Love to Teach
Routes into Training Webinar

Thank you for attending

Thank you for joining us on Wednesday 23 October 2024 for our webinar: Love to Teach: Routes into Training.

We hope you found the session informative and that it provided valuable insights into the various routes available for teacher training, whether school-based or university-based.

You can now watch a recording of the webinar which was hosted by Cllr Suzy Horton, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council.

Your host: Councillor Suzy Horton

Councillor Suzy Horton, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council will join us as our host.

Suzy has dedicated much of her career to improving the educational landscape for young people in Portsmouth. She has worked as a teacher and senior leader in education.

Suzy has worked tirelessly to champion initiatives that support schools, enhance teacher development, and foster positive learning environments for all students.

Watch the webinar

Webinar overview

  • Welcome and Introduction
  • Teacher training entry requirements
  • Insights from early career teachers
  • Local Training Providers: Routes into training
  • Q&A session

What training providers presented?

Inspiring Future Teachers - HISP Teacher Training
Inspiring Future Teachers (IFT) is a partnership of providers with many years of experience in leading Initial Teacher Training in their local areas. We offer all the benefits of being part of a large national programme whilst at the same time providing locally delivered school-based training in primary or secondary schools. This allows our trainees to learn in a school environment, as a member of school staff, supported and enhanced through a comprehensive and evidence-informed, centre-based training programme.
Portsmouth Primary SCITT
Portsmouth Primary SCITT offers ‘Outstanding’ high quality initial teacher education leading to qualified teacher status in primary education. The one-year course leads to a qualification of QTS with PGCE (accredited by the University of Chichester). The SCITT works in partnership with over 25 schools at different times (stretching into Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, West Sussex and Southampton). As a smaller provider, we pride ourselves on knowing our trainees in depth and are able to provide a bespoke programme for individuals.
University of Chichester
The University of Chichester are rated an 'Outstanding' provider by Ofsted and hold a TEF 'Gold' teaching award. We offer undergraduate training (BA/BSc with QTS) for primary, early years, secondary PE and secondary mathematics, and postgraduate training (PGCE) for primary, primary MFL, early years, and the following secondary subject areas: biology, chemistry, physics, dance, English, history, maths, music and PE. All our training routes include time spent in university and time spent in local schools.
University of Portsmouth
The University of Portsmouth has been a well-respected teacher training provider for many decades. Learning from a range of experts, we support you to become excellent teachers who excel in the profession. We offer a PGCE primary course and an undergraduate primary BEd course. We train secondary teachers on our PGCE courses in English, maths, the sciences, modern foreign languages and geography. We also have an extensive further education/post compulsory PGCE which covers a wide range of additional subjects.

Your questions from the event

I have completed a masters (MSc Educational Leadership and Management) from University of Portsmouth. I do have GCSE qualifications. Can I apply for training?

We would recommend speaking to the University of Portsmouth directly for a more in-depth answer.

For primary, it sounds like you have all the right qualifications to apply for teacher training as you will need GCSE qualifications as a minimum.

If you wanted to teach secondary education, the training provider would need to know more about your undergraduate qualification and your specialism.

I'm a teaching assistant in secondary school. I have GCSEs and A-levels. Can I sign up for the teaching degree apprenticeship?

This type of route into teaching is still being rolled out and not covered in this webinar. However, to start a teaching degree apprenticeship, you would need to be employed in a school.

The University of Chichester has previously offered this type of apprenticeship. We would recommend talking to your school in the first instance about your options, especially if you are part of a multi-academy trust, as they may have their own academy specific apprenticeship route.

I have finished my MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Portsmouth. I would like to start my career as a teacher but I don't have any previous experience in teaching. Can apply for the training?

While we don't have the full picture of your academic history, it would be advisable to gain some experience in a school or college.

Training providers would want you to demonstrate your experience in your teacher training application and at interview. While this won’t necessarily stop you from applying for training, it would be prudent to do this as soon as possible.

I am studying an Early Childhood Studies degree. What would I need to do next to become a primary school teacher?

As you have a degree in Early Childhood Studies, you are perfectly set up to enrol on a PGCE. However, you would need to decide whether you wanted to apply for an early years or primary route.

How do I decide whether a salaried teacher training route is for me?

Salaried options for teacher training may suit people who have some prior experience in education and are going to be employed by a school as an unqualified teacher. It is worth considering the financial implications of a salaried route.

The school will pay your QTS (Qualified Teaching Status) training fees. However, you are not eligible for bursaries or funding.

On an unsalaried teacher training, also known as School Direct or SCITT, you are eligible to apply for a student loan to cover your course fees. There are also tax- free bursaries available for some secondary subjects.

Are there any scholarships/bursaries available for international students?

If you have gained your qualification/s from overseas, we would recommend checking equivalency first using UKENIC. As a non-UK trainee teacher, you will not be eligible for financial support from the UK government. Some support maybe eligible if you train to teach languages or physics.

Please visit the Get into Teaching website and the fees and financial support for non-UK trainee teachers section.

Would I be expected to travel a long way to a school placement as part of my training?

All training providers will work directly with you when it comes to your placement. The University of Chichester works with a variety of schools in the area including Portsmouth and will work with you to locate the school as near to you as possible. It is important to be flexible when doing this.

How do I apply to become a teaching assistant?

If you want to become a teaching assistant or gain classroom experience, visit Teach Portsmouth's supporting section of the website. While there are training courses to support you into this role, most schools will welcome applications from people who have the right attitude to support pupils in the classroom, rather than experience.

Can I still apply for training if I don't have GCSEs?

To apply for teacher training, you will need to demonstrate a C/4 in maths and English (or accepted equivalents), and in science if you want to teach primary. You must have these before applying or be working towards them.

I'm currently completing an undergraduate degree in primary education but without QTS. Would I be eligible for PGCE with QTS? I have already used 4 years' worth of student finance; would I still get student finance for the PGCE?

You should be able to top up your undergraduate degree by completing a PGCE with QTS and be eligible for one more year of student finance under the current rules.

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