Training Courses in the East Midlands

** AVAILABLE PROGRAMMES **

What do I need to do to become a teacher?

Whichever programme you follow, completing it needs to give you Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

There is a considerable variety of routes into teaching. Some are based in the seven institutions with university status in the region, which provide training linked to their partnership schools, others are through Universities or partnerships of schools (known as SCITTs or DRBs) which provide full-time on-the-job training. See the Available Programmes link for a summary of them and contact details.

Your first decision is whether to train for secondary or primary teaching, as the courses are specific to those two age phases. That is best achieved by gaining some voluntary experience in a school: simply contact a local school and ask them if they could give you that experience – it will enhance your application as well (and is normally a requirement for entry).

You need to gain a degree qualification. If you have completed A-levels you could apply for an Undergraduate course, which will give you a degree and QTS at the same time. They are shown on the Available Programmes chart. Alternatively, you might prefer to gain a degree first, perhaps in an education-related course. Such courses are available at the Universities in the Region. For all of these you would need to apply through UCAS.

If you already have a degree then you have a number of choices. You could apply for a PGCE place. Most are for one year – but there are part-time places also available (see the Available Programmes chart). For these you apply through the GTTR. They all offer the opportunity to gain a M.A. degree through it, too.

Alternatively you might like to try for a work-based training programme, known as Graduate Teacher Programmes. These also normally last for one year: though may be shorter for those with relevant experience. For these you would need to apply direct to the establishment (see the Available Programmes chart). For some, with high aspirations, a 2.1 degree and wishing to teach a shortage subject in a challenging secondary school then the TeachFirst programme may look inviting (see the Available Programmes chart). It offers leadership training during your first year of teaching (the Induction Year) with the opportunity to gain a M.A. degree through it, too.

If you are worried that your subject knowledge might not be quite up to scratch for secondary teaching, there are special courses available to help with that – see Subject Knowledge Enhancement courses for details.

Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Recruitment events in the East Midlands

Teaching has become one of the most popular professions because it offers both challenge and security. It attracts thousands of new recruits each year both from school leavers, graduates and career changers.

In order to find out more about what is required from trainee teachers and what training involves you are strongly advised to attend an ITE recruitment event before you apply. Recruitment events provide opportunities to receive up-to-date information on training to teach as well as to ask questions about your own qualifications and circumstances, and which ITE route/programme best suits you. In the East Midlands there is a very good programme of ITE recruitment events run by ITE providers. These typically include information about the different ITE routes, qualifications and experience, how to apply and further support and information, what you need to do next and funding.

Click herefor a link to recruitment events taking place in the East Midlands. You are strongly advised to find out more about any particular event you intend to attend and also to book a place. The listing includes information on where and when individual events are occurring, as well as the particular training routes and specialisms that the event is focusing on, for example, secondary mathematics and science or primary.

You can find out more about ITE recruitment events which are organised nationally by the TDA by visiting their website’s ‘Advice and events’ page (via www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/adviceandevents ).

The TDA website also has information on routes and providers including those based in the East Midlands. These can be accessed by visiting the ‘Becoming a teacher’ and linked pages (via www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/becomingateacher ).

** RECRUITMENT EVENTS **

Initial Teacher Training/ Education (ITT/E) Courses available in the East Midlands

Teaching has become one of the most popular professions because working with young people is exciting, rewarding and challenging, and because the profession offers good job security. Here in the East Midlands we are proud that we offer some of the most highly rated- ITT courses available anywhere in England. We also have a very wide range of routes and great variety of subjects. Once you have established that you meet the minimum requirements. Visit ‘Basic requirements’ (via www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/thetrainingprocess/basicrequirements ). You can start your search in earnest.   You will need to find out what courses are available and which course your experience, qualification and experience best suits your training needs. Please be aware that because of teachings popularity gaining a place on an ITT course is highly competitive, and you will increase your chances of being successful through being thorough in your preparation and application. In this section you will find information to support your preparations. Further support is available via the TDA’s website ( www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit)

There are a variety of routes into ITT and you are strongly advised to find out about their similarities and differences before you apply. A good starting point is the TDA website’s ‘Becoming a teacher’ page, and linked pages, which provide key information (via www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/becomingateacher ). In considering teaching you will need to think about:

• Your own qualifications and experience and its relevance

• Age/ Phase: early years or primary or secondary

• Subject specialism

• Route: Undergraduate or Postgraduate or Employment-based (The Graduate Teacher Programme)

Other important aspects; which can vary from route to route, provider to provider, and course to course, include: opportunities for gaining awards (e.g. PGCE, Masters-level credits), funding, location /travel, pattern of training and work, and personal considerations and commitments, length of course, etc

In this section ITT courses and providers are presented in a chart under their routes;

• Undergraduate (UG) and Foundation Degree (FD)

• Postgraduate (PGCE)

• Employment-based (The Graduate Teacher Programme),

This chart is followed by information for the secondary phase, organised by subject. Links to the ITT providers own website are given. You will find listed all East Midlands’ ITT providers who offer the particular course, and please bear in mind that employment-based courses can generally offer a wider range of secondary subjects.

There is plenty of choice and you will find it helpful to visit individual providers’ websites and compare what is on offer. Information on the quality of any individual provider’s courses can be found by visiting ‘Comparing training providers’ (via www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/thetrainingprocess/comparingtrainingproviders ).
Because of the richness of ITT courses on offer and variety of routes you are strongly advised to attend an ITT recruitment event before you apply. Recruitment events provide opportunities to receive up-to-date information on training to teach as well as to ask questions about your own qualifications and circumstances, and which ITT route/programme best suits you. In the East Midlands there is a very good programme of ITT recruitment events run by providers. These typically include information about the different ITT routes, qualifications and experience, how to apply and further support and information, what you need to do next and funding. Recruitment events taking place in the East Midlands are listed on this site (via  <<INSERT HYPERLINK TO EMAC EVENTS>> .  ITT recruitment events are also organised nationally by the TDA and you can find out about these by visiting their website’s ‘Advice and events’ page (via www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/adviceandevents).

East Midland Initial Teacher Training provision by route and phase

*Please not that The TDA is currently developing a centralised application system for the Graduate Teacher Programme. You are advised to visit both the individual GTP provider website and TDA’s own for further information. (see www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/thetrainingprocess/typesofcourse/employmentbased/gtp  )
**Register to apply for ITE UG courses via /www.ucas.ac.uk/students/apply; and, ***ITE PG courses via  www.gttr.ac.uk/students/apply

East Midland Initial Teacher Training Secondary subjects.

This table shows East Midlands’ ITT providers who offer specific secondary subjects through the PGCE route.

The range of subjects any individual GTP provider will support varies and in some cases includes secondary subjects not listed in this summary.  Certain GTP providers offer a specific set of secondary subjects. And these are indicated below. The remainder of the GTP providers listed may be able to support specific secondary but this will depend on a variety of circumstances. Because of this you are advised to contact the individual GTP provider and discuss your personal subject preference, qualifications and school support. In some cases to participate in a particular providers’ GTP programme it is essential to have the support of a school. Please be aware that the TDA is currently working with GTP providers to simplify applications, and their website will be updated as the system develops.

East Midland Initial Teacher Training VACANCIES

The following list of vacancies for courses starting in 2010 has been compiled. It draws on information from ITT provider websites, GTTR and other sources. Whilst every effort has been made to make this up-to-date, enquirers are advised to contact the provider directly regarding any courses that interest them to find out if vacancies still remain, and their best course of action.  Contact details for ITT providers can be found by visiting their websites,