| Dawn - I would like to be a primary school teacher and have a post-graduate degree in management which I obtained from Salford University some years ago, and I am wondering what courses I need to take so that I can begin my application into teaching? |
| Teaching consultant – If you also have a degree (equivalent to a UK Bachelors degree if from overseas) then you will need to take a one year full-time PGCE/SCITT or GTP primary school focused programme to obtain your QTS (qualified teacher status). You will be expected to have your GCSE grade C or above (or an equivalent accepted by your chosen provider) in mathematics, English and science. Course providers look for school observation experience on application so if you do not have this then contact your local school to organize this. Most primary courses are already full for this September start but you can check for vacancies on http://www.gttr.ac.uk |
| Steff - Hi there, I am currently thinking about changing careers and becoming a maths teacher in London. Is it too late to apply for this year? |
| Teaching consultant – No, there is still time as there are still vacancies for PGCE/SCITT secondary maths courses to start this September and those course providers will welcome your application but do submit your application soon. You apply on http://www.gttr.ac.uk |
| Lydia - If I apply for the general primary PGCE rather than the early years option will I still be qualified to work with foundation years? |
| Teaching consultant – Yes, QTS covers 3-19 year old age ranges in state maintained schools whatever age range you trained for. It is up to schools to decide if you are applying for a different range to the one you trained for whether you have sufficient knowledge to support your work there. It is usually wise to train for the age range, and therefore the relevant curriculum etc, which you want to teach once qualified. |
| Steff - I had a quick look at the application form and am worried about what I would put in the personal statement bit - I have been out of education for 10 years... but do work in finance. |
| Teaching consultant – The personal statement is your chance to highlight to your chosen course providers your skills, experience and enthusiasm for teaching young people and your subject. Examples from where you have demonstrated relevant skills in your job can be used to illustrate how they would be useful in your teaching career. More detailed interactive help on filling in your application to make best use of your past experiences can be found on http://www.teach.gov.uk/applicationassistant |
| Steff - And who would be best to use for my referee? I don't want to use my current boss as they don't know that I am considering leaving. |
| Teaching consultant – It needs to be someone who someone who knows your ability to communicate, to build relationships, to take responsibility, to work in a team and to deliver on time and can comment on your suitability for teaching. The gttr website http://www.gttr.ac.uk has more detail on this. |
| Flick - Hi, I have a Media Studies HND, and a level 3 diploma in pre-school practice, Also A level English and Drama. Are the first two qualifications equivalent to a full degree in status, and if so how would I get into teaching? |
| Teaching consultant – Your chosen postgraduate teaching course provider will make a decision on whether they can consider your combination of qualifications as degree equivalent so do talk to them for advice. HND is not considered degree equivalent on its own for teaching and needs to be topped up to degree level before or during your training for QTS. |
| Dawn - Would I be able to do this part time as I am in full time employment at the moment, do I look for vacancies on part time courses on the gttr website? And will this be a longer course as it is part time? |
| Teaching consultant – There are part-time primary courses around the country and they can be found on the GTTR website. You are usually expected to complete these within a defined time frame, possible two years. You still need to meet all the requirements of a fulltime course so a minimum of 18 weeks (fulltime or equivalent) will be spent in schools working alongside experienced teachers plus other work. A needs assessment is done with you at the start so if you have considerable relevant experience against the QTS standards you may be able to complete the course more quickly. |
| Steff - What should I expect in an interview? |
| Teaching consultant - It is now August so your interview will be as soon for a September start application. If you are going to be on holiday etc after applying then contact your chosen provider to let them know and they may organize to interview you before you go. |
| Janneke - Do you know when GTTR opens for 09/10? |
| Teaching consultant – Applications for September 2009 start will open in September 2008. |
| Lydia - Thank you. Also, what information should be included in the reference by my university tutor and how long should it be? He is away most of September so wants to write it in advance so that it is ready to submit early when the applications for 2009 open. |
| Teaching consultant – Basically your referee should comment on your academic ability and your suitability for teaching. Further guidance on this is given on the gttr website. |
| viquar - I am an Indian graduate (Bsc) what are the routes for QTS |
| Teaching consultant – As your degree is from outside the EU your first step is to check its equivalence with UKNaric http://www.naric.org.uk If they confirm degree equivalence and you also have the GCSE grade C or above in English, maths (and science for primary) or an equivalent recognized by your chosen course provider then you can consider a postgraduate one year full-time route to QTS, a PGCE/SCITT or GTP. If you are considered an overseas/international student then you will have to pay the full fees for a PGCE or SCITT. |
| Lydia - Can I just confirm, will it be on 1st September 2008 that applications for 2009 open? |
| Teaching consultant – GTTR will begin accepting applications for 2009 entry in early September, not necessarily the 1st Keep an eye on their website to see when they are beginning to accept 2009 applications. |
| Dawn - When you look at the grades required, most of the requirements ask if you have GCSE grades, what do you do if you took O levels before GCSEs came out? Do these count? |
| Teaching consultant – Course providers usually accept an O level pass if you still have your certificate. |
| amy - Even though I have a 2:1 degree I was wondering if it was still necessary for me to have a C for GCSE Science to teach at primary level? I have Bs for English and Maths but a D for science. |
| Teaching consultant – All entrants to primary courses, whatever degree they have, must have the GCSE grade C or above in science as well as English and maths or an equivalent recognized by their chosen provider before they can start their QTS training. Some providers offer an equivalence test you can take which, if passed, meets the requirement. |
| viquar - what are the fees for PGCE OR SCITT? |
| Teaching consultant – For overseas students this will vary between course providers, usually between £3,000 and £10,000. Check with your chosen providers for theirs. |
| viquar - what is assessment based TT? |
| Teaching consultant – All QTS training has at least 18 weeks in school on teaching practice which is assessed by experienced teachers and your course tutors to give you the opportunities to demonstrate the skills and standards needed to work effectively as a qualified teacher. You will also be expected to complete other assignments relevant to your work in the classroom. |
| jaz - hi I would like to know if you are doing the pgce with a university does the same application process apply? |
| Teaching consultant – University PGCE applications go through http://www.gttr.ac.uk The only exception is the Open university who take applications directly. |
| Janneke - When filling in your application, is there a separate space to list dates / details of classroom experience and observations, or should this just be mentioned in the personal statement? |
| Teaching consultant – You will be including relevant aspects of your classroom experience in your personal statement and particularly what you have made of them. This is the most crucial aspect of your experience. You can also mention the periods spent in school either voluntary or unpaid in the section for current and previous employment. |
| jaz - hi I just wanted to ask if you are taking the pgce with a university does the same application process apply? And is the university going to give my interview? |
| Teaching consultant – If a university is interested in you from your application they will invite you to interview. You cannot be given a place for QTS training without a successful interview. There is help with what to expect in the interview on http://www.teach.gov.uk/interactiveinterview |
| Spence - Hi I am unsure of what will be the best way to apply to become a primary school teacher, as I am entering my third year of my business degree. |
| Teaching consultant – The main route to primary QTS for graduates is the PGCE/SCITT one year full time route. You can find the details of available courses on http://www.gttr.ac.uk although applications to start in September 2009 will not be taken until early September 2008. If you do not have good school experience in place it is worth organizing this as soon as possible as it will be needed for a strong application. |
| viquar - I completed Bsc (science), MA-English Literature (distance mode for MA) and also I have teaching experience of India and I got to know from TDA that I must join assessment based training but how? |
| Teaching consultant – If you are a fully qualified school teacher you may be eligible for the Overseas trained teacher (OTT) programme. You can find the details of this in the OTT section of http://www.tda.gov.uk/ott If you meet the OTT programme requirements, when you find your first post in school you can apply for a place to have your teaching assessed in the classroom against the standards for QTS. You will not have to pay for this. |
| amy - How do I find out about the equivalence test? And which providers offer it? |
| Teaching consultant – You have to check with your chosen provider to see if they offer it. Some providers will accept equivalence tests offered by http://www.equivalencytesting.com |
| hamlet - Hi, I am from Turkey. I have newly graduated from the department of English Language and Literature and I have a certificate in teaching English that gives me the right to teach in Turkey. I want to become a teacher (especially in primary schools) in the UK but I don't know how to start. I need advice about where to start to become a teacher (as an overseas trained teacher). |
| Teaching consultant – If you are a fully qualified school teacher in Turkey then you may be eligible for the OTT (overseas trained teacher programme). You will need to find a school to employ you, initially as an unqualified teacher. See http://www.tda.gov.uk/ott for more detail on the steps you need to take. |
| Spence - would a RTP or GTP be the wrong way to apply then? |
| Teaching consultant – The GTP is a possible (and equally good) route but does not have as many places available as the PGCE/SCITT route. Places on the GTP are highly sought after and often for primary places are allocated to applicants who have considerable classroom experience. (As you are completing your degree next year the RTP is not relevant to you.) |
| jaz - Well, I applied to do the primary education degree and unfortunately did not succeed in the interview so what happens if you don't pass the interview for a pgce ? is there any other way for me to become a successful qualified teacher? |
| Teaching consultant – In addition to PGCE courses there are SCITT (organized by groups of schools rather than universities) courses and the GTP programme (where you usually have to find a school willing to employ you as an unqualified teacher and secure a training place with an employment based training provider (called an EBITT). |
| viquar - If I get the teaching assistant post in any school can I apply for QTS? |
| Teaching consultant – You need to be working in a school which gives you the opportunity to demonstrate all the skills needed for QTS which includes working with the National curriculum. You can get advice on which schools are suitable from your local OTT training provider, called an EBITT. You can find their contact details on http://www.tda.gov.uk/ebrcontacts |
| hamlet - Which way is more advantageous: to apply for a post as an unqualified teacher (from overseas) or to enter a teaching program (post-graduate)? |
| Teaching consultant – Once you have secured a suitable post in school the the OTT programme is likely to be the quickest way to gain QTS and you would be paid as an unqualified teacher. If you secure a place on a PGCE as an overseas/international student you would have to pay fees for the course. |
| Dawn - When you approach the local schools to spend time with them as part of your pre-course entry criteria, how do you ensure that they will let you attend the school, won't they be suspicious of people wanting to be in school without any relevant paperwork to support what they are doing? |
| Teaching consultant – Most schools are happy to take prospective teachers into their classrooms and you will always be supervised during your time there. In your approach to the school it can be useful to use someone known to them as a point of reference if possible (maybe you know someone who works there, for example). |
