A bite-size guide from the University of Wolverhampton’s School of Education
Teaching is a challenging and fulfilling career. To become a qualified teacher in a state-maintained school in England and Wales you need to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) first. Predominantly, this means completing a programme of initial teacher training (ITT).
Competition for ITT programmes is often high (especially for primary school teaching) therefore it is important to prepare adequately for the application and selection process to avoid disappointment.
Pre-application choices and considerations
Before completing your ITT application you need to decide in advance whether you are applying for primary or secondary school teaching (it is not generally considered appropriate to apply for both) and which training route you want to take. At postgraduate level you may choose to embark upon a PGCE, Flexible PGCE, Teach First, SCITT or GTP (visit www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit for more details). The key to success is choosing the route that will suit your needs. This means considering the variety of teaching methods offered - i.e. the course structure, the support available and the financial benefits - carefully before making your choice.The University of Wolverhampton offers three ‘types’ of postgraduate teacher training route – a full-time PGCE and GTP in primary education and eight secondary subjects, and a flexible PGCE in six of the eight secondary subjects (see below for details).
There is generally no ‘better route’ to choose – the choice is yours. The main difference however is that PGCE trainees study and gain QTS, plus a masters level qualification, and GTP students train on-the-job, working towards Qualified Teacher status only.
How to apply
GTP: Applications for the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) are made directly to the institution of your choice. Anyone considering a GTP route should therefore contact their local Designated Recommending Body* (DRB) for an application form and/or further course details.*Locate your nearest DRB by searching for ‘DRB contact details’ at www.tda.gov.uk
PGCE: Applications for PGCE courses (either the full-time or flexible) are made centrally through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR, www.gttr.ac.uk). This allows you to apply to more than one ITT provider on the same application form, but goes to each provider in order of preference. You should therefore ensure that your first choice institution is written in the first row, second choice in the second row, etc.
Could you Qualify?
All graduate ITT applicants need a relevant honours degree and GCSE grade C or above in English and mathematics (or equivalent), plus grade C or above (or equivalent) in a science subject if applying for primary level education. If you are applying for secondary school teaching you should also decide on your subject specialism, which usually** should be supported by 50% or above of your degree content.
**six-month full-time enhancement courses are available for those with an inappropriate degree specialism wishing to teach chemistry, mathematics, physics, French and German.
Often experience in at least one school is expected prior to application; however entry requirements do vary between institutions and between the areas of ITT (early years, primary and the various secondary teaching subjects), so it is always advisable to enquire with your chosen provider prior to application.
Time to Apply
If you are seriously considering a career in teaching then you need to be aware of the external deadlines regarding application. For postgraduate primary courses the official closing date is 1st December each year. Late applications may be forwarded to institutions which have places remaining, but demand is high, so early application is advised. Secondary courses have no formal closing date and applications are accepted until there are no remaining vacancies. Applications for high-demand subjects such as physical education, English and history should be made early in the recruitment cycle to avoid disappointment.For further tips and advise on matters such as ‘writing your personal statement’ and ‘the ITT interview process’ visit the Teacher Training section at www.wlv.ac.uk/sed
Alternatively, if you would like general information about becoming a teacher in your local area, call the government-run Teaching Information Line on 0845 6000 991.
You may also find this article on Training to Teach useful.
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