Specialist Training School & Technology College
You can find more about this on the TDA website at:
The two most common routes to achieving Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) are the PGCE and GTP (Graduate Teacher Programme). You can read about our GTP programme here
The PGCE course focuses primarily on the development of your teaching skills, and not on the subject you intend to teach. For this reason, you are expected to have a good understanding of your chosen subject(s) (usually to degree level) before you start training.
Courses generally last for one year full-time or up to two years part-time.
From 2007 there will be funding available for extended (these take between 18 months and 2 years) postgraduate mathematics and science courses.
For more information please visit the TDA website (link given above) or call the Teaching Information Line on 0845 6000 991.
PGCE courses are available at universities and colleges throughout the UK. It may also be possible to study for a PGCE via flexible distance learning, or in a school by completing a programme of school centred initial teacher training (SCITT). Here at King Edward VII we train students from The University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, The University of Leicester and Loughborough University.
You must have a UK undergraduate degree or a recognised equivalent qualification. If your degree subject does not link closely to the subject you intend to teach, you may improve your ability to gain a place on an ITT programme by following a pre-training course to boost your subject knowledge. In addition, you need a standard equivalent to at least a grade C in GCSE English language and mathematics.
Eligible trainees completing PGCE courses in England are entitled to receive a tax-free training bursary of £6,000-9,000. The precise amount depends on the subject and course start date.
In addition to funding such as this, you may be eligible to receive taxable 'golden hello' payments (or teaching grants in Wales) worth between £2,500 and £5,000, depending on the subject, after successfully completing your induction period as a newly qualified teacher (NQT).
You can find full details of funding for postgraduate teacher training and full details of additional incentive payments for new teachers on this website.
The majority of PGCE applications are made through the Graduate teacher training registry (GTTR). For secondary courses, you are able to apply to up to four different providers in order of preference. If you are unsuccessful with your first choice, your application will be passed on to your second, and so on.
Visit the GTTR website for full details of available courses and how to apply.
Generally speaking, the GTTR accepts applications from mid-September to June for courses starting the following September or October.
However, be aware that courses in PE and history are very popular and there is considerable competition for places. In these cases, to guarantee that your first choice of ITT provider will consider you, you need to apply before the end of November in the year before you wish to train.
We can provide you with more detailed information about PGCE courses and other postgraduate routes into teaching, as well as regular news and updates from the ever-changing world of teaching and teacher training.
Search for PGCE course vacancies and course entry profiles, find out more about the application process and complete an application online.
Find out whether your qualifications are of an equivalent level to UK GCSEs, A-levels and an undergraduate degree.