Want to Teach? New Developments in Teacher Training

School Direct

Schools are able to bid to the Training and Development Agency (TDA) for 500 training places on this new programme for 2012/13. The school (or group of schools) will recruit trainees directly and then purchase the training from an ITT provider.  Once the trainee has completed training and gained qualified teacher status, the school will be expected to employ the trainee for at least their Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) year.
 
Trainees will be eligible for funding on the same basis as those completing university-based PGCEs (with the offer an additional payment, worth 25% of their bursary, to trainees based in schools where more than a quarter of pupils are eligible for free school meals).

In allocating School Direct places, the TDA will give priority to schools and subjects in greatest need.

TDA Premier Plus Service and School Experience Programme

The TDA is offering the Premier Plus Service to support prospective teacher of maths, physics, chemistry or Modern Foreign Languages (MFL).  Premier Plus includes one-to-one advice and guidance, special events, access to subject knowledge enhancement courses, reimbursement of the GTTR application fee and access to the School Experience Programme (SEP).

SEP itself offers classroom experience for one to ten days in a secondary school to applicants considering teaching maths, physics, chemistry, D&T, ICT or MFL.  The programme is available to final year University students and some others.

Distance Learning PGCE

The TDA have accredited Hibernia College to provide an e-learning based programme leading to a PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in secondary maths, physics or chemistry. The two-year flexible programme is delivered through a combination of online lectures and tutorials, locally delivered workshops and school placements organised through the programme’s national network of hub schools.  Subject knowledge enhancement is included as appropriate.

Studio Schools

Studio schools are a new option at age 14.  They teach both academic and vocational qualifications in a practical and project-based way, often in conjunction with employers.  Study is combined with work placements in the schools’ partner organisations.  Some schools will be located alongside existing maintained schools and academies and others will be separate academies. 


Source: AGCAS Teaching Task Group