This is a presentation for university students considering applying for postgraduate teacher training (PGCE or Schools Direct) via UCAS in 2014/15.

1. Postgraduate Teacher Training
Applications
Tahira Majothi
Careers consultant
www.careers.salford.ac.uk
0161 295 5088

2.  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

3. 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

4. Apply 2
 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

5. 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

6. Personal
statements

7. 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

8. School and Work Experience
 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

9. Personal statement
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.

10. What to
include?

11. Why do you want to teach?
 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?

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. References
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

17. Professional skills tests
• 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

18. 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/

19. Useful resources
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