itt? scitt? tf? sd? Here’s our jargon-busting guide to the pros and cons of the major teacher training routes available in the uk now
The UK is facing a teacher recruitment and retention crisis. We desperately need more teachers and need to make the options available clearer and more accessible. Everyone in teaching has an opinion of different routes of ITT and more often than not you’ll hear the horror stories, rather than the majority of successful teachers that train every year. I hope this guide highlights some of the major similarities and differences and that you’re able to cast aside the horror story you hear about your aunty’s neighbour’s neice’s friend who hated their [insert ITT name here].
Quick jargon buster
- ITT – ‘initial teacher training’, the scheme where you learn to be a teacher
- QTS – ‘qualified teacher statues’, the certificate you get from the government at the end of your scheme that proves you can teach legally
- PGCE – ‘postgraduate certificate in education’, 1/3 of masters credits, essays about theoretical teacher things that are submitted
- PGDE – ‘postgraduate diploma in eduaction’, 2/3 of masters credits, only offered by Teach First, can ‘top up’ to a full masters
- SCITT – ‘school centred initial teacher training’, a teacher training route where you are based in a home school
PGCE/ University based
The ‘traditional’ entry route into teaching. A PGCE course is taken after the completion of an undergraduate degree, at a university over one year full-time (or two years part-time). Those without an undergraduate degree can complete a three or four-year course following a similar model of a combination of university study and school placement.
Pros
- Most supportive – access to wide variety of support at university and on placement
- Doesn’t throw in at the deep end, more opportunities for practise with peers and more gradual approach to teaching placements
- Having placements in a variety of schools means more opportunities for job offers and an environment in which to make mistakes, knowing you never have to go back
- Better work-life balance with more allowances and time scheduled to complete university assignments
Cons
- Some people find the theoretical work at university less applicable to the classroom and find they ‘switch off’
- Less direct experience and responsibility in the classroom, PGCE students often get more of a ‘shock’ during their ECT years
- Fewer opportunities for learning to balance workload as it is planned to be reasonable and manageable
- Price – university-based routes cost money! Bursaries are available (for specific subjects) but it can feel galling knowing that other people gain more real-world experience and are paid to get the same qualification
Best for… students who want the most support and varied experience in their teaching practice.
Worst for… those with extensive experience working with children/ in schools and paying for your training.
School Direct
School Direct offers trainees the opportunity to be based in a single school, with one day a week at university. Students normally sign-up through an area of local education authority and will be placed in a school in that area. It offers the positives of the PGCE support at university, with more time in the classroom. Like the PGCE, most School Direct options require the payment of university fees, however, there are some salaried routes available. Make sure to keep this in mind when narrowing down providers.
Pros
- Close relationship with a single school – staff, children, parents and community
- Ability to watch an entire school year unfold and witness the ‘pinch points’ of the year – e.g. Christmas, report writing
- Access to parts of school life you wouldn’t as a PGCE student – e.g. school trips, parents evenings, which are all excellent training
- Support of university staff and cohort one day a week at university
Cons
- The majority of your training being in one centre means that if you have issues with staff, or are not being properly supported, you’re more stuck
- You’re at the mercy of in-school training by staff who although well-intentioned, are often being pulled 1000 different ways, you may need to be assertive to make sure your needs are met
- Fewer close relationships with university staff – can make reaching out for support with assignments or references for further study more difficult
- Some people choose not to remain in the school that they have trained in for fear that they will always be viewed as a ‘student teacher’
Best for… seeing a wide variety of experiences and watching the school year unfold in a single setting.
Worst for… those who struggle to make sure their needs are met and not going to be willing to speak up and seek support.
SCITT
SCITT, like School Direct, is an on-the-job teacher training route. It’s becoming increasingly more popular, although currently the least common route on this list. SCITT is where applicants approach the school directly and then receive additional training through a group of partnered institutions. It’s a popular route for those with existing relationships with a school, e.g. previously working as an unqualified supply or teaching assistant. SCITTs can also be run by faith organisations and are becoming an increasingly popular route for training teachers in faith schools. Due to the nature of lack of centralisation of SCITT, some providers are salaried and others are not, make sure to research this thoroughly before approaching institutions.
Pros
- Can continue to work in a school where you already have relationships
- Good chance of receiving a job offer as a candidate that has previously worked at the school
- Choice of location of school you train at, useful for people with responsibilities that need to be able to plan
- Opportunities to choose to train in a school in your own cultural/ faith community
Cons
- Similar cons as School Direct, you need to be a self-starter and able to advocate for your own needs
- Especially if you’ve previously worked in the school – it can be harder to command respect in your new role from children and parents
- Other teachers, knowing you as a competent TA/ previous staff member, might need reminding that you’re training for a different job and will still need support in your role and training as a teacher
- It can be easy to get drawn into activities/ responsibilities of your old job as a ‘favour’, when your workload has increased and you need to make clear the additional demands on your time during your training
Best for… people with experience working in a particular school setting and want to continue to work there, students that want a high-level of autonomy in choosing school placement.
Worst for… relying on the effectiveness and constraints on existing staff at the school as there is less opportunity for outside input if your training isn’t high quality.
Teach First
The ultimate baptism by fire, Teach First is the training route that everyone has an opinion of. Here are the basic facts: a six-week residential of initial training, followed by two years of teaching, with support from a partner university to complete a PGDE. Teach First was set up as a scheme with social justice at its heart, aiming to eradicate educational inequality by matching graduates with challenging schools. Teach First has a certain amount of caché due to its corporate sponsors and PGDE (2/3 of a masters degree). However, it also has a reputation for attracting trainees with self-interested motivation, who move on to other sectors after their two years. Teach First trainees receive an unqualified teacher’s salary for the first year, then after gaining QTS at the end of the first year, go on to the main pay scale in their second year.
Pros
- Guaranteed salaried route
- Guaranteed school place to complete ECT training, so can look for main scale jobs more quickly
- Higher-level academic qualification (PGDE) and opportunity to ‘top-up’ to a masters for free
- Caché of the ‘Teach First’ brand and networking opportunities with sectors outside of education
- Strong focus on networking and ‘ambassadors’ means that there is an instant connection with many people working and starting-up in social justice and education sectors
Cons
- At the mercy of your school and the quality of training it provides
- Support can feel disjointed as you have mentors in school, at TF, at university etc.
- Schools tend to face more challenging problems – there’s a reason they struggled to recruit through normal channels…
- ‘Cult’ of Teach First – people can be disparaging about Teach First trainees and you often have to work harder to show your motivation and work ethic
Best for… people who want access to networking opportunities, clear salary and progression, who work well under pressure and learn quickly on the job.
Worst for… those who are not self-confident walking into teacher training, you will not have your hand held and trainees report being left to sink or swim.
Signed,
Ticked Off Teacher 