Graduate teacher programme
If you already have a degree the graduate teacher programme is
an employment-based route into teaching for local graduates. The
alternative to this programme is a post-graduate certificate in
education. We currently do not have our own graduate teacher
programme.
Post-graduate certificate in education
If you already have a degree. Courses take place at initial
teacher training providers, universities or colleges, the duration
of the course is one year for full-time students. If you meet the
residency criteria to be classified as a "home student" or you are
an EU national living in the European Economic Area and you are
starting a postgraduate ITT course in England from September 2007,
you will receive one of the following non-taxable bursaries:
- £9,000 to eligible trainees in secondary mathematics, science,
ICT, RE, modern languages, design and technology and music.
- £6,000 for trainees in all other secondary phase subjects.
- £4,000 is payable to students starting all primary ITT
courses.
Trainees who successfully complete a PGCE and the skills tests in
literacy, numeracy and information and communications technology
(ICT) will obtain qualified teacher status for teaching in England
and Wales. This is the only mandatory professional qualification
you need to become a teacher.
Trainees who complete a postgraduate ITT course in a priority
subject and take up a newly qualified teacher position teaching
this subject in a maintained school or non-maintained special
school in England, may be eligible to receive one of the following
'golden hellos' (one-off taxable payments) after successfully
completing their induction period:
- £2,500 if you are teaching secondary English (including drama),
information and communications technology, design and technology,
modern foreign languages, religious education or music.
- £5,000 if you are teaching secondary mathematics or
science.
If you are interested in embarking on a PGCE, then you need
to apply to an initial teacher training provider via the
Graduate Teacher Training
Registry. The Registry will be able to provide details of
universities offering post-graduate certificate in education
courses and other information regarding the application
process.
Other or no qualifications
Teaching is a graduate profession. If you have some
qualifications, you need to explore with a college or university,
whether this will give you access to a degree course. The degree
should specifically relate to a national curriculum area to enable
you to enter initial teacher training as a UK graduate. If you have
no qualifications, please visit the Training and Development Agency for
Schools for advice.