Train to Teach brochure 2022

Every Lesson Shapes a Life.

Are you up for the challenge?

A letter from Mr Young 2 A career for the future 3 Rewards of teaching  4 Eligibility for teacher training 7 Meet your future colleagues - Addison Brown 8 School experience  10 Choose to teach 12 Financial support for teacher training 14 Meet your future colleagues - Anastasia Lada 17 How to apply 18 After the application  20

A letter from Mr Young. Teaching has always been a hugely important job that’s recently taken on more of a significant role. During the pandemic, teachers shifted their focus from classroom teaching to creating online activities that provided children with some sort of normality. Although numerous things have changed post-pandemic, several things have stayed the same. Having to regularly wash our hands more than we used to is new, but one thing that hasn’t changed, is the fact teachers still want every child in their class to push themselves as far as they possibly can. An analogy I always use involves ‘doors.’ The more you and your pupils put into achieving goals together, the greater their understanding of what’s possible. And when they’re older, they’ll have more opportunities, or doors, available to them when they make their career choices and go on to leave education. As well as making sure children have plenty of doors to open when they’re older, teachers are influential role models, who should ideally lead by example. Showing children it’s okay to get things wrong, correct their mistakes and talk things through with others will equip them with strategies that’ll enable them to face the many challenges they’ll encounter beyond childhood. You see, teaching isn’t just about maths and English. It’s a rich and varied profession that helps you develop with every new situation you encounter. I’d never felt such personal satisfaction in my working life until I became a teacher. It’s a feeling like no other and I’m sure you want that feeling too. To set yourself on the path to this enormously rewarding career, get in touch with the Department of Education, who will provide you with all of the information you need. Best of luck with your teaching journey, and may you find it as rewarding as I, and many other teachers, do. Phil Young Class teacher & computing coordinator Halterworth Community Primary School 4

A career for the future. As well as job satisfaction, teaching provides great employment prospects and job security. Once qualified, there are lots of chances for good Pastoral care teachers to climb the career ladder and find plenty of employment opportunities. You can view the available If you’re particularly interested in ensuring the welfare teaching vacancies on offer via the Department for of students throughout their education, a pastoral role Education’s new Teacher Vacancy Service. might be for you. It’s a position that can range from guiding tutor groups through school to becoming a Search: Teacher Vacancy Service head of year. You may also want to take on the role of being a mentor for young people with SEN. Early Career Framework Career progression The DfE published the Early Career Framework as part of its Recruitment and Retention Strategy to Teacher training sets you up to succeed from the set out what all early career teachers should learn start. The variety of opportunities available to you about. The framework has been developed in close means you’re always learning and adding to your partnership with the profession, draws on the best range of professional skills. You’ll develop the talents available research evidence and has been designed you need to succeed in your career and achieve many around the most effective forms of professional professional and personal ambitions along the way. development. It’s underpinned by an entitlement to a fully-funded, two-year package of structured training Leadership and support for early career teachers. Being a leader in a school encompasses a number of Search: Early Career Framework different roles, from taking charge of a year group or a particular key stage, all the way up to becoming a deputy or headteacher. In these areas, you’ll have a large influence, setting high standards and ensuring continuous improvement throughout your school. Focus on your subject If you’re passionate about your subject area, you can pursue a career as a head of department or as a leading practitioner. You’ll still spend time in the classroom and also have additional responsibilities too, such as training new teachers and acting as a leading authority on your subject. 5

Rewards of teaching. As most teachers will tell you, there’s no such thing as a ‘typical’ day at work. That’s because no two days are the same – you’re unlikely to ever get bored by a lack of variety! It’s also a career that provides you with: As a new teacher, your salary will be between £25,714 and £32,157, depending on where you • great benefits teach. • opportunities to use a wide range of skills Annual teacher pay scales for qualified teachers are: • the chance to inspire students in the subject Area Minimum Maximum you love London £26,948 £42,624 Make a difference and inspire the next generation Rest of England £25,714 £36,961 and Wales You may remember a truly brilliant teacher from school, who made a real difference to your life. As a On average, established teachers earn more than this. teacher, you can use your knowledge and passion for your subject to help children unlock capabilities and Additional rewards talents they didn’t even know they had. You’ll develop a wide range of transferable skills for yourself in the There are many other great benefits available too, process too. including: In addition to planning and teaching a range of • holidays – you’ll get more days than many people engaging lessons, you can indulge in your hobbies in other professions, though full-time teachers do and interests as part of your work by getting involved typically work for 195 days a year in school and in after-school clubs, trips or sport. usually during some of their holiday time too Teachers’ salaries • a generous pension – when you’re employed as a teacher, you automatically become a member When you choose to become a teacher, you’ll join a of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme profession that offers a competitive starting salary with plenty of opportunity for career progression. • S pecial Educational Needs (SEN) allowance This means you’ll not only be making a difference; – if you work as a qualified teacher with pupils you’ll be rewarded for your contributions with with SEN, you could potentially receive a SEN excellent opportunities to climb the career ladder. allowance Schools now have more freedom to develop their • Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) own pay policies to attract and retain the teachers payments – you may be eligible to earn additional who have the greatest impact on their pupils’ learning. money if you take on more responsibilities What you’re paid will be linked to performance and not length of service – meaning you can increase your salary faster than ever before. 6

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Eligibility for teacher training. Although different training providers may have specific recruitment criteria, there are some basic eligibility requirements you need to meet to become a qualified teacher in England. You’ll need to have or be working towards: Overseas qualifications • a degree If you obtained all or part of your qualifications outside the UK, you will need to contact the schools • G SCE grade C/4 in English and maths – and a or universities you would like to train with. They are science subject for primary trainees responsible for deciding if your qualifications meet the minimum requirements – you may be asked to Degree requirement formally recognise any overseas qualifications through (or equivalent qualification) UK ENIC. We can help you with this, contact us on 0800 389 2500 so that we can provide you with: You must have a degree or equivalent qualification to train on a postgraduate initial teacher training course. • guidance on your equivalent qualifications For equivalent qualifications, you’ll need to confirm your qualification is equivalent to a degree. If you • a free UK ENIC statement of comparability don’t have a degree or equivalent qualification, you (if required by your provider). It usually costs can train on a university-led undergraduate course £49.50+VAT once you’ve submitted your and graduate with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). application. There’s also the opportunity to work as a further education teacher, whether or not you already have a degree. GCSEs or their standard equivalent You need to have a GCSE grade C/4, or standard equivalent, in English and maths – and a science subject for primary trainees. If you don’t meet this entry criteria, your training provider may ask you to sit a GCSE, equivalency test or provide other forms of evidence to demonstrate your ability. 9

Meet your future colleagues. Addison Brown, I trained in 3 very different schools, which allowed me to really get a sense of the different challenges and Science Teacher, Atherton High School. rewards presented within these different institutions. The variety of teaching methods also allowed me to Why did you decide to become a cherry-pick the best of what I saw, and transfer it into teacher? What inspired you? my current practice. I have always loved my subject and the natural world. What opportunities have you had Being an elite sportsperson from a young age, it’s for career progression? natural to start mentoring and coaching younger members as part of your development. I took this I am currently in my 5th year of practice and have further by becoming a swimming teacher and water recently been given the amazing opportunity to polo coach, which is where I gained my enthusiasm become a second in department with an amazing for teaching children, especially secondary school science team at a different school. There are so many children. For me, whether it’s polo or photosynthesis, opportunities to progress within your own school, I have always been inspired by ‘the light bulb and elsewhere; it’s definitely one of the benefits of the moment’ when a concept finally clicks. teaching profession. What are the benefits of teaching in What is it you like most about being your location? a teacher? I feel that there are many similarities in the areas I I do love the ‘light bulb moment’, but just having grew up in and where I now teach. This means (I hope) conversations with children is amazing. They are very that I can really relate to the kids, which brings about honest, sometimes brutally, but they are interesting better connections and relationships with them. I also and complicated and very often funny! hope it inspires them to pursue whatever they wish, whether it be science-related or not. How has training to be a teacher changed you as a person? Can you give us an overview of the training, how did it prepare you for I was never someone you thought would be able teaching? to stand in front of a group of 30 16-year-olds and essentially put on a performance, I was always I took the university PGCE route at Edge Hill. I really ‘backstage hand’ in school productions, but teaching enjoyed my time there, it was great to come together has shown me that I have the confidence and it’s at the end of a week and debrief and sometimes given me a definite focus in my life. unload on people in similar positions. That sense of there being a bunch of us in it together created a brilliant environment for us all as well. 10

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School experience. Getting some school experience Arrange your own school can help you decide whether experience teaching is right for you. You can also approach schools independently for Spending some time in school allows you to: classroom experience. You may need to contact a number of different schools in your area to arrange • observe a range of lessons and other teacher your school experience. Use the search tool provided responsibilities by GOV.UK to filter by location to find a suitable school. • talk to teachers Visit: • get real-life insight into day-to-day school life get-information-schools.service.gov.uk You can find school experience by: Please note – schools may be limiting visitors due to coronavirus (COVID-19), so you may need to be • searching for relevant schools via GOV.UK flexible with your availability, if possible, and persevere with your search. • approaching schools yourself You may have heard that you have to do at least Get a taste of school life with our 10 days’ school experience to get on to a training Get School Experience service course – this is a myth. School experience isn’t a mandatory requirement to apply for teacher You can use our Get School Experience service training. However, spending time in schools, to help you find schools that offer experience shadowing teachers will help you to decide opportunities. whether teaching is right for you as you observe what working with students is really like. Simply enter your location or postcode and a search area, and get access to a list of schools that offer experience near you. You can then approach them directly to ask them to spend some time with them. A limited number of schools are currently offering school experience. For further information visit: schoolexperience.education.gov.uk 12

If you can’t get into a classroom right now, you can Scout or Guide leader, particularly during the summer observe teachers’ lessons and analysis of their months when schools are closed. Many volunteering lessons on the Oak National Academy website: opportunities, such as after-school clubs, sports https://teachers.thenational.academy/lessons-for-itt coaching and youth schemes, take place during evenings or at weekends, making it easier to fit Do your homework volunteering around your existing commitments. Don’t just send enquiries off to generic contact email Be patient addresses. Call the school in question and ask who would be best to contact. This varies from one school Schools are very busy places so may not always to another – sometimes it will be a specific member immediately reply to you. They also have to be careful of staff responsible for organising work experience, about allowing visitors on to their premises. Some at others, it could be a head of department. schools may therefore ask you to take a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as a matter of Be flexible policy. These checks can take four or more weeks to complete. Classroom experience may have to fit in around a school’s training placements, exams and other activities. Schools might find it difficult to accommodate you if you have fixed availability. Ask your university If you’re a student thinking about teaching, find out if there are any schemes that are being led by your university. Depending on your degree, there may even be the option to complete a module that includes classroom experience at a local school. Consider volunteering options To improve your chances of gaining school experience, you could also offer to volunteer at a school. Volunteering in general is a great opportunity to gain experience of working with children. You could also volunteer to work in a youth club or as a 13

Choose to teach. Find the right teacher training Finding the right teacher course for you training course Teaching provides you with all of the Q. ‘How can I find teacher training courses?’ opportunities, training, support and rewards A. You can find out more about individual course you need to build a stimulating and successful providers via their websites or by attending a teacher career that shapes young lives. training event. Postgraduate teacher training courses are available Search: Get into teaching events across England that are led by universities or schools. The course you choose depends on your subject, Once you’ve identified the best teacher training degree class and location. Whichever course you courses for you, you’ll need to apply for them via the select, your training will largely be the same. Apply for Teacher Training Service. You’ll be asked to choose three teacher training course providers to All teacher training courses offer: apply to. (Tip: make sure you use all three options for a greater chance of success). • Q ualified Teacher Status (QTS) – you need this to Q. ‘How can I apply for a teacher training course? be able to teach as a qualified teacher in England A. Use the online search tool to find available courses – search by location, training provider • plenty of classroom experience in at least two and subject. schools – a minimum of 24 weeks’ school experience Search: education.gov.uk/find • training to meet the QTS standards – includes classroom management and making your subject accessible to pupils • expert academic and practical guidance from mentors and tutors – who are there every step of the way to help you succeed Most courses also offer a postgraduate qualification, usually a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Speak to your chosen course provider(s) to find out which qualification they offer. 14

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Financial support for teacher training. The Department for Education wants to make sure that all candidates have the best possible chance to access teacher training. The level of financial support you receive will depend on the subject you choose and the way you train to become a teacher. Funding your training Scholarships There are currently three types of funding available Scholarships are awarded to the most gifted trainees for teacher training, and depending on your in partnership with highly regarded professional circumstances, you could receive all three: subject associations. As well as providing you with financial support, you’ll enjoy a range of prestigious 1. T ax-free bursary or scholarship benefits, including: 2. Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan • free membership from the professional subject associations that are awarding the scholarship 3. E xtra financial support if you’re a parent, have an adult dependant or a disability • access to resources and events to support you through your training Alternatively, you could earn a salary while you train. • support with improving your teaching practice and Tax-free bursaries and scholarships subject knowledge Bursaries • networking opportunities with like-minded scholars Bursaries are available for trainees, who aren’t Scholarships are available in physics, chemistry, employed as a teacher and are studying eligible computing and maths. postgraduate courses in England. Bursary amounts vary, depending on your teaching subject and degree To be eligible for a scholarship, you should have at class or highest relevant academic qualification. least a 2:1 degree or above. You can still apply if you have a 2:2, but you’ll need to provide evidence Search: Teacher training bursary of significant relevant experience. Scholarships are awarded in place of a bursary. Applications for a scholarship are made to the awarding body and are subject to a competitive process. For further information on eligibility, visit: education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/funding/ 16

Bursaries and Scholarships Subject Eligibility 2021/2022 Scholarship £26,000 Biology Bursary £26,000 Chemistry Computing £10,000 £26,000 Design & Technology £24,000 Geography £24,000 Languages £15,000 (including ancient languages) £15,000 £15,000 Maths £24,000 17

Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Maintenance Loans in England Loans in England Students may be eligible for a Maintenance Loan of Average course fees can cost up to £9,250. Contact up to £12,382 to help towards accommodation and the school or teacher training provider you are other living costs. Amounts awarded are dependent interested in to clarify your training costs. Don’t on both your household income and whether you’re forget, there’s plenty of financial support available to living with your parents. A minimum loan is available help you with both fees and living costs: to all trainees, regardless of household income. Find out more on GOV.UK. • a Tuition Fee Loan is available to cover course costs – if you take out a loan, you don’t have to pay Loan repayments your course costs upfront Your loan repayments depend on how much you • a Maintenance Loan is available – to help with living earn – not how much you have borrowed. costs If you don’t already have a student loan, or you took • it doesn’t matter if you already have a student one out on or after 1 September 2012, you’re only loan – you can still apply for both of these loans to required to start paying it back when you earn over support your teacher training £27,295 . Your repayments will not increase if you take out a loan for teacher training. • you only have to repay them when you start earning over the repayment threshold If you took out a student loan before 1 September 2012, you don’t have to repay it until you are earning • if you already have a student loan, taking out a over £19,895 . Your repayments will not increase if further loan for your teacher training doesn’t mean you take out a loan for teacher training. your monthly repayments will rise Extra financial support Eligibility You can use the student finance calculator on GOV. Both Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans are UK to estimate student loans and extra funding that available through Student Finance England. You may be available. For instance, Parents’ Learning can also contact them to apply for the extra financial Allowance, Childcare Grants or Child Tax Credits. support they provide if you’re a parent, have a disability or have an adult dependant. Salaried teacher training EU exit – unless EU nationals are already settled in If receiving on-the-job training while you earn a salary the UK, they can no longer access student finance appeals to you, there are a number of opportunities and ITT bursaries. to apply for a salaried teacher training course: For more information visit: • Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeships www.gov.uk/student-finance • School Direct (salaried) If you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you will need to apply for this support via your country’s Trainees on salaried courses are recruited and student finance body (Student Finance Wales, Student employed directly by schools and may continue Awards Agency Scotland or Student Finance NI). teaching in their school after their training has finished. Both courses will award QTS, the cost of Tuition Fee Loans in England which is covered by the school. Check with your training provider if this also includes a PGCE and/or If you are on a non-salaried teacher training course, Master’s-level credits. you won’t have to pay tuition fees upfront. You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the full cost of You’ll be paid and taxed as an unqualified teacher. your course, which is paid directly to your training Salaries do differ between schools – check the provider from Student Finance England. Tuition Fee salary with the school before you apply for a salaried Loans aren’t means tested, so regardless of your course. household income, you should be able to claim the full amount for your course fees. 18

Meet your future colleagues. Anastasia Lada, I have been a mentor to PGCE students for the past two years which has been an absolute delight as I get Tolworth Girls School. a chance to share my experiences with them and help them develop and flourish. Why did you decide to become a teacher? What inspired you? How does your school support career progression? I have always enjoyed interacting with children and teaching them. Ever since my degree I have had My school has been very supportive since the the opportunity to teach secondary students as well beginning of my journey as a trainee teacher. My as undergraduate students. I enjoy passing on my department has also played a huge role, they are all knowledge about my passion for mathematics and there to give you their advice when you need it but making my students as enthusiastic about the subject also just when you need a little encouragement. as I am. This year my department is exploring different ways Can you give us an overview of the of teaching in terms of maths mastery techniques. training, how did it prepare you for As a team we are all looking to implement new teaching? teaching techniques so that students can recall their maths knowledge more effectively. I had the opportunity to do my PGCE at St Mary’s University in Twickenham and that was one of the How easy did you find the process best decisions I’ve ever made. The course was of applying for teacher training? extremely well planned and the weekly sessions were not only therapeutic because we were all talking I remember that the process of applying was about our experiences but also very well structured in challenging for me at the beginning because I had to terms of preparing us for all the different aspects of do the application from Greece. However, I got lots teaching. The support from our tutors in the university of help from the Teacher Training Advisers who were was amazing in terms of guidance and organisation. eager to support me through my application. What has been your career What is it you like most about being progression to date, what a teacher? opportunities are available in your location as a teacher? I love having a great rapport with my students and, when that is challenging, finding ways to build I am now in my fourth year of teaching and enjoy connections so that I am able to help and support teaching as much as I enjoy being taught different them. methods and becoming better at my profession. 19

How to apply. You can use the new GOV.UK service, Personal statement Apply for Teacher Training, to apply for teacher training. When you submit your application, you’ll need to write a personal statement. This is the time to make sure your Aim to apply early – teacher training providers application stands out. It’s crucial you show off your allocate places as people apply throughout knowledge and skills for teaching. the year, and courses stay open until they are full. If you’re keen to join a popular course, apply as Showcasing your experience soon as you can. A good statement should highlight your strengths and The application form how you can apply them in teaching. Think about the distinct qualities you can bring to the table that will make When you apply you’ll need to give details about: you an amazing teacher. Your personal statement should convey energy, enthusiasm and a passion for teaching. • your qualifications, including your GCSEs and A Levels (or equivalents) and degree The personal statement is split into 2 sections: • your work history or unpaid experience 1. w hy you want to teach (600-word limit). • w hy you want to teach • w hy you’re suited to teach a particular subject or age 2. y our suitability to teach a subject or age group (400-word limit). group In the ‘why you want to teach’ section, you should You can also say whether you need any adjustments cover: during the application process or on the course. • your reasons for wanting to teach – and, more You’ll be encouraged to declare any potential specifically, why you’ll enjoy teaching your chosen safeguarding issues, such as criminal convictions. subject and/or age group Training providers can advise you on whether or not any issues will affect your application. • the qualities you have that will work well in the classroom – communication, organisation and Prepare your application – you can find and apply creativity are all important skills for teacher training courses on GOV.UK. • how previous studies and any work experience relate To find training providers near you, visit: to your chosen subject or age group – make sure you give examples of what you’ve learnt from your www.gov.uk/find-postgraduate-teacher-training-courses experience, and how it will positively impact your teaching • w hat you’ve learnt during any school experience placements – and how it has influenced your application • how you’ve benefited from any other experience that you may have of working with children or young people – for example, as a classroom assistant or running youth groups or sports clubs 20

In the ‘your suitability to teach a subject or age group’ Referee requirements section, you should cover: • the subject of your undergraduate degree You’ll need to choose one ‘principal’ referee and one • modules that you studied as part of your degree ‘secondary’ referee. The requirements for this depend on your circumstances: that may be relevant to the subject or age range you’re looking to teach Principal referee • postgraduate degrees or qualifications • A Level subjects • if you’ve been in education during the last five • any experience or expertise gained at work that years, you should provide an academic reference you feel are relevant to teaching for your principal referee – this could be a current Remember, your personal statement is the core of or recent tutor the application, so it’s important you take the time and effort to research and prepare. The overall word • if you’ve been out of education for longer than five count is 1,000 words; make sure you use these years, you can provide a professional reference words wisely! as your principal referee (if you think an academic Finally, you shouldn’t copy from anyone else’s reference won’t be relevant) statement or from statements that have been posted online. All applications are screened, and if your Second referee work isn’t your own, it will be detected. • your second reference should come from a You can get help with your personal statement professional – ideally somebody you’ve worked from a dedicated Teacher Training Adviser. for or somebody who can talk about your skills, To sign up for support, visit: personality and why you are suitable for teaching www.adviser-getintoteaching.education.gov.uk • if you’re applying for a School Direct (salaried) References course, one of your references must be from an employer. If you’re self-employed and unable to You need two references to apply for teacher training. provide a reference from a former employer, your They are a compulsory part of the application process referee should be somebody who knows you from and you cannot submit your application without them. work and who can comment on your work and You must submit the names and contact details of suitability for teaching your referees, and then a reference request will be sent to them. • if a reference is from a school, the reference must It’s vital you choose individuals who know you well come from the headteacher enough to highlight your potential as a teacher. Remember, it’ll take time for your references to be You cannot provide references from family completed. To avoid any of your preferred courses members, friends, partners or ex-partners. closing while you’re waiting for a reference, contact your referees in advance and ask if they can reply to the request as promptly as possible. 21

After the application. Interview • knowing what you can bring to the course you’re applying for – both in terms of your subject The key to any successful interview is proper knowledge and the ethos of the school(s) or preparation – and your application for teacher training university leading your training is no exception. The way different schools and universities structure their interviews will vary, as will • being able to explain what you’ve learnt from your any assessments you’ll need to complete. school experience When you receive an invitation for an interview, read • showing you can apply transferable skills from any it very carefully so you know exactly what to expect. previous employment to teaching Most interviews take place over a full day, although some can take as little as an hour, and include some, • understanding current policies and practices in if not all, of the following: education and teaching in general • a review of personal documentation – including You may have already given these areas a lot of exam certificates thought when crafting your written application. That’s a good start, but don’t be complacent and think that • a group task or discussion – e.g. discussion about reciting your application will carry you through. As current educational issues is the case with any interview, you’ll be expected to demonstrate good personal, intellectual and • a short presentation – the topic may be shared with communication skills – in fact, as a potential teacher, you before your interview it’s vital. • an individual interview – that could be one-to-one or Some course providers now provide prospective with a panel trainee teachers with the option of being interviewed remotely. Candidates are asked to complete tasks, • a written task or tasks – that could involve a literacy such as watching video clips, carrying out tests or test and/or subject-based test presentations and discussing lesson plans in addition to having a 1:1 interview. Make sure you’re prepared for every eventuality to improve your chance of 4 tops tips for online interviews: making the best possible impression. 1. test the equipment you’re logging in with well You’ll need to be sure you can provide compelling ahead of your interview reasons for why you have all of the right qualities for teaching. For example: 2. think about your location and what your interviewer can see behind you • having an assured, committed reason for wanting to get into teaching and an understanding of how 3. d ress professionally you can make a difference as a teacher 4. m ake sure all of your electronic devices are on ‘do not disturb’ during your interview. 22



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