So You Want to Be a Primary School Teacher ?

1. So You Want to Be a Primary School Teacher? Faculty Of Education, Health and Well-Being Primary ITT team

2. A few things that make us different! • Care for our students (PTs) • Tutors as researchers impacting on practice • Employment Fayres • Partnership – across the West Midlands and beyond • Strong links with Special Schools, outstanding schools and teaching schools • AES • Engagement with research • Induction package……

3. Quotes from Ofsted (2013) • The university has an excellent reputation that enables it to build strong partnerships across the region to support high-quality teacher training and educational improvement. Highly relevant research activity is used well to identify and achieve further improvements in the quality of the provision, and to address key issues affecting educational achievement across the region. • The partnership in each phase meets local and regional needs extremely well, both in recruiting trainees and in providing teachers for schools, colleges and other settings. Employment rates in all phases are high, with many former trainees working in the region.

4. Quotes from Ofsted (2013) • The provision is particularly effective in developing highly professional teachers with the skills to reflect critically on the quality of their teaching in order to improve it. They are valued highly by the schools, colleges and other settings where they secure employment in the region. • Outstanding training in how to manage behaviour for learning and tackle bullying which enables trainees to establish productive relationships with staff and pupils and to create a good climate for learning in their classrooms. • Strong personal support from tutors and high-quality documentation which enable trainees to take responsibility for their own professional development.

5. Quotes from Ofsted (2013) • The breadth of training experiences in a wide range of educational settings, including opportunities to observe good and outstanding practice, work in special schools and undertake placements in a range of alternative educational settings. • Tutors are involved actively in a number of local, regional and national curriculum initiatives and in their own research and scholarly activity. This provides extensive opportunities for them to retain their credibility with schools and trainees and continue to teach in local partnership schools.

6. Undergraduate Courses:Primary ITT BEd (Hons) leading to QTS • 3 year full time Primary • 3 Year full time Early Primary

7. Postgraduate CoursesPrimary ITT PGCE Primary (with QTS) and PGCE Primary with Maths (with QTS) • One year full time course, resulting in QTS. • 120 days in partnership schools • 60 Masters Credits

8. School Direct Tuition (with QTS) - One year full time course, resulting in QTS- Follow similar modules and CPD as traditional PGCE route- 120 days in an alliance schoolSchool Direct Salaried (with QTS)One year full time course, resulting in QTS - employed by a school who train you alongside the university - 20 days undertaking training in university

9. Your timetable for all routes…. • Core subjects – English, Maths, Science • ICT • Professional Studies • Foundation subjects • School Attachments • Other visits to schools • Alternative Education Setting

10. Assessments (Undergraduate) • Exams – Year 1 & 2 maths, science & English • Group Presentations • Assignments • Portfolios • RoPD (QTS)

11. Assessments (PGCE and School Direct Tuition) • Group Presentations • Assignments • Portfolios • RoPD • 60 Masters level credits

12. Assessments (School Direct Salaried) • RoPD / RoTA tasks • Learning Journals • 60 Masters level credits (part professional practice / part assignment)

13. So how do I get here? (Undergraduate) • At least 280 UCAS points from Level 3 qualifications • Recent and relevant school experience (minimum 20 days – equivalent to 60 hours) Primary ~ in Key Stages 1 and 2. Early Primary ~ in Early Year Settings/ Key Stage 1 • GCSE grade C or above (or equivalent) in maths, science and English. • You must pass the QTS skills tests in maths & English before starting the course.

14. So how do I get here? (PGCE) • Degree (2:1 in a NC subject or related pedagogical areas) • Recent and relevant school experience in key stages 1 and 2 - 40 days (equivalent to 120 hours in key stages 1 & 2) • GCSE grade C or above (or equivalent) in maths, science and English. • You must pass the QTS skills tests in maths & English before starting the course.

15. QTS SKILLS TESTS • All applicants to ITT training are required to pass the skills tests before starting their course. This includes all entrants beginning the Early Years ITT on or after 1 August 2014. • The numeracy and literacy skills tests:  • cover the core skills that teachers need to fulfil their professional role in schools, rather than the subject knowledge required for teaching. This is to ensure all teachers are competent in numeracy and literacy, regardless of their specialism;  • do not replace the GCSE grade C equivalence entry requirement;  • are set in the context of the professional role of a teacher; all questions use real data and information which teachers are likely to encounter; and • are computerised and can be taken at any of approximately 150 test centres throughout the UK. 

16. QTS Cycle: Interviewed between 28th Oct – 31st Jan – pass by 30th April Interviewed between 31st Jan – 30th April – pass by 31st July Interviewed between 30th April – July 31st pass by 31stAugust

17. You can apply to sit your QTS skills tests as soon as you have applied for an ITT course. You have 3 attempts to successfully pass each test. Please let us know if you have failed on your 2nd attempt – we will support you! The University of Wolverhampton runs QTS skills test sessions in English and Maths to support you in passing. Details of these can be found on our website and are also emailed to all applicants. We have taster QTS skills test sessions running today:

18. Don’t Delay. Start thinking about the QTS tests now….. • Access the DFE online practice papers; • Purchase useful revision books/ apps; • Once you have applied – book your tests; • Join us at our QTS sessions.

19. When Can I Apply? B.Ed Primary (X120) B.Ed Early Primary (X320) PGCE Primary (Core) (X100) PGCE Primary with Mathematics (DD2C) Schools Direct (look on our website) Applications for any of our Primary Courses are through UCAS. Visit www.ucas.com for full details. Applying early in the academic year is recommended, as these courses can be highly competitive.

20. Interview Your answers should reflect on the following:- Your commitment to, and understanding of, primary education and the role of the teacher/lecturer- Effective personal, intellectual and communication skills- A positive attitude towards children and working with children- Your enthusiasm for, and understanding of, your subjects and teaching in general- Clear and accurate spoken English You will also complete a Skills & Knowledge audit to support our Cluster Subject Leaders should you be successful in gaining a place on any of our Primary Courses. The level is no higher than GCSE. It is recommended that you practice some of the Year 6 primary maths without the aid of calculator (for example, long multiplication, long division, fractions, percentages and decimals).

21. Any questions….