Becoming a Teacher

Routes into Teaching

Your initial teacher training (ITT) develops the skills and knowledge you need to teach effectively, laying the foundations for your future career. There are several teacher training routes, all of which lead to qualified teacher status (QTS). There will be a route to suit you.

All training routes include significant experience in at least two schools. The minimum time spent in schools varies according to your training route. It will be at least 18 weeks.

The training routes are in three categories:

• postgraduate routes: train to be a teacher after completing your degree;
• undergraduate routes: study for your degree and train to be a teacher at the same time; and
• employment-based routes: train to teach while working in a school.

Postgraduate routes

Train to be a teacher after completing your degree.

How long do the courses take?

Courses generally take one year full-time or up to two years part-time.

Where do I train?

On a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) course you can choose to train in a higher education institute, via flexible distance learning or in a school. There is also an employment-based route for graduates called the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) – see the employment-based routes section.

What will I be learning?

One-year PGCE courses focus primarily on the development of teaching skills. Trainees are expected to have a knowledge and understanding of their subject(s) before starting training. For ways to boost or enhance your subject knowledge click here.

What qualifications do I need?

To start postgraduate ITT you must have a degree awarded by a United Kingdom university, or other institution that can make such awards, or a recognised equivalent qualification. The degree should be related to the subject you want to teach.

You must also have achieved a standard equivalent to a grade C in the GCSE examination in English language and mathematics. If you were born on or after 1 September 1979 and want to teach primary or Key Stage 2/3, you must also have achieved a standard equivalent to a grade C in the GCSE examination in a science subject.

How can I apply?

Most PGCE applications are made through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR). To find out more visit www.gttr.ac.uk

http://www.teach.gov.uk

The Postgraduate Certificate in Education

The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), in England leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) conferred by the GTCE and in Northern Ireland leading to ‘Eligibility to Teach’ conferred by the Department of Education (NI), is the most popular route into a career in teaching at secondary level. The Open University offers a modular PGCE programme, meeting the criteria for flexible provision set by the Teacher Training Agency, that will suit those whose circumstances prevent them from taking the traditional full-time course. Theory of teaching and learning is integrated with its practical application during sustained periods of teaching in a partner school.

If you are a student in higher education and you want to see if secondary school teaching suits you before applying for a PGCE, why not undertake a trial run in the classroom? The Student Associates Scheme gives you the unique opportunity to explore teaching in a short school placement while receiving a £40-a-day tax-free bursary and may provide some exemption from study/training if you were accepted onto a teacher training course. For further details go to http://sa-scheme.open.ac.uk or call 01908 858685.

There is more information about teaching as a career from the Open University career planning website at www.open.ac.uk/careers

Do contact us today at info@total-teaching.co.uk or speak to one of our staff in confidence

on 01707 328637