Get together with other trainees trying to get on the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) in the TES GTP Group. Get GTP application and interview advice, find out who’s got a place where and discuss what it’s really like once you’re on the GTP programme
Hi All,
oj2051. How much would it cost the school to put me through the course?
It would depend on the provider. It's a long time since I trained but there were people who were funded on 'training grant only' places as opposed to the rest of us who were on salary and training grant places. I think the training grant was about £4k so it would probably be slightly more these days. The best thing to do is to get in touch with your local GTP provider and ask them a) if they provide training for self (ie, school) funded GTPs (not all do) and b) if they do how much the training would cost.
oj2052. The commitment the school would have to give me?
You would have to have a fixed timetable of teaching commitment. It doesn't have to be just one teacher as long as you're hit the same groups every week so can plan for progression and track progress.
oj205I also feel like it is win win for the school as I am a young (24), male, graduate teacher interested in primary and have contributed hugely to the school.
It may not be though.... Think about it from their point of view, they will gain another teacher (albeit a trainee) that they may not actually need (bearing in mind there is low staff turnover in independent preps). They will lose a valuable teaching assistant. Their staff will need to take on additional responsibilities for training you which they might not want to do.
I think there is an independent school PGCE founded by Chris Woodhead which is aimed at staff already working in the independent sector without QTS as well. That may be worth a look but again you would need a timetable.
oj205 Would you suggest approaching other schools who are looking for primary teachers and explaining my position, or would many be apprehensive about committing to a GTP student when they could employ someone with all the relevant experience already?
The GTP was intended such that GTP trainees are supernumary so are in addition to a fully staffed school/department. That's why GTPs are generally not recruited from adverts, you wouldn't be able to take a full class on a full timetable which is probably what they are looking for in their advert. Also there is a vast oversupply of primary trained teachers anyway so you wouldn't be first choice I suspect.
You never know your school may go for the GTP idea. Do many of the teachers in your school have QTS?
Look at the University of Buckingham PGCE. There are 2 routes - with or without QTS. This is the one that Chris Woodhead is involved with.
It costs £5000 this year and you have to be employed by a school on a minimum of a 50% timetable.
Since a PGCE at another university or SCITT provider costs a minimum of £8300 (what I have found so far) then Buckingham is a good option. You could even fund it yourself, as if you were doing a PGCE elsewhere you would have to fund up to £9K tuition fees AND your living costs.
Good luck
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