School Direct Training Programme

Two types of School Direct Training Programme

The School Direct Training Programme, which is open to all graduates and funded by tuition fees paid by the trainee, who may receive a bursary from the Teaching Agency.
The School Direct Training Programme (salaried), which is an employment-based route into teaching for high quality graduates with three or more years' career experience. The trainee is employed as an unqualified teacher by a school. The Teaching Agency provides funding, which the school can use to subsidise the trainee's salary and training. The School Direct Training Programme (salaried) has replaced the Graduate Teacher Programme.

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 are offered by a school or group of schools in partnership with an accredited teacher training instituition, nomally a university.
Full-time, one year or less.
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 (if you ever decide that you want to teach in a school overseas you may find a UK-awarded PGCE is a pre-requisite)

Trainees on a School Direct Training Programme will have to pay tuition fees to cover the cost of the course, up to a maximum of £9,000.
You may be eligible to receive a bursary while you train dependent on teaching subject and degree class.
If you are a high quality graduate with three or more years' career experience you may be able to apply for the School Direct Training Programme (salaried) where there are no fees and you will be paid a training salary.

You can search and apply for School Direct vacancies on the Teaching Agency website.
You will apply to the lead school in the group (you will be able to visit the lead school's website to find out more details on the names and types of schools in the wider partnership, and where you could potentially undertake your training)
You can apply for School Direct places at up to three schools initially. You will be able to apply to further schools if any of your initial applications are unsuccessful.
Each lead school will indicate its application deadlines. Schools will review applications as they are received, so you are advised to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

The Teaching Agency has more detailed information on the School Direct Training Programme route to becoming a teacher and further details about how to apply.