The Graduate and Registered Teacher Programmes (GTP and RTP) and the Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (OTTP) are great ways to qualify as a teacher while working in a school.
GTP and RTP
The GTP normally lasts for one year, the RTP for two years. If you already have considerable teaching experience, they can be reduced to a minimum of three months and 12 months respectively.
GTP candidates must already hold a degree-level qualification. For the RTP, you must have successfully completed two years of full-time higher education or the part-time equivalent (e.g. a DipHE, HND, foundation degree or the first two years of a degree course). In addition you will need also to satisfy the basic entry requirements of teacher training, that is you must hold GCSE passes at grade C or above in English and Mathematics. Those who wish to enter primary or Key Stage 2/3 training will also need Science.
More details about the Graduate and Registered Teacher Programmes can be obtained from the Training and Development Agency for Schools web site.
In order to ensure that trainees receive a high standard of training, the Training and Development Agency for Schools recommends that schools should employ Graduate Teacher Programme trainees as supernumerary members of staff, rather than recruit them to fill vacant posts. Therefore it is recommended that you should first contact schools in your locality with a copy of your CV and a letter explaining why you wish to train as a teacher through the employment based routes into teaching.
Unfortunately we are not able to supply a list of schools that participate in the Graduate or Registered Teacher Programmes, since it is possible for any school in Essex to undertake this training. However it is for each Headteacher to decide whether or not they are able to take a trainee on the Programme and will be dependent on the school having the necessary resources and capacity to take trainees.
In order to be considered for the Graduate and Registered Teacher Programme an applicant must first have some previous school experience. This is to enable a school to assess the potential of trainees before committing them to the Programme. This could be previous experience, e.g. as a teaching assistant. However, for someone seeking a career change from industry or commerce this may mean a period of at least 15 days in a school environment before being accepted as a potential trainee.
Overseas Trained Teacher Programme
Anyone wishing to work as a qualified teacher in England must have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). However, if you trained as a teacher overseas you can work for up to four years as a temporary teacher without QTS.
The Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (OTTP) offers you a way to achieve QTS while working as a teacher. Once you have found a teaching position in a school, you can follow an individual training and assessment programme leading to QTS.
Can I go on the programme?
To apply for the programme, you must be:
- qualified as a teacher overseas;
- working as a teacher in a school; and
- put forward by a recommending body (RB) or designated recommending body (DRB).
What qualifications do I need?If you qualified outside the European Economic Area (EEA), you will need:
- An overseas teaching qualification that is equivalent to a UK Bachelor's degree.
- A qualification equivalent to GCSE grade C or above in mathematics and English. For primary teaching, you must also have the equivalent of GCSE grade C or above in science.
If you qualified as a teacher in Scotland, Wales, the EEA* or Switzerland, you may be eligible for QTS without further assessment.
The UK National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) can give advice on the equivalence of overseas degree qualifications. Call the OTT Administration Unit on 01245 454 321 for help in accessing the NARIC database.
How long is the programme?
If you think you can meet all the QTS Standards, you may apply for QTS assessment only, with no training. The maximum training programme is one year.
As a service to schools we maintain a central database of people interested in being trained under these schemes. Schools that wish to fill a vacancy may approach us for details of those people we hold on this database and which might meet their needs. If you would like your details to be included on this database can you please contact 01245 436252 or email teaching@essexcc.gov.uk for an information pack.
*The European Economic Area includes the European Union member states (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK) and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
From 1st January 2007, as European Economic Area (EEA) nationals, Bulgarians and Romanians are able to move and reside freely in any EU Member State. They do not require leave to enter or remain to reside legally in the UK. Bulgarian and Romanian nationals wanting to work in the UK still need to obtain authorisation to work before starting any employment, unless they are exempt from doing so.
This authorisation will normally take the form of an Accession worker card. For certain categories of employment, including teaching, if you are a Bulgarian or Romanian national you will be able to apply to the Home Office for an Accession worker card without the need for an employer to apply for a work permit.
See http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/
working_in_the_uk/en/homepage/news/
announcements/employing_a_bulgarian.html for further details.