initial teacher training (ITT) in a secondary school subject. Arranging your own school experience Volunteer in a school You can contact schools to volunteer to gain work experience. For a list of local schools you should go to the Lincolnshire County Council website (www.lincolnshire.gov.uk) or search the Yellow pages (www.yell.com). You could spend between 1-10 days of observation in a school dependent on eligibility and availability. Find out more about arranging your own school experience on the Department of Education website http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/school-experience.aspx
TEACHING OVERSEAS If you wish to emigrate and teach in another county, you will need to check that your qualification i.e. PGCE, is accepted in that country. (www.uk.cibt.com - Search by country for visa requirements)
RESOURCES Resource Centre Hardy Building, Open Monday to Friday Factsheets • A guide to completing the teacher training personal statement (factsheet) • Guide to postgraduate study (factsheet) • Job Sector folders (Education)
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TEACHER TRAINING ROUTES Information University-led training: Undergraduate Bachelor of arts or science with QTS (BA or BSc) If you take a degree without QTS you will then need to go onto a teacher training course. Ø APPLY via UCAS | Funding: Funding is the same as other undergraduate courses | Bachelor of education (BEd) Honours degree with QTS Ø APPLY via UCAS | Funding: Funding is the same as other undergraduate courses | Progression/top up route with QTS for Foundation (FdA) Students This course is designed for those studying via the foundation programme. (If foundation students take a top up year course without QTS then they will need to go onto a Postgraduate Teacher training course Ø Apply via UCAS | Funding: Funding is the same as other undergraduate courses | University-led training: Postgraduate PGCE Postgraduate Certificate in Education or Professional Certificate in Education. The Postgraduate Certificate in Education includes M level credit which can be used towards an MA in Education and the Professional Certificate in Education is awarded at H (Honours). Ø APPLY Via UCAS. You choose three courses to apply, this can includes SCITT and Schools Direct. Key dates:• Nov Apply 1 begins – you can now start to apply online for training programmes. • Jan Apply 2 starts – if you aren't holding an offer from Apply 1, you can now continue to apply online, adding one choice at a time. • Sep The last date you can submit an application in Apply 1. • Oct The last day you can add choices in Apply 2 Ü Entry Requirements • - Degree • - Grade C in GCSE English language & Maths. Grade C in science subject to teach primary - For secondary at least 50% of your degree needs to be in specialist subject you intend to teach; unless you take a Subject Knowledge Enhancement course in a subject closely related to your course or one of your A-level subjects | Funding: Find out details on the education.gov website | School-led training School Centred initial Teacher Training (SCITT) Training is completed in a School and courses are designed and delivered by groups of neighbouring schools and colleges. Taught by experienced,
Entry Requirements
Duration
Contact individual universities
FT: 3-4 years PT: 4-6 years
Entry Requirements
FT: 3-4 years PT: 4-6 years
2 year foundation degree, usually in a relevant subject
1 Year
Ü
See information column
Same as PGCE
F T: 1 Year PT: Up to 2 years
FT: 1 year
Page |3 Information practising teachers, often tailored towards local teaching needs. Courses leads to QTS. Many, though not all, will also award the PGCE validated by a higher education institution. Ø APPLY: Same as PGCE | Funding: Find out details on the education.gov website | School Direct The main aim of School Direct is to allow schools to recruit and select the trainees they want with the expectation that they will then go on to work within the school or group of schools in which they were trained, although there is no absolute guarantee of employment. All School Direct places will lead to qualified teacher status (QTS) and many, though not all, will also award you a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) validated by a higher education institution (HEI). Ø APPLY: Same as PGCE | Funding: Find out details on the education.gov website | Teach First A two-year Leadership Development Programme for those interested in an employment-based route into teaching. Teach First is an independent charity which transforms the lives of children from all backgrounds by recruiting and supporting high-calibre, highly motivated graduates to teach and lead in challenging schools across the UK. Teach First trains its participants to be effective teachers and leaders in challenging schools. Ø Apply If you are interested in becoming an inspirational leader and contributing to the Teach First mission to address educational disadvantage, visit the Teach First website. (www.teachfirst.org.uk) Ü Entry Requirements •2:1 degree or above 300 UCAS points (or equivalent, excluding general studies) •Degree or A-levels that satisfy the teaching subject requirements. Grade C (or equivalent) in GCSE maths and English •Flexibility to work anywhere within the East Midlands, West Midlands, London, the North East, North West, and Yorkshire •Commitment for the duration of the two-year Leadership Development Programme In addition to this, candidates will be able to demonstrate relevant subject knowledge and the following competencies: Humility, respect, and empathy; Interaction; Knowledge; Leadership; Planning and organising; Problem solving; Resilience; Self-evaluation. | Funding: Teach First participants are paid and employed by their primary or secondary school throughout the two years. First year a basic salary as an unqualified teacher. Second year participants are newly qualified teachers (NQTs) and are paid according to the qualified teacher pay ranges. There are no tuition fees. | Experienced teachers without QTS Assessment Only (AO) route to QTS If you are a very experienced teacher with a degree and you think you already meet all of the standards for qualified teacher status (QTS), you can apply for a place on the Assessment Only (AO) route to QTS. A restricted number of accredited providers have been approved to offer a limited amount of places. Go to www.education.gov.uk for a list of providers Ü Entry Requirements: In order to be eligible, you will need to be a very experienced teacher with a degree who can demonstrate that you meet all the QTS standards as well as a number of entry requirements
Entry Requirements
Duration
Same as PGCE
FT: Usually one year
See information column
FT: 2 Years
See information column
Variable
Page |4 Most of the information in this table was gathered from the Education.gov website and you are advised to go to www.education.gov.uk for more information. Also, find out more about the Routes into teaching via the UCAS Postgraduate Teacher Training Section of the website:http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/teacher-training/postgraduate-routes-teaching
Page |5 QUICK CHECKLIST TO BECOMING A TEACHER Do you have the correct qualifications? ü Degree For secondary teaching your degree subject should be at least 50% of the subject you want to teach; unless you undertake a Subject Knowledge Enhancement Course (SKE) - there are some subjects that have a shortage of teachers; this enhancement course tops up knowledge to allow someone to be able to teach in one of the shortage subjects. Usually your degree needs to be closely related or you need to have an A-level in that subject. (Foundation degree students can take a top up year course that has QTS) ü GCSE Grade C in English and Maths (also C in a Science if you want to teach primary) What age range would you like to teach? ü Primary 3-7 and 5 – 11 age groups. ü Secondary Teach all ages from 11-18, specialising in a particular subject. You will normally specialise in your degree subject; you will need to have studied at least 50% of your degree in this subject unless you take a Subject Knowledge Enhancement Course available for some shortage subjects. Do you have enough school experience? ü Observation You don’t need to have actually taught a class, but you do need to have observed some lessons. You will use the knowledge you have gained in your application and at the interview. See the first page of this factsheet for further information about gaining experience Is your knowledge of schools and teaching up-to-date? ü Online Research Find out about the curriculum, latest teaching practices etc. See The Department of Education, TES, union websites ü Talk to teachers Find out about the curriculum, how they teach. You will get the opportunity to chat to teachers when you visit schools to observe lessons. How to prepare for your application and interview? ü Application See the factsheet guide to completing a teacher training personal statement ü Interview See the factsheet guide to a teacher training interview What financial support is available? This varies depending on what course you take. LOANS ü Tuition Fee loan Available via Student Finance England (repayments due once earning over £21,000) ü Maintenance loan Available via Student Finance England (repayments due once earning over £21,000) GRANTS ü Maintenance grant Means tested grant (non-repayable) ü Childcare grant If you are a parent you may be eligible for this grant (non-repayable) TEACHER TRAINING FUNDING ü Training Bursary £4,000 to £25,000 could be available. This is for some non-salaried training routes in shortage primary and secondary specialisms. (non-repayable) ü Scholarships £25,000 for those with a 1st or 2:1 in certain shortage subjects (non-repayable) See the Department of Education for full details www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/funding/postgraduate-funding What courses are available and which one should I apply for? ü Table in this factsheet The table in this factsheet gives an overview of each course. You should go to the Department of Education website for full details ü Attend a talk BGfutures hold a number of talks each year on teacher training routes and how to apply. Keep an eye on the BG Futures section of Blackboard for details