Fast-track To The Classroom

The rallying cry "education, education, education" of New Labour has evolved from being a mere manifesto soundbite into a mission-critical test for the current government. The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) is relaunching its campaign to enhance teacher training, in an attempt to recruit more teachers for our schools. In London alone, there are more than 6,000 vacant training places for the current year.

The government is providing lucrative benefits to attract fresh graduates to classrooms, including a training bursary of £6,000 for most postgraduate trainee teachers, whether they are UK residents, or from EU or EEA countries. With a weekly remuneration of £150 during the training phase. Moreover, postgraduates who want to teach science, mathematics, English, modern languages, design and technology, or information and communications technology are eligible for "golden hellos" worth £4,000, in addition to the training bursary.

In a move to up the ante, the government is trialling out a new incentive, the Repayment of Teachers’ Loans scheme until 2005. This bonus is aimed at newly qualified teachers (NQTs) of English, mathematics, modern foreign languages, design and technology, information and communications technology, science, and Welsh. Essentially, the government is offering to repay any outstanding loans that you hold with the Student Loan Company over a specified period of time.

To become eligible, you must head straight into teaching soon after completing your qualification, and teach one or more of the mentioned subjects for a minimum of fifty percent of your teaching time during the standard week.

However, Mary Doherty, the Teacher Training Agency’s Director of Teacher Supply and Recruitment, suggests that individuals observe the perks of teaching beyond monetary values. She believes that teaching translates into an exhilarating and intellectually appealing profession as "no two days or two young people are the same, which means that the teaching experience is creative and varied". As a modern job, teaching competes with other professions and compensates for the improved pay and career opportunities. In addition, with the better support that classrooms now provide, teachers can enjoy good holidays. Teaching gives individuals a chance to work with a subject that they enjoy and to provide genuine contributions to society.

The DfES is actively seeking graduates and career changers who have specialised in maths, science, and language subjects to undertake the postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) courses. PGCE is the most popular route towards acquiring Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Although the standard duration of PGCE courses is one year, some two-year courses cater to graduates from separate disciplines who aim to convert to mathematics, design and technology, science, and modern languages subjects.

Another mode of acquiring the QTS badge is through School-centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT). These courses are established within clusters of schools that are in charge of their design and organisation and train candidates for both primary and secondary teaching roles. Currently, there are 116 universities, colleges, or SCITT providers offering initial teacher training in England.

Aarti Vyas has recently finished her first term in a school-based course, having a degree in English and history. "I chose the SCITT route because I loved the structure of the course, where you spend most of the time in the classroom, rather than in lectures," she shares. "You are also part of the school and regarded as a staff member, rather than someone who is there for a bit of work experience. The high points of my training at Icknield Lower School in Dunstable so far? Already in my first term, I’ve taught classes in literacy, numeracy, science, along with some design technology, ICT and art. And I had the opportunity to be involved in the class drama production for Christmas."

Each training provider is responsible for its recruitment and admissions policy, stressing the importance of verifying entry requirements directly with the institution of your choice. For prospective primary, middle, or secondary school teachers, English and Math GCSE/O-Level or equivalent are necessary. Furthermore, all primary course entrants, born after September 1, 1979, need to hold at least a GCSE/O-Level pass in a discipline of science.

The fast-track program offers career progression acceleration for graduates who have either a 2:1 degree or a 2.2 with a postgraduate degree like an MA, MSc, or PhD in a relevant subject.

Before jumping into a PGCE course, it is important to give it some careful consideration despite the alluring benefits. While you may have a rough idea of what teaching entails, the constant changes to the curriculum, the increasing focus on teacher accountability, and the pressure to maintain higher educational standards make it necessary to ensure that you possess the requisite mental, emotional, and physical strength to handle the challenge.

To find out more about a typical day in the life of a teacher, you can read the "Teacher Workload Study" government report available on www.teachernet.gov.uk. Alternatively, the TTA website (www.canteach.gov.uk) has valuable information about the requirements for becoming a teacher while the Teaching Information Line (0845 6000 991) offers personalized advice to aspiring teachers.

If you’re considering applying for a PGCE or SCITT in England or Wales, the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) handles all applications centrally. You can get the "Guide for Applicants" from your university career service or download it at www.gttr.ac.uk. Additionally, you can find details of the fast-track scheme at www.fasttrackteaching.gov.uk.

To connect with representatives from teacher training providers, you can attend the ULCS Postgraduate Study and Training Fair at the Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Islington, London, on January 30 between 12:30 pm and 8:30 pm. Alternatively, the Teaching in London Event (TILE) is holding on January 26 and 27 at Olympia 2.

Nick Pandya

(nick.pandya@theguardian.com)