Getting into Teaching
The Graduate Teacher Programme
How do I choose the right route into teaching?
For routes into teaching visit the Getting into
Teaching section of the Training and Development Agency
Website (external link). Alternatively, contact their
teaching information line on tel: 0845 6000 991 to speak to an
advisor.
I want to be a teacher and I work in a school as a Teaching
Assistant, where should I start?
If you work as a Teaching Assistant in a maintained school
within the Royal Borough please speak to your Continuing
Professional Development (CPD) leader in school. If you
have GCSEs grade C or above in Maths, English
and Science as well as a first degree you could consider the
Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) route. You will find
more FAQs about the GTP at the bottom of this
page and general information on the
Graduate Teaching Programme Section of the Training and Development
Agency Website (external link)
If you have the relevant GCSEs but do not have
a degree you could consider a 2 year foundation
degree. You'll find out more about foundation degrees by
visiting the
Qualifications Section of the Direct Gov Website (external
link).
Additionally, the CPD service holds career development surgeries
twice a year at the Isaac Newton Professional Development
Centre. These are run by the Council’s Advanced Skills
Teacher for Support Staff, Maddy Luxon. To book a place on this
session please contact the CPD service:
If you are working in another borough, please contact your Local
Authority’s School Workforce Adviser.
I am a graduate from a non EU country. Am I eligible for
funding for a PGCE programme or an employment-based route?
Student Finance is the name for the administration of higher
education student loans, grants and Disabled Students
Allowances.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Student Finance Team
will no longer be administering student finance for any student
from 11 March 2011.
After this date, Student Finance England in Darlington will be
administering applications and answering correspondence and
queries from both new and continuing students.
All enquiries should be made directly to Student Finance
England, by telephoning 0845 300 5090. For details of the
arrangements, the online application facility and other finance
related information, visit the
Student Finance section of the Direct Gov website (external
link).
How do I find the best teacher training provider?
To aid you in finding a teacher training placement that meets
your requirements go to the Trainee
Teacher section of the Training and Development Agency
website (external link) Here you’ll be able to
compare providers and select the best for you based on wide ranging
criteria from location to subject.
Questions you may like to ask before applying to a particular
institution are:
- will you be able to offer me places in schools close to my home
for my school experience?
- are childcare facilities available?
What dates could I start on a Post Graduate Cerfticate in
Education (PGCE) course?
PGCE courses usually run from September and last for a year;
contact the relevant Higher Education Institution to confirm
this.
If I am on a low income while training to be a teacher, will I
be eligible for support with childcare in Kensington and
Chelsea?
You may be eligible for a Learning Support Grant from a Higher
Education Institution (HEI). You may want to ask about support for
childcare before making your application.
I live and work in Kensington and Chelsea and would like to
find out what funding may be available to me whilst studying for
QTS?
Our professional development service does not hold funds for
anybody studying for Qualified Teacher Status. For information
about the types of bursaries and grants available to trainee
teachers visit the
PGCE section of the Training and Development Agency
Website (external link)
I only want to teach early years, why do I need GCSE
Maths?
Mathematical development for children in the foundation stage (3
to 5 years old) needs to be planned as carefully as other aspects
of their development. Teachers need to be confident about their own
mathematical understanding.
I would like to line up for volunteer work in a primary school
so that I can learn more and prepare for a PGCE course. How would I
go about doing this?
The Local authority does not hold a central list of
opportunities for voluntary work in our schools. You will need to
contact our headteachers directly to explain your interest in doing
voluntary work. Write a letter stating:
- how long you would like to volunteer
- the contribution you could make to the school and the skills
and experience you have to offer
- if you have already obtained an enhanced CRB check
- also include a brief CV
For contact details for all of our schools please
visit our list of schools. If
you investigate the school websites you may find relevant
information to use in your request.
If you have not been assessed by the Criminal records bureau
visit the Home Office's
Criminal Records Bureau Website (external link) to find
out how to apply for an assessment.
I am interested in applying for a teaching vacancy following
the Graduate Teacher Programme route in a secondary school. Where
should I start?
As schools are responsible for recruiting their own teachers,
the Local Authority will not be able to help you directly in
finding a job. Secondary schools usually advertise vacant
posts in the Times Educational Supplement and do not necessarily
notify the Local Authority when they have vacancies. However,
if you know where you eventually want to work then it is worth
identifying the secondary schools in the area and checking the
school’s own websites for vacancies. You might also try:
- sending your CV and letting them know that you are interested
in the GTP route
- registering with the Schools Recruitment Service and search for
jobs in Kensington and Chelsea as well as other boroughs across the
United Kingdom Schools Recruitment
Service Website (external link)
Where can I study for the qualifications I need to become a
teacher?
To teach in a school in the state-maintained sector, you must
have Qualified Teacher Status. The requirements for this are
given on the website for the Training and Development Agency for
Schools (TDA) http://www.tda.gov.uk/
The route from being a teaching assistant,
nursery officer or learning mentor to becoming a teacher depends on
the qualifications that you already have. The information site of
learndirect shows the different routes. The
following table provides you with local information about training
routes.Currently,there is very little funding available and the
cost of fees are constantly changing so it is very important you
get absolute clarity about costs from individual providers.
Download the
Career Progress for Support Staff in Schools Leaflet [PDF]
(file size 120Kb)
How do I get on the Graduate Teacher programme in this
Borough?
Many teachers have gained QTS through the GT programme in RBKC
schools. For primary GTPs, our advice is to ensure you have the
support of a primary school in the local authority at the outset.
If you currently do not have a school to support your GTP
application you will need to contact them directly.
The Designated Recommended Body (DRB) for the Royal Borough is
London South Bank University, you can contact them at:
To find out more visit the
GTP section of the London South Bank University Website
(external link)
Alternatively you could apply to the Institute of Education (external
link) or E-Qualitas (external
link).
If I do complete the GTP in a primary school,
will I be able to teach in a secondary school?
Yes. If you have qualified teacher status (QTS), this qualifies
you to teach in the primary or secondary sector.
What dates could I start on an employment route such as the
Graduate Teacher Programme?
If you gain a place at LSBU, there are two starting dates
for the year long course – September or January.