GRADUATE TEACHER PROGRAMME

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who can be trained by the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP)?
2. Where can a GTP take place?
3. Does there need to be a vacancy?
4. What is the role of the Employment Based Initial Teaching Training (EBITT)?
5. Who pays for the training?
6. Can schools self-fund the training?
7. How are the training needs identified?
8. How long does the training take?
9. How do I apply to join the GTP?
10. Who will interview me and make the decision?
11. When can the training start?
12. Do I need to teach in two schools?
13. How is the training assessed and evaluated?
14. When do I become qualified?
15. When do I become 'recognised' as a qualified teacher?

1. Who can be trained by the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP)?

Any person who has an honours degree in a subject with 50% national curriculum content (for Secondary) and a minimum of C grade passes in GCSE Maths & English. If you wish to train for Primary, you must also have a minimum of a grade C pass in Science or can demonstrate the equivalent standard eg. through passing a College equivalence test. If you need to complete an equivalency test please look on the TDA website under entry requirements for your nearest centre.

2. Where can a GTP take place?

Any mainstream maintained or independent school can employ a person as an unqualified teacher with a view to providing training for the purpose of securing qualified teacher status.

3. Does there need to be a vacancy?

No, the main aim of the programme is for schools to employ a Graduate Teacher who is supernumerary to the school’s teaching staff.
The preference is, therefore, that a trainee does not fill a vacancy.

4. What is the role of the Employment Based Initial Teacher Training (EBITT)?

The EBITT has replaced the original Recommending Bodies. The EBITT status allows Kent County Council to work in partnership with schools to provide training, and award salary grant and training grant places on the Graduate Teacher Programme. Numbers are allocated annually by the Training & Development Agency (TDA). Schools whose trainees are successful in being awarded the salary grant of £14,500 will have the money paid directly into their school account by Kent County Council. Salary grants will only be awarded to schools whose trainees are appointed as supernumerary to the school's staff. For every salary grant awarded to a school, the EBITT receives a training grant of £4,000. Where schools appoint an unqualified teacher to fill a vacant teaching post and have already employed the teacher for more than one term, it is possible to apply for a place on the programme on a training grant only. In all cases the award of both salary and training grants is considered by reference to the school's ability to provide the required mentoring expertise and support for employment-based teacher training.

5. Who pays for the training?

Maintained schools can apply to Kent County Council (KCC) for the award of a salary grant of £14,500, to be paid directly to the school from KCC, and a training grant of £4000 that is paid to KCC as the EBITT. The EBITT retains some of this money to cover the administrative costs and delivery of the course. KCC will then make termly payments to the school of £200 to cover training costs such as supply cover and mentor costs, which is paid bi-yearly. Applications for funded places will be very competitive. Funded places are not available to schools in the independent sector who instead must meet all costs from their own budget. For more information on salary grant funding please contact the TDA Funding and Payments Department on 020 7023 8097.

6. Can schools self-fund the training?

Yes. This can happen when a school wishes to gain qualified teacher status for someone who has been unable to receive a grant for training. This usually arises in secondary schools where the subject specialism is a non-shortage area and the person wanting to train already has extensive teaching experience but not in the delivery of the National Curriculum. In addition to this, as mentioned earlier, all independent schools must self-fund the training.

7. How are the training needs identified?

A needs analysis is carried out by EBITT with the potential trainee and Employment Based Trainer (EBT). During the needs analysis, which is set against the Standards for gaining qualified teacher status, an Individual Training Plan (ITP) is drawn up. The ITP will consist of various activities such as observations, assignments, audits, interviews, scrutiny of specified documentation. The ITP will be implemented in the school at which the trainee is employed and a second school which should be identified in negotiation with EBITT. The second school needs to provide a different experience from the first.
The school is required to appoint a member of staff to undertake the role of the employment based trainer, and in the case of secondary trainees, a subject specialist to act as the subject mentor. Mentors and EBTs should be released from school for two days training in the course of the year. The EBITT will appoint a college tutor whose task it is to monitor the delivery of the individual training plan, carry out termly observations and, assess the portfolio of development.

8. How long does the training take?

For trainees awarded a salary grant, and the majority of others, the individual training plan is devised to last for the six terms of the academic year.

9. How do I apply to join the GTP?

You can download application forms from the Essential Documents/Links page or from the left-hand menu. Once all forms have been downloaded and the application form completed please email to natalie.tzanakakis@kent.gov.uk. Those documents which require original signatures and the handwritten statement please send by post to ASK GTP Administration.

The EBITT will consider whether the candidate has:
• A good honours degree in a subject relevant to the proposed training
• Other appropriate academic qualifications (i.e. GCSE English, Science & Maths at Grade C or above). You cannot start the course without these or passing equivalence tests.
• Worked previously with children and / or young people
• Other relevant experience
• Taught at some level

If applying with a school, the EBITT will consider whether the school has:
• Experience of training with ITT providers
• Received a recent positive OFSTED report
• Trained employment based trainers
• Specialist School Status
• Fully supported the implementation of the individual training plan with any previous GTs
• Been placed into special measures by OFSTED in which case training is not allowed

You will then be contacted with information regarding the KCC interview process.
If you have any further queries please contact the GTP Administration.

10. Who will interview me and make the decision?

All applications will be assessed by the interview panel including the EBITT Manager and Professional Tutors who will be working with you should you be successful. The school is also required to interview you.

11. When can the training start?

If your application is approved by the EBITT, the trainee and employment based trainer will be invited to attend an induction meeting. This will give you the opportunity to meet other trainees and EBTs and to meet the Professional Tutors and other key staff. These are normally held before the start of the term in which your training commences.

12. Do I need to teach in two schools?

Yes. With effect from 1st September 2002 all participants in Initial Teacher Training programmes are required to undertake their teaching experience in two different schools. At some point during the programme all trainees will therefore have to spend at least 3 weeks in a second school. This will be arranged during the Needs Analysis period. The second school should provide a contrasting experience and opportunities for a different focus.

13. How is the training assessed and evaluated?

The ITP is drawn up following the needs analysis. By following the objectives identified in the training plan the trainee will gather ‘evidence’ that is organised into a ‘Portfolio of Development’. Progress in the building up of the portfolio and the class teaching will be monitored during the programme by the Subject mentor, professional tutor and EBT. The ITP may include assessments such as written assignments, audits, case studies, scrutiny and analysis of school documents. The Professional Tutor will visit six times. The Professional Tutor will undertake a final observation and portfolio assessment to include checks for skills tests certificates and completion of the Career Entry Development Profile. If all is satisfactory, and with the agreement of the school, the Tutor will inform EBITT who will arrange for an external assessor to visit.
It is a requirement of the programme that regular written evaluations are undertaken by the trainee, school and EBITT to ascertain the effectiveness of training and inform the TDA of its quality.
It is vital to the success of the programme that the EBTs and trainees are familiar with the QTS standards. If you do not have a copy of these please download from www.canteach.gov.uk/community/standards/index.htm. The TDA has also published a Handbook which accompanies the standards and can be accessed from the same website.

14. When do I become qualified?

At the end of the training programme, the school receives a visit from an external assessor. Following the visit of the assessor, and provided the trainee has passed their skills tests in numeracy, literacy and ICT, EBITT will send all the trainee’s details and documentation to the General Teaching Council (GTC). The GTC will then issue a Teaching Certificate on which is recorded the trainee’s DFES number.

15. When do I become 'recognised' as a qualified teacher?

Provided the skills tests and external assessment have been successfully completed, recognition takes place on the day after the visit of the external assessor, even though the end date of the training programme may not have been reached.
Please note that NQT induction cannot commence until Qualified Teacher Status has been awarded and the skills tests have been passed.