Interested in a career or a spell in teaching?

Places are still available for September 2016, particularly in shortage subjects: maths, computing, modern foreign languages and also in economics and geography. If you’re interested, apply now!

Things to decide

First explore your preferences:

  • primary or secondary school
  • subject
  • school or university based training

Then the Get Into Teaching website will help you understand all the pros and cons of the different options. They really want to support good applicants for September 2016 and offer Premier Plus Advisers (often retired head teachers) to help you make applications, answer questions, and provide information on funding. They’re running a Summer Recruitment Service to support applicants now; make contact by registering your interest.

Also, you should also know about Subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) which is ,ost likely to be of relevance to our psychology, economics, finance students. If you have some knowledge but not a whole degree in a shortage subject, courses are available to top up your knowledge of some national curriculum subjects. The subject knowledge enhancement courses can last between eight and 36 months depending how much ‘top up’ you need. They are fully funded (if you have a 2:2 or above), can be taken in parallel with teacher training and are either online or face-to-face.

There are two different qualifications and you’ll want to get both:

  • PGCE (post graduate certificate in education)
  • QTS (qualified teacher status)

School based training

  • Schools Direct – groups of schools working together with a local University. You start working in a school straight away. As a teacher with a reduced work load you have additional support and training, some school based, some university based. About 17,000 places available per year.
  • Teach First – similar to School Direct but led by a charity which trains and supports you with a leadership programme. Requires a 2:1 degree or over. About 2,000 places per year in schools that are socially disadvantaged.
  • HMC in the independent school sector – less likely to be advertising in the summer but will have a lot of vacancies between September and December for 2017 starts. Training is usually accredited through University of Buckingham (sometimes another university). Register your interest and check their website for opportunities still vacant.

University based training

About 50% new teachers train in this way. You are based at a higher education institution from where you spend time out on placement in schools. The course combines substantial school placements with studying the theory behind teaching and learning.

Applications

After you’ve registered with Get Into Teaching, apply for postgraduate teacher training programmes through UCAS with a fairly standard application form and a statement about why you want to teach.

Funding

Financial support is available for trainee teachers. Depending on your previous experience, qualifications, subject and training route, the level of support varies. In some cases this is up to a £30k salary or bursary. Check whether your training route requires you to pay tuition fees or not (student loans are accessible for university based training).

PhD students

PhD students have an additional option: a school-centred salaried teacher training programme, Researchers in Schools, is available in non-selective state schools for researchers nearing completion, or those who have completed a Doctorate. Trainees qualify after two years and can then return to work in a Higher Education institute or continue to teach in schools. Most national curriculum subjects are available on the programme, with the possibility of enhanced salaries of up to £40,000 a year for shortage subjects such as maths. Experience can be gained with the Brilliant Club during your PhD.

LSE Careers is open all summer to help you find and secure the next step!