Anyone know about Schools Direct?

[hippohector]

I am thinking of applying for a salaried schools direct placement next year. Has anyone got any experience of how it works on a practical level?
I know the basics and the entry requirements, but what is it like on a day to day basis?
Will I be in class all week or do you get time off to attend training courses etc? Will I have a class of my own or do you shadow/team teach with the class teacher?
Any insight or advice greatly appreciated!

Is that the one where you're thrown in at the deep end? Very little training and delivering from day 1?

Its tough. Far more suitable if you already have classroom experience tbh.

Unsalaried is probably better training wise. You shadow classes and build up to a FT timetable.

I’m not exactly sure what it entails, that’s why I’m asking here!
I have experience- I’ve been an HLTA for 6 years and am in my final year of my primary teaching degree at uni (one day a week).
I don’t want to do a PGCE, and an unsalaried scheme wouldn’t be great for our family finances.

You sound perfect for it then.

Salaried you're treated as a "proper teacher" from day 1. You're mentored by an experienced member of staff but you are a class teacher.

You are given 20% release time from the classroom to attend training.

Thanks for the info. So if I did the unsalaried route I would get more support/training? Would that be more team teaching with a teacher rather than thrown in at the deep end?
Unsalaried wouldn’t be ideal financially, but I also need to be mindful about stress levels (said tongue in cheek as I know teaching is probably one of the highest stress level jobs out there)!

I used to run teacher training on a secondment. The salaried route assumes a level of expertise and so you'll get much less support. You'll have your own classes from day one in your main placement and whilst you'll have a mentor, the expectation will be that you know what you're doing. You'll still have to have a second placement - but you'll be additional there, so more like a normal trainee.
Unsalaried is a much slower start and much more support.
Are you likely to be eligible for a bursary?

Thanks for the info @MrsHamlet it’s really useful.
Not sure if I’ll be eligible for a bursary. Do you know what the criteria is? I’ll have to look into it.

A quick google has told me that bursaries are not available for primary placements, but I could apply for a student loan (oh joy, yet more debt 😫)

Bugger. I only did secondary so I wasn't sure.
The other thing to bear in mind with salaried is they often belong to someone, as it were. We did a computer science one for an IT tech who was teaching A level unqualified, and one for a lab tech who wanted to teach science. Both were advertised but there was never any intention to offer it to anyone else. The school pays the fee and the salary so they drive it.

I had a conversation with my current headteacher a couple of years ago and he said at the time they would be interested in supporting me through this.. although a lot has changed financially since then so it may well be unsalaried. I’ll have another conversation with him.
Thanks for your advice, it’s been really helpful

I have just gained QTS on a Schools Direct. Different unis approach it differently, but mine had 1 day a week attending or completing tasks.
I was an HLTA and my school organised the course for me. I was part-time (4 days), so they could make it work financially. I'm primary and was assigned a class with an experienced teacher. You should not be given your own class.

Yes, there is a certain amount of thrown in at the deep end, but as an HLTA you have a headstart. I was well-supported and gradually built up my skills. I think I really noticed my headstart when I compared myself to a PGCE student and realised how far I had come.
Unfortunately, Covid and school closures means I'm not as prepared for NQT as I should have been. But I'm getting there!
Everyone on my course had similar experience. As an HLTA you deserve to be paid and I definitely recommend you go for the salaried option. I didn't even have to pay uni fees.
Good luck!

Thanks for your input @stdmumihope that’s really interesting.
And congrats on your QTS 🎉

“Is that the one where you're thrown in at the deep end? Very little training and delivering from day 1?”

No.

I did school direct salaried. My school paid me but I essentially did the same course as the non salaries and PGCE students in my cohort. I was perhaps expected to be teaching independently before them because of the salaried aspect. I also had to carry on right until the end of term whereas the PCGE and non salaried students had longer breaks and finished in June. But I actually felt like I was more part of my school for not doing that.

Sept - Oct I was at uni Monday, Tues and in school the rest of the week. Oct - Christmas I was at uni on Mondays. Then, with the exception of a few uni days, I was full time in school (but so was everyone else too). I didn’t have much choice in my second placement school as I had to swap with another salaried trainee in the same federation, and my second school was miles away which was a pain, but it was only for six weeks.

I never had sole ownership of a class - there was always a ‘proper’ teacher also timetabled, although within the first term they backed off and I was independent with them nearby. There was one class where my partner teacher was SLT and they got made up to acting headteacher so I was pretty much flying solo there, but it was ok!

Like most ITT, you rely on having an amazing mentor and I was very lucky with mine.

I did school direct salaried, but for secondary. Thrown in the deep end from the start. I had sole control of all my gcse and a level classes. One day a week at uni. It was really tough, but I needed the salary to pay my mortgage. Out of 6 salaried starting trainees, only 3 of us remained by the end. I feel like at the end of it, I was much further ahead and prepared than pgce and unsalaried teachers.

It’s really interesting to hear of people’s different experiences.
I guess what I am learning from these replies is that it really varies depending on the area/school.
I will have a chat with my head and ask what their expectations would be if I go ahead with the salaried route.

Do a lot of research on the school, you could end up in a very hard to staff school (rough) with not great mentors for guidance and given crappy classes like a friend of mine. This is a real recipe for failure sadly.
I think some schools look at this route as a cheap way to get a teacher, and are not able to fully commit to the actual training/mentoring and quality supervision needed.

If the school where you’ve worked as an HLTA are offering you salaried training I’d bite their hand off - they like you so much they’re prepared to pay you to train!

If the school where you’ve worked as an HLTA are offering you salaried training I’d bite their hand off - they like you so much they’re prepared to pay you to train!
Yes it is very flattering, but I am also a bit worried that I won’t get the same level of training or support that I might get if unsalaried. I’m concerned they might just give me a class unsupervised from day 1 and leave me to it as I regularly cover classes so they know I’m capable. But being capable of covering a class is very different to having overall responsibility.
Lots to think about!