Postgraduate teacher training for primary and secondary schools
If you are studying a non-teaching degree and want to become a teacher at Primary or Secondary school you need to undertake a programme of initial teacher training to gain qualified teacher status (QTS).
(there is a different training course if you want to teach at Further Education (FE) college or in the lifelong learning sector.)
Essential admission requirements
- To teach at both Primary and Secondary level you must have a standard equivalent to a Grade C in GCSE English and Mathematics.
- To teach Primary/ Middle years, you must also have achieved a standard equivalent to a Grade C in a GCSE Science subject.
- Many PGCE providers require you to have these qualifications before you apply for a place. Check with individual institutions before applying.
- For Secondary teaching 50% of your degree subject should be directly relevant to the subject you wish to teach.
- For Primary it is not essential, but useful, to have a degree in a National Curriculum subject.
- Universities have to ensure that trainee teachers have the health and physical capacity to teach and will not put children and young people at risk. Before starting training all applicants have to complete a declaration of health questionnaire and be assessed by an occupational health adviser.
- Many people with disabilities or long-term health conditions will have the health and physical capacity to teach. Contact Skill for help.
- In addition all trainee teachers undergo a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check before starting school-based training.
Classroom experience
- The more classroom-based experience you have, ideally with the age group you want to teach and across different schools, the more you'll know if teaching really is for you.
- Your classroom experience will also be a key part of your teacher training application and interview; ask questions and make notes on your experiences and observations. Training providers want to know that you have the motivation and skills to teach and may only interview candidates with recent relevant experience in a mainstream school. Some institutions state a minimum period of experience required - aim to get as much as you can ideally with the age group you want to teach and across different schools.
- Contact local schools for short-term work shadowing or become a regular volunteer eg classroom assistant.
Opportunities to gain classroom experience
- Apply for the Schools Experience Programme if you are considering teaching maths, physics, chemistry, design and technology, information and communication technology or a modern foreign language at secondary level
- Talk to a current teacher via the the Teaching Advocate Programme to get an insight into teachers' motivations, career choices, challenges and rewards of day-to-day life in a classroom.
- Look for paid work as a teaching assistant, learning mentor or lab assistant.
- Volunteer or work shadow a teacher, observing lessons. Local schools offer opportunities to work with pupils, contact the head teacher directly - use www.schoolswebdirectory.co.uk to find their contact details.
There are several different routes to undertake postgraduate teacher training....
It is important that you research the different routes and decide which is right for you. This may depend on level of your classroom experience, preferences and future plans:
» School Direct - new for autumn 2012 - apply now
School Direct in brief
- New from autumn 2012, schools recruit and select trainees, with the expectation that they will continue to work for that school on completion, but with no absolute guarantee.
- Places offered by a school or group of schools in partnership with an accredited teacher traininng instituition, nomally a university.
- Full-time, one year or less.
Course fees
- Trainees on a School Direct course will have to pay tuition fees
- You may be eligible to receive a bursary while you train dependent on teaching subject and a degree class of at least 2:2.
Find and apply for Teaching Direct opportunities
-
The latest opportunities can be found on the
Teaching Agency website and will be regularly updated.
- Contact the schools directly to find out how to apply, closing dates will be coming up very soon, so don't delay.
The Teaching Agency has more detailed information on the School Direct route to becoming a teacher.
» Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
PGCE in brief
- University/ college based course
- One year, full-time course (although some training providers offer part-time/ flexible PGCEs and also two year, full-time subject conversion courses to enable graduates from other disciplines to train to teach subjects at Secondary school eg maths, science, design technology, languages)
- Search and apply via Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR)
- Read the GTTR's "How to apply" guide or the Applying for a PGCE guide.
- All routes through GTTR cost £19.
- Choose up to two Primary and four Secondary courses.
- The order of choice is important as applications are sent to one training provider at a time for consideration.
Closing dates
Primary PGCE:
- Register and complete your application by mid November at the latest
- References and applications must be in by strict deadline of 1st December
Secondary PGCE:
- There is no set closing date for Secondary courses, but early application is strongly advised
Personal statement
- Your personal statement is the key to securing an interview for a place on a PGCE. Use our
guide to PGCE personal statements to help you write yours.
- In addition to your personal statement you have around 20 lines to list your paid and unpaid work experiences. Include details of dates, job titles, employers and main responsibilities.
- The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) website includes an interactive application assistant that will help you with your personal statement.
Funding your PGCE
- Trainees on PGCE routes may be entitled to a training bursary which have been updated for 2012/13. The size of the bursary depends on the subject you train to teach and your degree classification.
-
All Saints Educational Trust makes individual financial awards for PGCE courses for students who meet certain criteria.
More information
» School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT)
SCITT in brief
- Run by consortia of neighbouring schools and colleges. Taught by experienced, practising teachers. Spend more time training in the classroom putting theory into practice and gaining confidence through more contact with pupils.
- One year, full-time. All SCITT courses confer QTS but not all award a PGCE.
- Search and apply via Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) although some providers require direct applications.
- Read the GTTR's "How to apply" guide.
- All routes through GTTR cost £19.
- Choose up to four SCITT courses.
- The order of choice is important as applications are sent to one training provider at a time for consideration.
Closing date
- There is no set closing date for SCITT courses but early application is strongly advised
Personal statement
- Your personal statement is the key to securing an interview for a place on a PGCE. Use our
guide to PGCE personal statements to help you write yours.
- In addition to your personal statement you have around 20 lines to list your paid and unpaid work experiences. Include details of dates, job titles, employers and main responsibilities.
- The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) website includes an interactive application assistant that will help you with your personal statement.
Funding your PGCE
- Trainees on SCITT routes may be entitled to a training bursary. The size of the bursary depends on when you start training and what subject you train to teach.
The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) has more detailed information on the SCITT route to becoming a teacher.
» Graduate Training Programme (GTP)
GTP in brief
- On-the-job training allowing graduates to qualify as a teacher while they work.
- Employed by a school, receiving unqualified teacher salary.
- Full-time, one year or less.
- Workload can be demanding, both training and teaching at the same time.
- NB The GTP is not well recognised outside of England and Wales so if your plans include teaching in other countries check recognition of the GTP first
Finding GTP opportunities
- Search and apply for a GTP training provider or employing school on the Teaching Agency website.
-
University of Derby's GTP (applications via TDA)
- Respond to an advertisement for a GTP vacancy advertised through a Local Education Authority teacher vacancy listing or independently by a school.
- Use your existing contacts with a school (for example through being a teaching assistant) to create your own GTP opportunity.
The TDA has more detailed information on the GTP route to becoming a teacher.
» Teach First
- Initiative enabling high-flying graduates to train and work in challenging Secondary schools in certain areas of the UK, qualifying as a teacher while completing leadership training and work experience with leading employers.
- Two years, full-time, including summer training.
The Teaching Agency has more detailed information on the Teach First route to becoming a teacher.
More information
- Prospects "Teacher training: Getting started"
- The Teaching Agency runs occasional, one day, "Train to Teach" events where you can:
- Attend a presentation that will give you general guidance on routes into teaching and the application process
- Speak to teaching experts and receive one-to-one advice on your training options
- Meet initial teacher training providers in your region to find out about their courses and entry requirements
- Talk to current teachers to hear about their first-hand experiences
- Meet with professional subject associations to hear how they support the teaching of specific subjects in schools
Don't forget...
You are strongly advised to speak to a Careers Adviser in the Career Development Centre at any stage of your application if you want help with finding classroom experience or advice with your application and personal statement.
