Graduate training programme

[Svrider]

So, after much thought ive decided to apply for the graduate training programme
Any successful applicants willing to share their tips?
Any unsuccessful applicants willing to share their experiences and "what not to do?"
Tia

Are you planning to do primary or secondary? If it's secondary, which subject area?

I work in a secondary school and all the people that have done the GTP over the last few years have worked for at least a couple of terms as teaching assistants in the school.It's great preparation for teaching but badly paid. I know of one GTP who has managed to shorten the length of her GTP course because of the time she has already spent as a teaching assistant.

Is there anyone out there that got onto a GTP course without prior experience of working in a school?

The only people I know who've done GTP have already been working in schools in some capacity as support staff.

I would imagine there would be places in tough secondaries which struggle to recruit, especially in core/shortage subjects.

What experience do you have and what subject/age group?

DH did a GTP entry into teaching 8yrs ago, after spending a year doing various roles gaining experience (voluntary work, then unqualified TA etc) . He loved it a suited him down to the ground.

However he had a lot of management experience in industry and the excellent people skills that came with that, as well as all the child care skills that an active Dad of 3 (then aged 4-11) acquires.

He always says he wouldn't have been able to do it if he wasn't a person who was used to being thrown into a situation and dealing with it. He spend the time after Easter with his own class as they lost a teacher.

Pluses- he was really ready for this sort of "on the job training" (primary) and was very proactive in making sure he got all the experience he could (eg his head released him to go on DD1s residential week in year 6 so he could add that to his "portfolio" too) BUT even 8yrs down the line he klnows that he doesn't know all the educational theory that some teachers know- but I suspect he's not a worse teacher for this "lack"....

Having done 8yrs in his training school he has moved to a prep setting and is still loving teaching. THe move was partly because the right job arose and also the ferar of maybe never moving!

Good luck

Thanks for the feedback
I'm not in a position where I can do unpaid ta work, as I need a salary
I've got hands on experience of 3 dcs, and will use my one day off per week to help in my ds nursery when he starts in september
I do have some experience of helping in a play group when I was much younger
I do have experience of training planning and lecturing but with adults
I'm going to apply on thursday

Ideally I'd like primary but think I'll be limited to secondary due to competition and not getting my arse ingear in november to apply then! I will be teaching science

My Dad sits on the board of a teacher training consortium. When Dsis was trying to get a place on a GTP two years ago, he said that they were originally set up for people who were already working in schools. IMO, a PGCE is a better way to train for teaching if you have no experience of working a school. Dsis didn't get a place, despite having 2 children and 2 years experience of running a mother and toddler group. She took the plunge and did a PGCE in the end.

If you have absolutely no experience of working in a school, then I would actually discourage you from applying for a GTP, I'm afraid (sorry - not the most positive response) As a teacher, I would say that the "straight in at the deep end" nature of GTP course would be bloody difficult if you don't have experience in a school - particularly at secondary.

Is getting a job as a Cover Supervisor an option? It's not the most fun job in the world, but would certainly give you experience.

I am on gtp primary
Everyone on my course has some school experience, from a couple of years up to 17 years +
the interview was one day, morning of maths and english tests, the afternoon 'teaching' a simulated lesson and interview
I hear it is a more rigorous process
next year, a two day process one for tests and interview, a second day for teaching
I'd say you need to show familiarity with the curriculum and current educational issues as well as strong subject knowledge or a plan to support acquiring it where you are deficient (for primary also). Talking my plans through with teachers at school definitely helped my application

yeah I'd agree with that Evil
even with ta experience I found going up to a 50% teaching load hard, and it's only been a term, I go up to 80 next term

Svrider - I dont think you've got enough experience to apply for a pgce never mind a gtp. You need to spend some time in a school.

Thanks for the advice
My first thought was pgce, but I've missed this years closing date for applications (Grrrrrr)
That means I'd have to wait 9 months to even apply, then a further 2 yrs training

Evil twin what is a cover supervisor?

Svrider - if you have a science degree, then you may well find there are still places on PGCE courses for next year.

And the PGCE course is only 1 year; though NQT year is still 'training' and is tough, at least you get paid for it. (If you do GTP you also have to do the NQT year afterwards.)

Cover Supervisor is someone who takes 'cover' lessons in schools (secondary) when the regular teachers are off (short-term). Teaching staff set the lessons and mark the work, you just have to deliver them. I was a CS for 4 years and it's an excellent training ground.

just in case you don't know, it is sometimes possible to get paid jobs as TAs in schools. My advice is hover on their websites and ounce as soon as a job is advertised, visit them and talk to them so they know you a bit, explain you would like to train for teaching etc. and then apply formally. Lots of jobs say'suitable for someone interested in teaching', i'd recommend this route to anyone, schools' experience is critical for any teacher training

svrider I am sure you could still apply for PGCE secondary science (tho agree PGCE primary places will be closed now).

You will only get a bursary tho (? £6k?) rather than then £16k salary with GTP.

I am doing GTP in MFL this year and agree with others that school experience is a must. I was a cover supervisor for 15 mo before starting my GTP and had a lot of unpaid primary and secondary experience before that. just about everyone on the course has had similar school experience tho there is someone who is doing it straight from uni so I guess he can't have done so much.

It was tough to get on to and it's a lot of work btw, but still well worth it if it's what you want to do, and a feasible way to become a teacher while still running a family (ie you get paid an OK-ish salary). HTH

Hi Clary! How's it going?

Soz roisin my lovely, internet access has been patchy but now have lovely new laptop :)

Course OK, in middle of second placement at moment, very different school (exam factory, kids v polite and motivated and bright) but I am missing my lairy crazy kids and all the lovely caring teachers.

I didn't realise you did two placements on GTP. The people that I know who've done it have basically done a year in one school, but just a couple of weeks somewhere else.

Have you got chance/option of a job with your lairy crazy kids and lovely caring teachers?

Sorry R had a v busy week. Phew! How do real teachers do it????

Yes it is just a short placement, 3 weeks, finished now so back to normality and shouty kids on Monday

There may be a job (yay!) but only 3 or 4 days a week sadly. Still, an option worth pursuing...

You've had a busy week? We've had Ofsted!

roisin - on the new framework? How was it?

gosh roisin your oftsed certainly trumps my 9 lessons in two days!

Hope it went OK - what did you get? How was the new framework - very different?