The Graduate Teacher Programme

STTORMM is the local provider of the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP), is amongst the largest Employment-Based Initial Teacher Trainers (EBITTs) in the country, and receives an annual allocation of GTP places from the TDA. GTP placements with STTORMM begin in September each year.

Places for GTP are allocated in three categories, primary, Priority secondary subjects and non-priority secondary subjects. From 2008/09, priority secondary subjects are Maths, Science, ICT, Design & Technology (including engineering and manufacturing), Modern Foreign Languages, Music and RE.

Demand for primary and non-priority secondary places is very high. There is less competition for priority secondary places, though STTORMM’s recruitment and selection procedures still demand high quality applications.

All GTP places for 2008/09 have been allocated.

The main deadline for GTP applications is Friday 30 January 2009; after this deadline all primary and non-priority secondary recruitment will be complete. There will be a further deadline for priority secondary applications, however applicants and schools are encouraged to target the January deadline.

Following shortlisting STTORMM will write to all applicants and schools who have submitted applications.

Allocations 2009/10

STTORMM has received the following allocation of GTP places for 2009/10:

The STTORMM Graduate Teacher Programme Open Evening

The STTORMM Graduate Teacher Programme Open Evening (download PDF flyer, 935Kb) takes place on Tuesday 20 January and provides an opportunity to meet with STTORMM officers and to ask questions about the GTP. Register your interest by email to info@sttormm.co.uk and you will receive further information by email in January.
 

The Recruitment and Selection Process

STTORMM’s recruitment and selection to the graduate teacher programme takes place during the spring and summer terms. GTP applications will be reviewed at shortlisting and interviews of shortlisted applicants will follow. Approval by STTORMM of GTP training plans completed by lead schools is the final stage of selection.

All STTORMM Graduate Teacher Progammes begin in September.

The majority of applications to STTORMM, including all those in the primary and non-priority secondary categories come with the support of a lead school. Supported applications require submission of substantial evidence by applicants, as well as significant evidence around the applicant’s teaching potential from lead schools. Lead schools must also detail their experience of ITT and their capacity to meet the requirements of GTP training. Supported applications are regarded as joint applications, with joint consideration of applicants and schools taking place at recruitment and selection. A representative of the lead school is required to be present at interview.

A small number of priority secondary places are filled by those making an initial application without the support of school. Unsupported applications require significant evidence of professional skills and experience, including details of how these are applicable teaching. Following a successful initial interview, STTORMM will aim to match applicants to a lead school. Unsupported Applications are sought from those who are not in a position to secure the support of a lead school because of professional or other commitments. Submission of an Unsupported Application should not be seen as an easier path to securing a GTP place; this is not the case and where possible applicants are always encouraged to secure the support of a lead school prior to application.

Regardless of which application process is followed, formal offers of GTP places will be always be made by STTORMM and not by schools. It is the responsibility of schools to make arrangements for the employment of graduate teachers.

Applications

Applicants for GTP must have the following:

• a UK Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (the award of which must have been made at the point of application);
• GCSE Grade C or above (or equivalent) in Maths and English; and
• GCSE Grade C or above (or equivalent) in Science (primary applicants only).

(Note: applicants who are without one or more of the required GCSEs are eligible to sit an equivalence test provided all other entry requirements are satisfied. Further details on equivalence tests can be found in the STTORMM GTP Overview (PDF, 74Kb).)

The TDA document GCSE and equivalent qualifications for entry to ITT courses (PDF, 56Kb) provides further detail on the entry requirements for Initial Teacher Training.

Supported applications

All primary and non-priority secondary, and the majority of priority secondary applications to STTORMM are supported applications. Friday 30 January is the main application deadline for supported applications, and is the only deadline for primary and non-priority secondary applications.

The application form for supported applications is available at the bottom of this page.

Applicants and lead schools are asked to note the key dates listed below.

Recruitment and Selection Diary: Supported applications

Unsupported applications

STTORMM will also consider priority secondary applications from individuals without the support of a school. Such applications will be considered by STTORMM at shortlisting and first round interviews; following successful first round interviews, offers of places will include the condition that an appropriate supporting school is found. The application forms and interview notes of those who are successful at this stage will be made available to schools within STTORMM. Local Authority representatives will support this process.

Schools may choose to invite those who have successfully interviewed with STTORMM to meet members of staff, to work alongside pupils, and to share some teaching. The purpose of these activities will be to further identify candidates’ training needs and to establish that the school will provide an appropriate training programme which addresses these. This is likely to require of candidates significant voluntary and unpaid experience in schools.

If the school agrees that the candidate has the potential and commitment to complete GTP successfully, and is prepared to offer employment as a graduate teacher, a second round interview with STTORMM of both the candidate and a school representative will take place. This interview will include further investigation of the candidate’s understanding of the requirements of teaching, and of the appropriateness of the training environment for the candidate.

As with all other offers, the conditions will include the development by the school of an individualised training plan.

The final deadline for unsupported applications is Friday 13 March. The application form is available at the bottom of this page.

Recruitment and Selection Diary: Unsupported applications

General information on the Graduate Teacher Programme can be researched at www.tda.gov.uk.

STTORMM, in common with all EBITTs, has flexibility to agree protocols which match local requirements. Protocols detailed on this website may differ from those of other providers.

Applicants are advised to begin by accessing the STTORMM GTP Overview (PDF, 74Kb). Schools must be familiar with the content of the STTORMM GTP Overview before making the commitment to support GTP applications.

The STTORMM GTP Handbook (PDF, 538Kb) is circulated in hard copy to all GTs and school-based mentors. The handbook provides comprehensive detail of STTORMM’s provision for GTP under the following chapter headings:

• STTORMM
• Aims and Objectives
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Selection Procedures
• The Training Plan: Overview
• The Graduate Teacher Programme in Practice
• Assessment, Moderation and Quality Assurance
• Funding and Resources

Subject knowledge support

Applicants may wish to consult the TDA website for information on:

• individually tailored subject knowledge booster courses: short courses designed to help you ‘top-up’ your subject knowledge in certain areas, and

• pre-initial teacher training enhancement and extension courses: intensive programmes for graduates who need to develop a greater depth of subject understanding prior to training for qualified teacher status.

If your nominated teaching subject is PE you should refer to the STTORMM Advice for PE Applicants before completing your application.

Downloads

Applicants for the Graduate Teacher Programme will need to download the relevant documents below. STTORMM is committed to electronic communication. Please complete and return the Application Form to James Stewart at applications@sttormm.co.uk as an email attachment.

STTORMM GTP Overview (PDF, 74Kb)

Information about the Graduate Teacher Programme and STTORMM’s procedures, including details of the recruitment and selection process, criteria and deadlines. Schools must be familiar with the content of the STTORMM GTP Overview before making the commitment to support GTP applications.
 

Application forms

Application Form for Supported Applications (Word, 451Kb)
This form is for supported applications only. Applicants and supporting schools should work together on completion of this form.

Application Form for Unsupported Applications (Word, 385Kb)
This form is for unsupported applications and is for those wishing to teach priority secondary subjects only.

Training plans

Following successful interviews, applicants will receive conditional offers of GTP places. Conditions will include the completion of appropriate term one training plans by schools. Schools are required to familiarise themselves with the training plan documentation, and to attend a training session before submitting training plans.

Training Plan Form E Primary (Word, 319Kb)

Training Plan Form E Secondary (Word, 312Kb)

Training Plans for subsequent terms are available below. Schools complete and submit training plans for subsequent terms prior to the commencement of that term. These training plans take account of progress made and targets agreed during programmes.

Term 2 E4 Primary (Word, 245Kb)

Term 2 E4 Secondary (Word, 284Kb)

Term 3 E4 Primary (Word, 200Kb)

Term 3 E4 Secondary (Word, 223Kb)

The Q Standards

The Q Standards are available at www.tda.gov.uk/partners/ittstandards.aspx.