Glyndŵr University Careers Centre

1. Glyndŵr University Careers Centre Hands up, who wants to teach?

2. Objectives of the session To help you: • Access further information about routes into teaching • Reflect on your own suitability for teaching and how you can generate evidence for applications

3. The main points.... • Routes into teaching • Sources of information for funding • Making applications • Where to find out more information • What next?

4. PGCE in Wales • Primary: Bangor, Swansea, Cardiff (Bangor from September 2013: require a B in English, B in Maths, a C in Science GCSE plus 2:2 (Hons) min). • 75% of entrants had 2:1 or higher • Secondary: see provider websites for relevant subjects • Apply via www.ucas.com • Ideally, be ready to with your final draft application around mid-Novemberfor courses starting the following year (previous opening date was 21 Nov 2013).

5. Other routes into teaching Employment-based: All school-led teacher training courses will lead to qualified teacher status (QTS) and most will award a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) • School Direct – all lead to QTS, 103 lead schools offering this. This is increasingly a popular route and one that the NCTL say is here to stay. Check individual schools websites. • 70% of SD trainees were employed by their school (2012/13 cohort) • There were still primary school SD places left @ March 2014.

6. Other routes into teaching • SCITT = School Centred Initial Teacher Training (England only) – school-based training, full time, ideally for those who have some prior teaching experience. • GTP = Graduate Teacher Programme is an employment-based route, train while you work, 1 year full-time (Wales only) www.teachertrainingcymru.org, you must find a school willing to support you, employed on unqualified teacher status. • Teach First - leaders wanted, challenging schools, 2 years, 5 regions, secondary and primary (England only). University-based: BA / BSc with QTS or B Ed or a PGCE

7. Some SD Consortium • Northern Alliance (led by The Blue Coat School) • North West and Lancashire Consortium • North Shropshire Teaching School Alliance • North West School Direct Alliance (led by Bishop Rawston C of E Academy, Lancashire) • Salop Teaching School Alliance • Atticus Alliance (Greater Manchester, Stockport and Cheshire) • The Merseyside, Cheshire and Greater Manchester TT Consortium • ‘SD Demystified’ video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcuADoztYus

8. Typical year PGCE pattern example • 11 weeks in the University, 3 blocks • 24 weeks on teaching practice (October-December and February-June)

9. Is teaching really for you...? • Minimum 2 weeks relevant work experience within a school is ESSENTIAL before applying to a postgraduate course. • Experience in other areas will also help you – clubs/ societies/ mentoring programmes/ volunteering/ youth groups/ church groups/ outdoors education centres. • If you can’t reflect on what you have to offer, why you want to teach and what works within the classroom, this may not be for you.

10. Finding the funding to train Funding is announced on an ANNUAL basis by the Welsh Government and eligibility depends on individual circumstances • https://www.gov.uk/teacher-training-funding • http://teachertrainingcymru.org/node/16 • http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/funding/postgraduate-funding

11. ITT Subject/Phase Training Other bursary priority Primary Physics, Modern 2014/15 Computing Chemistry s econdary maths m aths l anguages and specialists p rimary Scholarship £25,000 £25,000 £25,000 - - - Trainee with £20,000 £20,000 £20,000 £20,000 £9,000 £ 11 ,000 f irst 2:1 £20,000 £20,000 £15,000 £15,000 £4,000 £11 ,000 2:2 £15,000 £15,000 £12,000 £12,000 £0 £ 6,00 0 Other £9,000 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 Bursaries and Scholarships for 2014/15

12. Application tips • You will need to identify referees and give them enough time to complete your reference– you can’t formally pay and submit your application until references are all received. Pre-warn your referee. • Apply via UCAS for primary teaching PGCE and School Direct – you are allowed 3 choices of institution. • Apply 1 phase is followed and can run alongside Apply 2 (January). Must have applied to Apply 1 first (open all year round). • Providers don’t know anything about your other choices. • UCAS may open the search only facility this year before the application phase opens. • Currently can’t change your personal statement in Apply 2 – though UCAS are currently looking into this. • Providers can open and close courses during the year as they wish to manage volumes.

13. Application tips • After the last decision is received into your account, you will have 10 working days to respond. • May receive unconditional/ conditional. • http://getintoteaching.wordpress.com/for helpful advice on gaining classroom experience. • 0800 389 2500 to speak to the Teaching Line. • Must declare any convictions • Must meet fitness to teach requirements • List the paid and unpaid work experience • Check the UCAS guidelines and draft it – only 47 lines of text – this may be different to MS Word! • Always spell and grammar check it. • Skills tests must be completed prior to the start of the course. Welsh universities issue their own skills tests. England = all via Pearson www.education.gov.uk/teachskillstests • GCSE Equivalency Tests – check individual universities

15. Example SD search

16. Train to Teach Roadshows http://traintoteach.education.gov.uk/ • 45-minute presentations • Speak to teaching experts at the National College for Teaching and Leadership stand; they can give you one-to-one advice on your training options. • Attend application form clinic • Meet initial teacher training (ITT) providers from your region • Meet School Direct schools within your region • Meet with professional associations to hear how they support subject teaching in schools and to get more information about the scholarships on offer. • Talk to current teachers in the 'Meet the Teachers' area.

17. Personal statement • Avoid clichés, get to the point, be concise. • Read the statement out to yourself – how does it sound? • Ask yourself if you would be interested in the application if you were the ITT provider? • What are you really trying to say in every sentence? • What are your real reasons for wanting to teach? What’s your story? What has inspired you to apply?

18. Personal statement • Have you emphasised the relevance of your experience/ studies to the course you’re applying to? • What skills have you identified? Why this PGCE subject/ age group? • What do you know about initiatives in education today? • What other interests/ skills can you bring that would help a school in other ways?

19. What are the top competencies most important to teachers? • Adaptability • Self-organisation • Emotional resilience • Leading with authority • Communication and interpersonal style • Decision making and autonomy • Drive to succeed

20. Have you considered …? • Behaviour management • Managing other staff • Differentiation • Planning • Team work and leadership • Adaptability • Reflection and criticism • Techniques that work / don’t work • Creativity • What else does a school look for? • Leadership? http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZTZBrUpNWS4/SBiq4gOMQ9I/AAAAAAAAAJs/Ev-m_kC9QrE/s320/enthusiasm1.jpg

21. Task • What are your real reasons for teaching? What inspired you? • Why will you enjoy teaching? • How are your studies relevant to teaching? • What can you offer apart from your own specialist subject? • What skills and knowledge can you bring from your work experience? • What will make you a good teacher?

22. Task continued… • What makes you ready for teaching? • What else could YOU do to improve your application? • Can you give an example of how you have made a difficult topic interesting / accessible? • What are you doing this year which makes you a good candidate for teaching? • Can you give an example of a challenge you have faced and how you have dealt with it?

23. Consider… • How do you manage creative aspects of work such as coming up with innovative ideas? • Can you give an example of how you set about you work? Prefer clear instructions or just get on with it? • How do you approach topics in which you have very little interest? • Can you give an example of a time where you have faced significant obstacles on a project? • How do you cope when you are feeling stressed? • Can you give an example of a time where you have persuaded someone to do something they weren’t keen to do?

24. Consider… • What motivates you? • Have you got any examples of how you have led a group or a team to success? • Preference: team work versus individual? • How have you dealt with conflict in the past? • Give an example of when you have made a quick decision. • Describe how you work within a classroom, particularly your pace and motivation. • How do you go about setting your own goals and targets?

25. Interviews for teacher training courses • Full day, training provider will let you know the programme – institutions vary in their approach • Be prepared give clear examples of your experience working with young people/ commitment, knowledge and skills • Expect an individual interview and group tasks/ mini-lessons/ presentations, written task • Research and be able to discuss what’s happening in education (news/ media articles). • The interview may be shorter than you imagine! • Be professional in how you dress and if you aren’t going to turn up to an offer of an interview, let the school/ uniknow

26. Useful websites and contacts • www.UCAS.com • http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/ • Use the application assistant http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/apply-for-teacher-training/application-form-assistant.aspx • http://teachertrainingcymru.org/index.htm • http://www.tes.co.uk/ • Teacher Information Line 0800 389 2500 or 0800 085 0971 for Welsh speakers • www.prospects.ac.uk • www.targetcourses.co.uk/teaching • www.glyndwr.ac.uk/careers Websites > Education and training

27. Glyndŵr University Careers Centre • Careers Guidance – call 01978 293240 or pop in to book an appointment • Support with personal statements, CVs, interview preparation. We won’t do it for you, but we will support you. • Information on Moodle: www.glyndwr.ac.uk/careers

28. What’s next? • Draft an application and work on it during the summer. • Any questions about individual courses/ entry requirements? Contact the university you’re applying to. • Go beyond just the application form – look at example interview questions and reflect on your experience – we can and do help! • Be courteous and give Careers staff (we are open during the summer) and your tutors/ teachers plenty of time to do checks or references – bear in mind we often have holidays too during this time. • Think about your alternative plans – this may not happen this year for you. If not, what next?