Postgraduate Teacher Training

Applications

Tahira Majothi

Careers consultant

www.careers.salford.ac.uk

0161 295 5088

Postgraduate Teacher Training Overview

Apply 1 and Apply 2 pathways

Personal statements

Professional skills tests

Support from the Careers and Employability

Service

Useful resources

Aims

Apply 1

UCAS teacher training applications open on Tuesday

28th October 2014

Places are competitive!

Training programmes may have differing

opening/closing deadlines – do your research!

You can choose 3 programmes

If undecided, you can apply for a combination, of

subjects, age-range or teacher training routes

http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/teacher-training/apply-1

Begins 2nd January 2015

Apply for one programme at a time

If you are still awaiting an interview via Apply 1,

you can search for open programmes via

Apply 2 and ONLY use this route if

unsuccessful via Apply 1

Contact training providers to discuss your

suitability

http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/teacher-training/apply-2

Apply 2

Key points

Open and close dates of training programmes

may vary, think about whether you wish to

apply now or wait for other programmes to

become live

Places are competitive, so get tips from

programme admissions tutors, Careers and

Employability Service, UCAS website etc.

You can expect a decision usually within 40

working days of submitting your application

You will have 10 working days to respond by

accepting or declining an offer

Personal

statements

The Application

Contact Details

Personal details (nationality, disability support and DBS check)

Programme choices

Education (For qualifications gained outside the UK, contact NARIC)

School and work experience

Personal statement

Details of 2 referees

Fee payment of £19

Include school experience and other work

history

Detail age ranges you worked with (in school)

and subjects you taught/observed/supported

Include any placements or time abroad if

relevant

Draw out transferable skills gained from other

job roles e.g. communication, flexibility,

creativity, responsibility, time management,

administration skills etc

School and Work Experience

4,000 characters, 47 lines (no line spaces

between paragraphs)

Do not use bold, italics or underlines

Use Word /MS Notepad for drafts

Verdana font (size 11)

Write in the first person

Spellcheck for grammatical/spelling errors

Be yourself! UCAS screen statements using

their Copycatch similarity detection system.

Personal statement

What to

include?

Avoid the obvious ‘I like working with young

people.’

Think about role models who inspired you to

consider a career in teaching

Anecdotes – what activities, discussions,

assessments, visits, observations etc helped

you to have your ‘lightbulb’ moment/s?

Why do you want to teach?

Experience

Make clear the age range you would like to

teach

You can reference your awareness of the

national curriculum for that age range

Mention relevant experience – classroom

observations, teaching assistant jobs, high

school mentor schemes, school or primary

experience programmes, coaching, outreach

(science engagement ) etc

Provide specific examples

Awareness of lesson planning, feedback and

assessments

Evidence of teaching and learning

engagement via activities, discussions, visits,

use of technology etc

Awareness of initiatives which cater for all

abilities and support needs:

- Behaviour management / classroom organisation

- Resources inc staff support

- Pastoral care/learning support initiatives

- Inclusion and diversity

Relevance of your degree

Passion / knowledge for your subject:

-Modules

-Dissertation

-Live projects, outreach, visits, events

-Guest lectures, talking to your academics

-Practical or technical skills

-Websites, blogs, professional social media

Key skills

Organisational / time management skills

Communication (listening / verbal / written)

Empathy / patience / resilience / enthusiasm

Attention to detail

Creativity

Teamwork / motivation

Responsibility / integrity

Commitment to on-going professional

development

You will need to provide contact details of two

referees

One academic and one professional

Make sure your referees are available to

complete and send back online references.

Application will not be processed until

references have been received

http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/teacher-training/filling-in-your-application/references

References

• Literacy and numeracy tests have to be taken

by anyone wishing to train as a teacher

• Need to successfully pass both elements

before the start of your teacher training course

• First test is free, you can re-take up to two

times, but fees may apply

• If you have additional support needs, you may

be able to request extra time during tests

• Skills tests are valid for 3 years

http://www.education.gov.uk/sta/professional/b00211200/registration.html

Professional skills tests

Careers and Employability

Support

Book an 1:1 appointment with a careers

consultant to check over your personal

statement

Similarly book an appointment if you have an

upcoming interview

Attend ‘PGCE applications and Interviews

overview’ briefing by Edge Hill University on

Wednesday 10th December, 1-3pm, Careers

and Employability Service, University House

http://www.careers.salford.ac.uk/

http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-

training-options

http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/teacher-training

http://targetpostgrad.com/study-areas/teaching

http://targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/teaching-and-

education

http://targetpostgrad.com/study-areas/teaching/how-write-

your-personal-statement-teacher-training

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/teacher_training.htm

Useful resources