Training to teach languages in primary education

This page provides information on teacher training in England. For information about teacher training elsewhere in the UK, see www.teach.gov.uk or www.teachertrainingwales.org (Wales), www.teachinginscotland.com (Scotland) and www.deni.gov.uk (Northern Ireland).

Initial teacher training (ITT) provides training for those who wish to become qualified primary school teachers. Primary teachers usually train to teach children in Key Stages 1 and 2 (ages 7-11). Teachers may also train to teach in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 (early years, ages 3-7) or Key Stages 2 and 3 (middle years, ages 7-14). Teachers teach the full range of primary curriculum subjects, including the core subjects of English, maths and science, and non-core subjects, which may include languages. To support the introduction of languages in Key Stage 2, a number of primary ITT courses have been developed which offer a specialism in primary languages.

The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) provides comprehensive information and advice on training to teach through its website at: www.teach.gov.uk and the Teaching Information Line (TIL) on tel: 0845 6000 991 or e-mail: teaching@tdainfo.gov.uk. Get into teaching is a free TDA guide to being a teacher, teacher training and career development (available on request from the TIL).

The TDA’s Performance Profiles database enables applicants to search for and compare different ITT providers.

The TDA have also published the TDA good practice guide for providers of primary languages ITT

NACELL provides a listing of postgraduate and undergraduate ITT courses with a specialism in primary languages (French, German, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish) which have been developed under the Primary Languages in initial teacher training project, a shared initiative involving the TDA and equivalent institutions from European partners. Key Stage 2 and 3 courses for French, German, Spanish and community languages are also listed on NACELL.

All teacher training routes lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) which is a required to teach in maintained schools and non-maintained special schools:

• Undergraduate level
  • BEd or BA/BSc with QTS courses last three or four years full-time and are processed through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
• Postgraduate level
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) courses last one year full-time or two years part-time and are processed through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR).
  • School-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) is classroom-based training provided by schools in partnership with Higher Education Institutions and Local Authorities. SCITT courses last one year and usually lead to a PGCE. Applications are through the GTTR, although some SCITT providers require direct applications.
• Employment-based routes
  • Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) is for graduates and usually takes a year.
  • Registered Teacher Programme (RTP) is for non-graduates who have completed two years of higher education (for example, a HND or two years of a degree). It usually takes two years and enables completion of a degree during training. GTP and RTP places are processed through local partnerships of schools, local authorities and accredited ITT providers called Designated Recommending Bodies (DRBs).
• Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (OTTP) is for those from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who have a teaching qualification that is equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree.
• QTS Assessment-only is for those who have substantial work experience in a school as an unqualified teacher, or as a teacher in an independent school.

Teachers trained in Scotland or Northern Ireland and EEA nationals recognised as qualified school teachers in the EEA can apply for QTS in England from the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE). UK NARIC can advise on the comparability of international qualifications with those in the UK.

Application deadlines for primary ITT courses are listed on the TDA website. Entry requirements for courses may vary, so applicants should check with individual course providers for details. Applicants on any programme must achieve a standard equivalent to a grade C in GCSE English language and mathematics and a standard equivalent to a grade C in a GCSE science subject to teach primary or key stage 2/3. Postgraduate primary teaching applicants should offer a degree related to the primary curriculum. For specialist primary languages courses, a qualification or proven competence in the language may also be required. Work experience with primary age children or observation at a primary school is also desirable for primary courses.

Financial support is available to students who study a course of ITT. From 2006/2007, universities can charge undergraduate and postgraduate students variable fees of up to £3,000 a year. Students can apply for a non-means tested Student Loan for Fees to cover the total amount of the tuition fees.

Undergraduates may be eligible for a means-tested Maintenance Grant up to £2,700 a year. Further information on financial help for undergraduate students can be found on the DfES student support website.

Postgraduates may be eligible for a non-means tested grant of £1,200 and an additional means-tested grant of £1,500. PGCE or SCITT trainees classified as ‘Home’ or ‘EEA’ students may also be eligible for a non-taxable training bursary of £9,000 during their training year. Students may also be entitled to a one-off taxable bonus of £2500 called a ‘golden hello’. This is available to eligible Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) who have trained to teach in priority subjects (such as modern foreign languages) and take up a position teaching this subject in a maintained school or non-maintained special school. Further information on financial help for postgraduate students can be found on the GTTR website.

GTP, RTP and OTTP trainee teachers are employed by their training school and receive a salary which is at least equal to the minimum point on the unqualified teacher pay scale.