A collection of popular questions about becoming a teacher and teacher training.
Answers
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Is there further help and advice about the GTP, RTP and OTTP programmes?
Yes, you can call the Teaching Information Line on 0800 389 2500 (0800 085 0971 for Welsh speakers).
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What if I don't have the required qualifications?
If you don’t have the necessary GCSEs in mathematics, English or science, you may be able to take a pre-entry test set by your ITT provider. Some providers may also accept skills developed through other, related work experience. If in doubt, you should contact your chosen ITT provider to find out what their requirements are.
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What if my degree doesn't relate to the subject I want to teach?
If you don't think your degree is relevant to any subject in the curriculum, contact your local ITT providers for advice. For more information on teaching or teacher training contact the Teaching Information Line on 0800 389 2500.
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What sort of starting salary can I expect?
From September 2010 newly qualified teachers (NQTs) will start on a minimum annual salary of £21,588 (£27,000 in inner London).
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What is a state-maintained school?
State-maintained schools are otherwise known as publicly funded schools and attended by over 90 per cent of pupils. Parents do not pay any fees.
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What countries are in the European Economic Area (EEA)?
The European Economic Area consists of all members of the European Community (EC) plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
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Does achieving qualified teacher status (QTS) guarantee that I will get a teaching job?
No. Schools recruit their staff on an individual basis, according to their specific recruitment needs, just like any other employer.
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Will I have to pass skills tests to achieve qualified teacher status ( QTS) in Wales?
No, the literacy, numeracy and IT skills tests are not a requirement for achieving QTS in Wales. You are also not required to take the skills tests if you gain QTS in Wales and subsequently wish to teach in England.
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Can I do the Graduate Teacher Programme ( GTP) while working as a teaching assistant?
If your school can place you in a teaching post instead, you may be able to train through the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP). Otherwise, you could follow a part time course at university or college while continuing with your original job.
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If I achieve QTS in Wales, can I teach in England?
Yes. There is mutual recognition of QTS between Wales and England. The QTS gained in Wales is fully recognised in England and beyond. Similarly, if you gain QTS in England, this will allow you to teach in Wales. Similarly, if you gain QTS via an employment-based training scheme it is recognised in both countries.
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Can I begin induction if I have not yet passed the QTS skills tests?
No, induction begins once a newly qualified teacher (NQT) takes up their first post after qualified teacher status (QTS) has been awarded. In England, QTS is not awarded unless trainee teachers have successfully completed all aspects of initial teacher training, including passing the skills tests.
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Is there a time limit by which I need to start the induction period after achieving QTS?
No. There can also be gaps between the three terms that make up your induction period once started.
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Where can I complete my induction period?
State-maintained schools and non-maintained special schools are able to offer the induction programme. Sixth form colleges and some maintained nursery schools and Independent schools can also offer the induction programme but there are certain requirements which must be met before the programme can go ahead. Find out more about induction.
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Can part-time positions or supply positions count towards induction?
If a newly qualified teacher (NQT) takes up a part-time position they can still undertake induction and any appointment that lasts for a term or more will count towards the induction period. The length of the induction period overall will be calculated pro-rata. For example, if an NQT were to work for the whole of their induction period on a half-time contract, their induction period would last for six school terms. If a supply position meets induction standards and is contracted to last for a term or longer, then induction should go ahead. The types of supply positions which can offer induction are therefore maternity leave cover and long-term sick leave cover.
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Can different terms of the induction period be completed in different schools?
Yes. Newly qualified teachers (NQTs) can move schools after the first or second term and complete their induction in a different school.
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What is a PGCE?
A PGCE is a postgraduate certificate in education, which you can take at any time after completing your first degree.
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Will I receive any financial support while I train?
Yes. If you are on a postgraduate or undergraduate route into initial teacher training (ITT), and are classed as home or European Union (EU), then you will be able to access the standard financial package of student support available to all students in England and Wales. This includes tuition fee and maintenance loans, and a means-tested maintenance grant. In addition to this, you may be eligible for a tax-free training bursary. For further details, please visit our postgraduate funding page.
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Will I receive a training bursary?
Bursaries of up to £20,000 are available for courses starting in 2012. The amount of bursary you will be eligible for depends on the subject you want to teach and your degree class. For further information, please visit our 2012/13 bursary information page.
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Will I receive a golden hello?
The golden hello scheme has now ceased for all new entrants, but you may still be eligible for a bursary to support you during your teacher training, depending on the subject you want to teach. Existing commitments to pay golden hellos to trainees already on ITT courses will be honoured, and eligible trainees will still be able to apply for their golden hello award under the standard eligibility guidance.
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Will I receive funding for my postgraduate teacher training if I have a degree class below a 2:2?
The Government has announced that anyone starting postgraduate teacher training from 2012 onwards will need to hold at least a second class first degree in order to receive funding from the Department for Education.
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Why do subject knowledge enhancement courses only cover certain subjects?
In England, subject knowledge enhancement courses have been introduced specifically to help increase the pool of individuals eligible to train as teachers in certain priority subjects: namely maths, physics and chemistry.
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Are there any subject knowledge enhancement courses available in Wales?
The Swansea School of Education offers a two-week full-time mathematics subject knowledge enhancement course. Operating during the summer months, this course is available to people wishing to follow a PGCE in mathematics at a Welsh Initial Teacher Training provider, but who do not hold a mathematics degree. You can find further details on the Swansea Metropolitan University website.
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What happens if I want to change ITT providers to one outside the enhancement region while I'm on an enhancement course?
These courses are intended as a service to ITT providers in the specific enhancement region. If you have been offered a conditional place by an ITT provider in the region it is expected that you will take up your ITT place at that provider. If you wish to transfer to a different ITT provider you will need to apply to that provider. They will then need to assess your level of understanding in the subject before accepting you onto their ITT course.
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As a primary teacher who wants to convert to secondary, am I eligible for enhancement courses?
No, enhancement courses are intended only for those wishing to train as a teacher and gain qualified teacher status (QTS).
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If I am already qualified to teach in another country outside the EEA. Do I need to do a subject knowledge enhancement course to teach in England and Wales?
Possibly. In England, it could be appropriate for you to join an Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (OTTP), in which case you won't need to complete an enhancement course. In Wales, as an overseas trained teacher from outside the EEA, you might need to undertake a period of teacher training under the employment-based scheme.
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Will anyone want to become a teacher if it costs £9,000 to train?
No trainee will need to pay the cost of tuition charges up front. They will only pay once they are in full time employment and earning above £21,000. Monthly repayments will be less than under the current student finance arrangements. Trainees will also receive loans and grants of up to £7,675 towards living costs, a rise from previous years.
The trainees that we most need to recruit will receive the highest bursaries, up to £20,000 for the best physics, maths and chemistry graduates.
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What will this mean for recruitment in subjects other than science, modern foreign languages (MFL) and maths?
Physics, maths and chemistry are the specialisms where there are still not enough teachers, so it is right to focus funding on these. In other subjects there are many more applicants for teacher training than places. For example, PE attracts four applicants for every place.
We have the flexibility to adjust bursaries each year to respond to changes in the supply and demand for teachers in a particular specialism and will continue to monitor recruitment carefully.
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When are postgraduate bursaries paid? What can it be used for?
They will continue to be paid in installments during a trainee’s training year. Trainees can choose to spend the bursary as they choose.
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Why are you using degree class to decide whether or not someone is going to be a good teacher?
Teaching is a career for the best graduates, and, for secondary teachers, those with excellent degree-level knowledge and enthusiasm for their specialist subject. So we are proposing to offer larger bursaries to trainees with 2:1 and first class degrees.
National and international evidence tells us that teachers’ level of prior education is directly linked to standards of attainment of their pupils [Wossman (2003)]. The more knowledgeable the teacher, the better able the pupil is to learn. Degree Class is also a good predictor of whether a trainee will complete their course and achieve QTS.
We also think it’s important that trainees understand as they are considering a career in teaching the bursary that they are likely to attract if they are accepted on to a teacher training course. Using degree class means that trainees know where they stand before they apply.