Q1 – Do I need to find my own school placement?
A1 – If you are successful through the recruitment process and offered a place on the programme, we will find you a school in which to undertake your training. We endeavour to place you as near as possible to your home but this is dependent upon the school’s ability to fully support you in your subject/phase.
Q2 – I already work in a school can I do my GTP there?
A2 – If you have been working as a TA, HLTA, LSA, SEN support or Cover Supervisor, you will not be able to remain in that school to complete your GTP year. This is essential to ensure you receive a breadth of experience in an environment in which you are not already known. It also protects all parties ensuring that no-one is put into a position where judgements may be questioned or compromised. Please see the SNITT School Placement Policy, which has been written to ensure fair and equal access to training.
If you have been working as an Instructor, it might be possible to remain within your employing school if you were to be successful through the recruitment process. In this instance the school would continue to pay your salary throughout your training year. The school would be able to timetable you for a maximum of 13 hours per week and must release you for GTP core training on Thursdays, plus up to six additional subject knowledge days during the course of the year.
The GTP cannot place trainees with schools which are in special measures or those which have received an ‘inadequate’ grade in their most recent Ofsted inspection. In addition, the GTP does not place trainees within a special school or a school in which they have a close family connection.
Q3 – Am I employed by the GTP?
A3 – No. Your main placement school is your employer for the training period (3 September 2012 to 14 June 2013).
Q4 – How do I apply for funding for the GTP?
A4 – In making an application to the GTP you are automatically applying for GTP funding.
Salary grant and training grant funding is provided by the TDA to the GTP, which is then forwarded to your main placement school to offset your salary and training associated costs. For Instructors that remain within their employing school for their training year, the school will receive training grant funding only with the school continuing to pay the salary.
Q5 – How much will I be paid whilst on the GTP?
A5 – You will normally be paid at point one of the unqualified teacher scale, currently £15,817 pa.
Q6 - Can I claim money towards child care or travel?
A6 – As you are employed, the GTP is not able to offer any additional funding to support you during your training period.
Q7 – As I have a Post Compulsory PGCE could my training be fast-tracked?
A7 – No. The GTP is a full-time extensive training programme which follows the academic year from 3 September 2012 to 14 June 2013. The GTP will however take full account of your prior experience when assessing your needs at the start of the programme.
Q8 - Can I train part-time / complete the programme in one/two terms?
A8 – No. The GTP is a full time extensive training programme which follows the academic year from 3 September 2012 to 14 June 2013. Trainees work in school for four days each week with a fifth day used for core training.
Q9 - Is the QTS qualification recognised as equivalent to the PGCE?
A9 - Achieving QTS means that you are fully qualified to teach in England and Wales. All GTP trainees will be given the opportunity to gain 60 ‘M’ level credits (one third of a Masters) with only minimal additional work.
Q10 – Can I teach abroad with QTS?
A10 – QTS is technically only recognised in the country it is awarded (England or Wales). The TDA advise that teachers can normally apply for QTS in other countries with relative ease once relevant paperwork and registration has been completed. If you are planning to move abroad it would be worthwhile checking with the relevant authority prior to applying for a place on the GTP.
Q11 – I have an overseas teaching qualification – can I apply for the GTP?
A11 - If you qualified as a teacher in Scotland, Northern Ireland, another country in the EEA or Switzerland, you may be eligible for qualified teacher status (QTS) without further assessment as mobility laws apply. You will need to contact the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) (www.gtce.org.uk) to have your qualifications assessed.
For non-EEA overseas trained teachers you need to secure a teaching position within a school in the counties of Norfolk or Suffolk prior to applying for a place on the assessment-only Overseas Trained Teacher Programme.
Please note: The four-year rule for overseas trained teachers states that you can teach for up to four years before you have to be awarded QTS. If you have not achieved QTS in this time, you can no longer teach. The four years start from the first day that you teach in a mainstream school in England, and includes any time out of service.
If you have exceeded the four-year rule, you will need to complete a programme such as a flexible PGCE to gain QTS, or gain employment in an independent school to continue teaching.
Q12 – Can I apply to both the GTP and SCITT programmes?
A12 – Both the GTP and SCITT programmes work closely together under the SNITT umbrella and follow the same recruitment process, therefore, you are only able to apply to one programme. Your application will automatically be considered by both programmes on the day of shortlisting.
Q13 – How do I apply to the Graduate Teacher Programme?
A13 – If you wish to train within a school in the counties of Norfolk or Suffolk, you can apply online via www.snitt.co.uk. The online application must be completed, downloaded, printed and posted to the GTP office along with copies of your Degree certificate together with official transcript, GCSE certificates in Maths, English and for the primary phase only Science and a cheque/postal order for £22 made payable to Suffolk County Council to cover the application processing costs.
Q14 – When can I apply to the Graduate Teacher Programme?
A14 – Applications are now open for a place on the 2012/13 programme, which commences on 3 September 2012 to 14 June 2013. The closing date for primary phase applications is Tuesday, 6 December, 2011. The closing date for secondary phase applications is Friday, 13 January, 2012. Shortlisting of applications will not occur until after these deadlines.
Q15 – How long should I wait after posting my application before contacting the GTP office if I have not had an acknowledgement of receipt?
A15 – Due to the high number of applications received we are unable to acknowledge receipt of applications. However, we aim to process applications within 20 working days and once processed an email will be forwarded to you (please take care when inputting your email address on the application form). Therefore, please wait 28 days, before contacting the GTP office on 01603 307703.
Q16 – I haven’t yet completed my degree, but it will be finished before the programme starts in September, can I still apply?
A16 – As long as you are able to forward official evidence during mid-August 2012 that you have achieved a degree, you can apply now. A copy of your official academic transcript showing the modules you have completed thus far and those you are studying toward should accompany your application.
Q17 – What subject can I train in with the GTP?
A17 – For the primary phase, you will be expected to teach the entire National Curriculum, therefore, there is no subject specialism.
For the secondary phase, we will consider applications for any subject that is taught within secondary schools – please also see Q18.
Q18 – Does it matter what my degree is in, as long as I have got one?
A18 – For the primary phase, your degree can be within any subject and should be a 2.2 or above.
For the secondary phase, you must have achieved/be on a course to achieve a 2.2 or above with at least 150 degree level credits in the subject you wish to teach (with the exception of ICT which, dependent upon experience and professional qualifications, could be less than 150). The onus is on you, the applicant, to provide official evidence that you meet this criterion by providing an academic transcript with the relevant modules highlighted at time of application.
Q19 – I do not have the required 150 degree level credits in the subject I wish to train to teach – what can I do?
A19 – In order to increase your subject knowledge, we would recommend that you go to the Open University to undertake degree top-up modules. Please also see Q16.
Q20 – I don’t have my GCSE qualification yet, but I am studying for my exam later in the year, can I still apply?
A20 – You must have achieved the required GCSEs (Maths, English, and for the primary phase, Science) before completing an application form. However, if you are sitting an exam in November, you can apply now as your result will be known prior to interview.
Q21 – I don’t have a GCSE but I have an equivalent, will you be able to accept this?
A21 – Since 2007, we have only accepted GCSE’s and IGCSE’s or previous equivalents (eg: CSE, GCE, O-level, BTEC, OU undergraduate with certain prefixes, International/European baccalaureate above a certain grade, BTEC, Irish Republic awards, etc), or overseas qualifications which have been confirmed by NARIC as being equivalent (visit www.naric.org.uk).
The Level 2 key skills in application of number and communication and certificates in adult literacy and adult numeracy are not sufficient to meet the requirements for entry to ITT.
If you are uncertain as to whether your GCSE equivalent qualification is acceptable, please telephone the GTP Office, 01603 307703.
Q22 – Do you offer in-house equivalency tests?
A22 - The Suffolk and Norfolk GTP does not offer equivalency tests.