Get into teaching

Elise Sherman – UWAS CoordinatorEmily Medcalf – UWAS AdministratorUoW Associates in SchoolsCareer Development Centre

What will we cover today?

The rewards of teaching

Qualifications and demand

Routes into Teacher Training

School experience

UoW Career Development Centre Support

Your teaching career

Application advice

Why go into teaching?

Teaching has changed. More people with a 2:1 or first degree than ever before

are training to be teachers.

You could receive a substantial tax-free bursary while you train.

Teacher training is better than ever before.

Apply to train through School Direct, which is already attracting some of the top

graduates in the country.

Starting salaries in teaching are higher than you think.

Good teachers are in demand and there are excellent employment prospects.

Teachers love teaching and stay in the career longer than other graduates.

There are excellent opportunities for career progression.

Primary teaching is as important as secondary teaching

You will receive support from us throughout the application process.

What is the best thing about teaching?

The relationships you build with the students, getting to know

your group and adapting your teaching to meet their needs.

Seeing the reward of pupils learning and making progress.

Knowing that through your teaching you have helped students

develop and enjoy your subject is a great feeling!

And knowing that you’re actually making a difference to the lives

of the pupils is very rewarding!

The rewards of teaching

Teachers begin on an average starting salary of £24,200.

The average salary of a full-time teacher is £34,600.

A leading practitioner can earn up to £65,000.

Prospects of employment in teaching are better than most other

professions - 9 out of 10 new teachers, who want to teach, found

teaching jobs in the first 12 months. (Source: NQT Survey)

Teachers are twice as likely to be in management positions 4 years into

their career, compared to fellow graduates (19 per cent teachers, 10

per cent science, 9 per cent accountants, 6 per cent legal). (Source:

HESA)

Qualifications and demand

Teaching is increasingly a career for the most able graduates.

Last year’s ITT entrants had the highest proportion of 2:1 degrees and above on record: three quarters of entrants to university-based training had a 2:1 or better.

Minimum degree classification 2ii

74 per cent of graduates have a 2.i or higher (2013/14)

e.g.

History 87%

English 84%

Biology 73%

Modern foreign languages 74%

Chemistry 64%

Maths 62%

Minimum entry requirements

UK undergraduate degree or a recognised equivalent

qualification.

Standard equivalent to a grade C in GCSE English and

mathematics.

Standard equivalent to a grade C in a science GCSE (primary

only).

Most providers and schools will expect applicants to have some

form of “School Experience”

In demand subjects

Some subjects such as history, English, geography, biology and music

and Primary are extremely popular so applying early can make all the

difference in securing a training place.

Teachers of maths, physics, chemistry, modern languages,

computing and design and technology are particularly in demand in

schools at the moment.

There are still plenty of places available for September 2015 to

train to teach RE. Training providers may also consider those who

have studied: Cultural Studies, Law, Psychology, Sociology, History,

Philosophy, Politics, Social Policy, Humanities, or Criminology.  

Eligibility 2015/20161

Scholarships 2

Bursaries

Trainee with 1st/PhD

2:1/Master’s 2:2 Other 3

Physics £25,000 £25,000 £25,000 £15,000 £9,000

Maths £25,000 £25,000 £20,000 £15,000 £9,000

Chemistry, computing

£25,000 £25,000 £20,000 £15,000 £0

Languages 4 - £25,000 £20,000 £15,000 £0

Biology - £15,000 £12,000 £10,000 £0

Primary maths 5 - £12,000 £12,000 £12,000 £9,000

Geography, D&T

- £12,000 £9,000 £4,000 £0

Music - £9,000 £4,000 £4,000 £0

English, history, RE,

primary- £9,000 £4,000 £0 £0

-

An overview of all fundingFinancial incentives for postgraduate non-salaried teacher training courses in 2015/16 by subject

Funding options: - Student loan

All subjects

School experience

Gaining classroom experience before starting your initial teacher training (ITT)

can help you be sure that a career in teaching is right for you. It is also

essential to support your application for ITT.

Premier Plus candidates may be able to get help in getting school experience,

including a placement on one of our School Experience Programmes if there is

availability in your subject/local area. Call the Teaching Line on 0800 389 2500 for

more info or visit www.education.gov.uk/teachsep

An alternative is to write to, or telephone, your local school to ask if you can

observe any lessons, preferably in the area or subject you wish to teach. If you

have any friends or family who are currently teaching, maybe approach them and

ask whether you could observe a lesson at their school.

You can also read our blog at http://getintoteaching.wordpress.com/ for helpful

advice on gaining classroom experience.

Consider your Experience

Need to have at least 2 weeks observation in a primary school setting for Primary courses- sometimes less for Secondary

Some ideas for other experience: Volunteering in a school Volunteering with children in other settings Afterschool clubs / playschemes Sports coaching – not enough on its own Tutoring

Associates in Schools (UWAS)

University of Westminster Associates in Schools (UWAS) Scheme This is an exciting opportunity to gain valuable work

experience in a school classroom, where you will be

supporting the teacher while exploring a future career in

teaching.

The scheme consists of a 15-day placement in a secondary

school. The placement can be completed in weekly blocks

or in instalments (eg one day per week), while continuing

your studies.

For further information, please visit the UWAS web page.

Apply by 8 June for first intake 2015-16.

Your teacher training

There’s a range of great training options to choose from. Whichever option you choose, whether school-led or university-led teacher training, you can rest assured you’ll spend at least half of your time in a school, giving you plenty of practical experience.

All courses deliver over 1,000 hours of training.

Behaviour management is compulsory.

92% of newly qualified secondary teachers and 90% of newly

qualified primary teachers highly rated the overall quality of their

training. (NQT Survey, 2013)

View and register at: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/

University-led teacher training

Postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE)

- For anyone who already has a degree

- Focuses on developing your teaching skills, rather than the subject you

intend to teach

School-led teacher training

School Direct (QTS and in many cases PGCE)

- You’ll be selected by a school from day one, with a job in mind for you

- Training is full-time, school-based

School-centred initial teacher training (SCITT)

- Designed and delivered by groups of neighbouring schools

- Taught by experienced, practising teachers, tailored to local needs

All school-led teacher training courses will lead to qualified teacher status (QTS) and most will award a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE).

(Please ask Schools you meet for the details of the courses they offer)

Other routes into teaching Teach First

- Employment-based route into teaching

- Initial six week intensive training programme followed by two years

teaching in a challenging school

- Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) awarded on successful

completion

- Applications are now open for the Taster Programme – a one-day

course, next on in London on 30 June

http://graduates.teachfirst.org.uk/what-can-you-do/university/taster-programme

- See: www.teachfirst.org.uk

Application Preparation

Research

Attend the open events

Apply for brochures

Look at providers’ websites

UCAS online application helper

Application workshop London (South)20 June 2015 at 10:00am in London at the ETC Avonmouth, Elephant and Castle

Event info:Come along to our application workshops, designed exclusively for those looking to start teacher training in September 2015. Whether you’re just starting your application or looking to add the finishing touches, we’ll give you the support and guidance you need to make it the best it can be.At our workshops, you’ll have the opportunity to:•get helpful advice about making your application stand out when you attend the presentation•receive personalised feedback on your personal statement from one of our teaching experts•talk to current teachers about their experience of changing career to teach

Ethos and Quality of provider

Facilities

Transport links

Accommodation

Finances

Personal circumstances

Issues to consider

Subject knowledge enhancement

Don’t hold back from applying because of your subject knowledge confidence. If you are intending to teach maths, physics, chemistry, modern languages, computing or design and technology, you could benefit from a subject knowledge enhancement course.

Each provider has a different entry requirement so talk to your chosen provider about your own subject levels.

If your provider feels that you would make a good teacher but you need to undertake some additional study in the subject you want to teach before you start training then your chosen provider can discuss a range of subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) courses available to you.

Career Development Centre

www.westminster.ac.uk/careers: - Jobs and events

New database

Meet with a careers advisor: - 20 minutes 'Quick Query' / 1

hour 'Consultation'.

020 7911 5184 for appointment

PGCE application

• Personal statement

• UoW Careers Advisor can check application form and help

prepare for interview

• Referees

• Principal referee (Academic – personal tutor)

• Second referee (character)

What providers and schools are looking for

This is your moment to stand out from the rest.

It’s important to convey why you want to teach.

Show what you can offer and why you will make a good teacher.

Tell them how you know that teaching is right for you.

Include what experience you have had in schools that has confirmed this.

Convey your communication skills.

The personal statement is the most crucial part of your application form. It

is used by training providers to assess your commitment to teaching,

desire for self-development, and enthusiasm about education.

How and when should I apply?

The application round for ITT

programmes starting from

September open on the preceding 1st

November.

UCAS Teacher Training system for

applications to all routes

Please see the UCAS website for

further details on how to apply:

www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/teacher-training

One system – www.ucas.com

Opens 1st November

Check entry requirements of courses

Apply 1: - 3 choices( November to September)

Apply 2: - 1 choice at a time (January to September)

Line up your 2 referees

Last year, more than 81,000 new applications were submitted

between May and September. 

How to Apply

Common Mistakes

Grammar

Spelling

Not enough experience

Not marketing your experience

No reflection

Qualification check

Overview of course

Writing task

Tour of campus

Group discussions

Presentation

1:1 interview

Examples of interview process (St Mary’s)

Keep up to date with educational issues via the internet

Be prepared to ‘sell’ yourself

Be reflective on your time in school

Try the interactive interview and application assistant on the Get-Into-

Teaching website. Search “Interactive Interview” on the site

Look at training providers’ websites.

Prepare with a Careers Advisor

Smart attire

Documentation

Preparation for interview

Health check

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Fitness to Teach

Energising Environment

Career Structure and Job Security

Making a difference

Team and Autonomy

Continued Learning

No better feeling ?

Why Teaching ?

Skills tests

All candidates wanting to start a teacher training course must have

passed the professional skills tests in numeracy and literacy before

beginning training.

Training providers and schools will use skills tests results to inform

decisions during the application process; it is in your interest to pass

the tests as soon as possible to increase your chances of success.

The skills tests registration system can be accessed via the skills tests

pages of the DfE website at www.education.gov.uk/teachskillstests

The first attempt at taking your skills tests in each subject is provided

free of charge. You can book up to two resits if required, but you will be

expected to pay for these yourself (£19.25 each).

Search “get into teaching” to visit DfE website

If you would like to speak to the DfE about teaching

or teacher training, please contact the Teaching

Line on Freephone 0800 389 2500. Alternatively,

you can talk to a Teaching Line adviser using

the online chat service between 8am and 8pm.

Further information and advice

Key links

https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk

www.westminster.ac.uk/careers

www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/teacher-training

www.westminster.ac.uk/uwas

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