Aspiring Teacher? Take 10 Minutes to Look at the Different Teaching Routes You Could Take.
Published date: 2018/10
Aspiring teacher? We’ve put together a 10 minute handy guide on the different routes you could take to gaining QTS.
Firstly, you will need to know what ITT stands for. You will see this mentioned a lot when you are doing your research in to different training routes. ITT is the abbreviation for Initial Teacher Training and is the umbrella of teacher training, in which different routes in to teaching sit.
What Do I Need to Apply for an Initial Teacher Training Course?
1. GCSEs:
Firstly, applicants to teacher training need to have at least a grade C in English and Maths GCSE (or equivalent standard). If you are looking to get into primary teaching you will also need a grade C or equivalent in Science.
2. Degree:
If you are thinking of becoming a secondary teacher your degree needs to be relevant to the subject you want to teach. Initial teacher training providers such as universities or schools make the final decision
on whether your degree holds enough subject knowledge for you to teach that subject. Some providers may ask candidates to top up their subject knowledge with subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) courses. You will only be asked to do this if you are going to teach in a secondary school. The following secondary subject SKE courses are available:
Chemistry
Computer Science
Design & Technology
Mathematics
Modern Foreign Languages
Physics
Most SKE courses are the equivalent of two weeks study, but some may be longer depending on whether a candidate needs a quick top-up or some in-depth knowledge.
3. Skills Tests for ITT:
As of 1st July 2013 applicants to ITT courses must pass a numeracy and literacy skills test prior to the course starting. You will get 3 attempts at passing the tests. ITT providers will use the skills results to help them decide the suitability of an applicant. You should ensure that you take the tests before interview for the best possible chance of a successful application.
Initial Teacher Training Routes
You can do your teacher training either through a school, while employed at a school or through a higher education institution such as a university or college:
Through a School
SCITT (School-led initial teacher training)
School-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) is a programme run by and based in schools.
All SCITT courses lead to Qualified Teacher status (QTS) and many award the postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE)
There are many schools and colleges running SCITT courses all over England. These groups provide all kinds of SCITT, covering primary, middle years, and the full range of secondary subjects.
You will usually be based in one school from the consortium – the ‘lead school’ – while completing teaching practices at others within the group.
Courses last for one year full-time, running from September to June, some start in August.
You may be eligible to receive funding while you train
Entry requirements are a degree or an equivalent qualification. If your degree or other experience doesn’t relate to the subject you want to teach, then you might need to complete a pre-training course to get your knowledge up to the required level. Examples of schools in the Midlands that do SCITT.
The Arthur Terry School SCITT, Sutton Coldfield
The Beauchamp College ITT, Leicester
George Spencer Academy SCITT, Nottingham
Leicester & Leicestershire SCITT
Maryvale Institute, Birmingham (RE only)
St. Joseph’s College Stoke Secondary Partnership
West Midlands Consortium, Thomas Telford School
Employed at a School
There are currently 2 routes that you can take to “earn while you learn”
School Direct Training Programme (salaried)
With School Direct you are selected by a school from day one. Candidates will receive a salary on the unqualified teacher pay scale.
School Direct is available in primary and secondary schools across England.
Programmes generally last for one year.
You must have three or more years’ experience of working life to apply.
Successful completion of a School Direct course will lead to Qualified Teacher status (QTS).
School Direct programmes may also include a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE).
If you are a high-quality graduate you may be eligible for a bursary of up to £20,000. Otherwise you will need to take an employment-based route.
Teach First
A two-year Leadership Development Programme
Teach First participants only work in schools in low income communities
You are guaranteed a full-time salary, paid by the school you are working in for a minimum of two years.
In the first year you are paid a basic salary as an unqualified teacher. In the second year you will be an Early Career Teacher (ECT) paid to scale.
There are no tuition fees.
Trainees join Teach First and their university partners for six weeks of intensive training before teaching in a school in a low-income community for two years, where they achieve a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE)
The programme is currently offered in the following regions: East Midlands, Greater London, Kent and Medway, North East, North West, South Coast, South West, Wales (South), West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Higher Education Institution
The alternative route is for you to apply for a postgraduate certificate of education (PGCE) course at a university or higher education institution.
These ITT courses take about a year and include 18 weeks in a school for trainees wanting to teach at primary level, or 24 weeks for those wanting to teach at secondary level.
At the end of the course, assuming all the standards are met, you will be awarded Qualified Teacher status (QTS) and become an Early Career Teacher (ECT).
It may also be possible to study for a PGCE via flexible distance learning, or in a school by completing a programme of school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT), through Teach First or by completing the School Direct Training Programme
How Do I Get Teaching Experience?
You don’t need to put your career on hold whilst you wait to be accepted onto ITT. Whilst you are working towards your degree or after you have graduated you can gain teaching experience which will look great for your application.
Of course, schools will always be willing to take on aspiring teachers. You can work in a school as a cover supervisor where you will oversee lessons and supervisor pupils in class.
For you to work as a cover supervisorat Aspire People all you need is a few weeks experience of working with children and hold a degree or be working towards completing one. The benefits of working with Aspire People is that we are able to offer you a mixture of work at different
schools which help enhance your experience and we will also write you a reference on letter headed paper which you can take to your ITT interview.
What to Do If You Didn’t Get onto an ITT Course?
Don’t worry. You now have a year to gain vital experience for your next application. A lot of teachers have not been accepted with their first application onto an ITT but still go on to become teachers.
One of the main reasons students don’t get accepted onto ITT courses is because of a lack of experience. At Aspire People we can help you with gaining some teaching experience. You can work as a cover supervisor(unqualified teacher) in schools across the Midlands.
Join other educators and take a look at the Aspire Blog to find more news and tips. At Aspire People we also place teaching and non-teaching staff into schools, take a look at our latest job vacancies to see how we can help you. Or contact us today on 0330 221 1226!