Straight to Teaching
Prospectus 2014/15
Vol. 4
HCUKonline.com
Live. Learn.
Straight to Teaching Prospectus
2014/2015
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Live. Learn.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
What is Straight to Teaching?
Programme aim
Programme outcomes
Career progression
Who should apply?
4
HCUK
Who are we?
Why choose Straight to Teaching?
Learners
Schools
Straight to Teaching programmes
7
PROGRAMME DETAILS
Structure
Resources
Expectations
Assessment
8
FEES
12
THE SCHOOL’S ROLE
School benefits
The school’s responsibilities
School mentor’s role
Support offered by HCUK
Working together
13
TESTIMONIALS
START DATES
APPLICATION PROCESS
CONTACT DETAILS
3
14
15
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INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS STRAIGHT TO TEACHING?
Straight to Teaching (S2T) is a unique professional development programme aimed at suitable
school staff (learners) who want to become fully qualified teachers. The programme supports and
prepares you to meet all The QTS Teachers’ Standards (The Standards) and other criteria for the
award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). It also provides you with the opportunity to be assessed
and awarded QTS.
Many schools continue to struggle to recruit the qualified teachers they require, particularly for
shortage subjects. Yet, countless schools have highly skilled and experienced members of staff
(unqualified teachers, higher-level teaching assistants, cover supervisors and others) who could
be supported to become the qualified teachers they need, if the means were available. The S2T
programme is designed to provide this support.
It offers you and your school a personalised, flexible and accessible professional development
programme that leads to you being assessed to gain the award of QTS. The programme is a highquality, low-cost alternative to initial teacher training, allowing you to continue working while
preparing for QTS assessment. The programme is delivered in school and online and supports you
in building a personal portfolio of evidence, which enables you to meet, and demonstrate that you
meet, all The Standards and other criteria for the award of QTS.
An experienced personal pathway tutor will work with you and your school to create a personalised
QTS preparation plan and timeline and offer support and guidance throughout.
Your programme will vary in length depending on the extent and range of your existing experience
when you join the programme. Typically, the shortest timeframe the programme could be completed
in is one term and the longest it would take is two years (six terms).
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PROGRAMME AIM
The aim of the programme is:
• To increase the opportunities for suitable school staff (unqualified teachers, higher-level teaching
assistants and others with the right qualifications, experience and skills) to become successful
qualified teachers. The programme provides such school staff with a high-quality, low-cost
progression route to becoming a fully qualified teacher. The programme is flexible, accessible
and personalised and offers in-school and online professional development, allowing learners to
continue to work and earn whilst they qualify
• To enhance schools’ capabilities to grow their own qualified teacher workforce by providing them
with a new route where they can professionally develop their existing and future staff to become
qualified teachers
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES
When you complete all elements of the first phase of your programme you will be recommended by
your pathway tutor to move forward to phase two, your QTS assessment. If successful you will be
awarded QTS and will be able to apply for qualified teacher posts in schools in England.
CAREER PROGRESSION
The programme helps you to increase your opportunities to:
•
•
•
Be employed as a fully qualified teacher
Be promoted and/or gain more job security
Increase your salary by up to £7,000* per
annum
•
•
•
Go on to become an outstanding teacher
Share best practices with colleagues
Play a more significant role in school
management
*On average, a fully qualified teacher in England earns approximately £6,000-£7,000 more a year
than their unqualified counterpart. For full details about qualified and unqualified teacher pay
scales, visit www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/salary.
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WHO SHOULD APPLY?
You should be a self-motivated person with the desire to become a fully qualified teacher and meet
the following entry criteria. You should:
•
•
•
•
•
Be employed in a school in a teaching role by the time you start the programme
Have the express agreement of your current or intending employer (school) to support you to
achieve QTS through the S2T programme (the school will be asked to sign a working agreement
with HCUK). This support includes the appointment of a suitable member of staff to act as a
school mentor
Have the relevant qualifications, experience and skills to succeed through the S2T programme:
- Have achieved a standard equivalent to grade C or above at GCSE level in English and
Mathematics. If you intend to teach pupils aged 3-11 you will also need to have grade C or
above at GCSE level science1
- Hold a degree from a UK higher education institution or equivalent qualification2
Have the health and physical capacity to teach
Have been subject to, and passed, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and criminal records
check
You must also meet the following suitability criteria by the time you start phase two of the programme
and are recommended for QTS assessment:
•
•
•
•
•
Be able to demonstrate that you have the appropriate intellectual and academic capabilities and
personal qualities, attitudes, ethics and values
Be able to communicate clearly and effectively in standard English
Have passed the professional skills tests
Have undertaken significant teaching experience in at least two same-phase schools (this can
include prior experience as well as experience completed during the S2T programme)
Be able to demonstrate that you meet The Standards across a minimum of two consecutive age
ranges for your chosen teaching specialism
You will be advised at the start of the first phase of your S2T programme to select a teaching
specialism and two consecutive age ranges that you wish to develop in and be assessed against.
The programme will particularly suit you if you enjoy being an independent learner and value the
flexibility and accessibility to manage your own development.
It is the standard and not the certificate that matters. Applicants who do not have a grade C GCSE may be able to show
they meet the required standard by taking an equivalency test or by offering other agreed evidence of attainment.
1
You need to meet this criteria by the time of QTS assessment. If you are in the process of completing a degree you may
still be able to start the programme.
2
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HCUK
WHO ARE WE?
HCUK is a leading provider of online courses and
programmes with a particular focus on teacher
training and development. We have a wealth of
experience in the education sector and our Initial
Teacher Training (ITT) programme is accredited by
The National College for Teaching and Leadership
(NCTL).
We have recently been praised by Ofsted for the
quality of our training across the partnership.
HCUK, inspected under the new June 2014 two
stage framework, received an overall grade of
‘Good’ for its work securing consistently high
quality outcomes for its trainees.
WHY CHOOSE STRAIGHT TO TEACHING?
Learners
Straight to Teaching offers you:
Schools
Straight to Teaching also offers schools the ability to:
•
The opportunity to continue working at your
existing school while you qualify
•
Increase the range of professional
development opportunities they offer
•
The chance to increase your earnings by up to
£7,000 per annum
•
Upskill existing staff and promote from within
their current team
•
Career progression opportunities
•
•
A flexible online and in-school programme
that fits in and around existing commitments
Bridge recruitment gaps and address teacher
shortages at their school
•
Increase the quality of teaching and the
number of fully qualified teachers at their
school
•
A bespoke approach – you will be given a
personalised QTS preparation plan and timeline
•
Expert advice, support and guidance
throughout the programme (personal
pathway tutor and school mentor)
•
Recruit and retain quality candidates that
show strong potential for becoming good to
outstanding teachers
•
Access to online materials and tools 24/7
•
•
The opportunity to maximise your chances
of gaining QTS
Grow their own high-quality teachers at a low
cost, efficiently and effectively
•
•
Flexible start dates, programme lengths and
payment options
Develop staff professionally while they
continuing to work in their existing role
•
The security and comfort of knowing
the programme is being delivered by an
experienced education provider
STRAIGHT TO TEACHING PROGRAMMES
We are currently offering Straight to Teaching programmes in the following areas:
• Primary (age ranges 3-7, 5-7 and 7-11)
•
All main secondary subjects (age ranges 11-16 and 14-19)
•
Other subjects may be available on request
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PROGRAMME DETAILS
STRUCTURE
Application
S2T application
and selection
process
Phase one*
Phase two
INA
Interim Visit(s)
Final Visit
Independent
QTS
Assessment
S2T Initial Needs
Assessment (INA)
and design of the
personalised QTS
Preparation Plan
(QPP)
Personalised
QTS preparation
programme
timeline –
monitoring and
evidence building
S2T final phase one
visit – evaluation
of evidence and
recommendation
for QTS independent
assessment
The learner
should
demonstrate
that he or
she knows
and meets
the required
Standards
13-72 weeks
1-2 weeks
Up to 12
weeks
3-4 weeks (from 1-2 weeks
submitting an
application)
*The length of the programme will be determined and agreed during the INA. Learners requiring only assessment
will move straight to the final visit and recommendation for phase two.
S2T is a personalised in-school and online professional development programme. It prepares you to meet
all The Standards and other criteria for the award of QTS and, when ready, provides you with the opportunity
to be assessed for and awarded QTS.
The S2T programme does not guarantee that you will pass assessment and be awarded QTS. However, full
participation in the programme maximises your chances of being able to achieve QTS and become a fully
qualified teacher.
All S2T programmes follow a similar basic structure that consists of two phases. The length of your
programme will vary because the first phase is personalised to you, based on your needs in terms of
development and evidence building. If you have significant teaching experience already your first phase
could be shorter and you could be designated ready for assessment and move straight onto phase two.
You will be assigned a personal S2T pathway tutor (who is a QTS specialist) and a school mentor
(appointed by the employing school). The pathway tutor and the school mentor will guide you throughout
the programme, providing online and in-school support, guidance and feedback.
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PHASE ONE
Initial needs assessment
• Depending on the amount of existing teaching experience that you have, your first phase will consist
of up to three stages: an initial needs assessment, interim visit(s) and a final visit
• Prior to the initial needs assessment you will be asked to complete a self-assessment. This process
allows you to indicate what level you believe you are currently working at against The Standards
• The initial assessment is then carried out by the pathway tutor and this defines your current working
level against The Standards
• The results of the assessment are used to facilitate and determine the structure and content of your
personalised QTS preparation plan and timeline
• At this stage, the pathway tutor will also discuss what support is available for the nominated
school mentor
After the initial needs assessment your pathway tutor will confirm the length of the first phase
(personal QTS preparation plan) of your programme and the number of visits you require.
Personalised QTS preparation programme and timeline (QPP)
• Your pathway tutor will work with you, the school and the school mentor to prepare a QPP that sets
clear targets and objectives for you
• At this point, HCUK and the school determine what support you will require from the pathway
tutor, school and school mentor. This process defines the necessary in-school support and
specific HCUK online learning materials
• You are also given an indication of approximately how long it will take to complete your QPP and
the assessment process
• You will be given login details for the S2T virtual learning platform for you to:
- Access key online learning materials based on your own professional development needs
- Upload your portfolio of evidence
- Receive regular feedback from your pathway tutor
- Ask questions and interact with your tutor and other S2T participants
Online and in-school development, monitoring and evidence building
• You will take your QPP and put it in to action, brushing up on existing skills, learning independently
(online and offline) and building your portfolio of evidence
• The pathway tutor will visit you in school to observe your teaching, monitor the evidence that you
upload online, discuss your portfolio of evidence and provide support and feedback. They also
work closely with your school mentor during these sessions to ensure fluidity
• You will have at least one half-day visit from your pathway tutor per term. The number of visits will
depend on your needs and the length of your programme (extra visits may incur additional costs)
• The school mentor will offer advice, guidance and support to you throughout
• Final evaluation and recommendation for QTS assessment
• Once you have demonstrated that you are making the necessary progress towards completing
your QPP, you will be provided with details that will enable you to sit the professional skills tests.
These must be passed before you can be assessed for QTS
• At the final tutor visit, the pathway tutor evaluates your portfolio of evidence against The
Standards and recommends whether you are ready to progress to phase two
• If the pathway tutor considers that you are not ready to move forward, they will plan – along with
you, your school and mentor - what further steps or actions are necessary
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PHASE TWO
Independent QTS assessment
• Once you have been advised that you are ready for QTS assessment by your pathway tutor, you will
be recommended for QTS assessment
• QTS assessment can take up to 12 weeks to complete and will be completed by an appropriate
independent assessor (who has had no involvement in your programme) who will visit and observe
you in school as part of this process
• The assessor will write a report which will refer to teaching that they observed and documented
evidence, as well as making a recommendation as to whether QTS should be awarded
• HCUK will forward its recommendation to the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL),
who award QTS. This procedure can take several weeks
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RESOURCES
S2T is delivered through a blended in-school and
online experience, which incorporates in-school
development, experience and support with online
on-demand materials, tools and feedback.
You will be given a clear outline of what
independent learning is required, along with
support, advice and guidance on how you can
improve your skills and prepare for assessment.
Your progress is monitored and feedback will be
provided online and face-to-face throughout the
programme.
Specialist pathway tutor
An important part of the delivery of our S2T
programme is the use of personalised pathway
tutors. You will be appointed a personal pathway
tutor, who will guide you and work with you
face-to-face, in school and online throughout
the agreed personal QPP and timeline. All
S2T pathway tutors are highly experienced
education professionals and specialise in
developing qualified and unqualified teachers.
All are qualified teachers themselves and have
previously held school leadership positions, so
they understand the sector extremely well and
can offer relevant, honest, impartial, practical
advice and support.
Online
You will also have the added benefit of guided
access to the S2T online library and learning
platform. This virtual learning environment
means that you can interact with other S2T
learners via the live forums. You can ask
questions, read about other people’s experiences
and communicate directly with your personal
pathway tutor.
The online learning platform is also where you can
upload your portfolio of evidence and where your
pathway tutor provides feedback and guidance
on your progression.
One of the major advantages of the online
elements of the programme is that you can be
given access to resources that include a wide
range of high quality subject knowledge and
pedagogy learning materials to help improve your
teaching and your pupils’ learning.
School mentor
Another essential part of the delivery of our S2T
programme is the school mentor. This person is
a suitable member of staff from your employing
school who is in a position to support and
mentor you. The school mentor is appointed by
the school to work closely with you to ensure
you are working to the approved personal QTS
preparation plan in a timely manner as agreed.
The school mentor plays an essential role in
facilitating the programme and ensuring the
school can accommodate the needs of you and
your personalised programme.
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EXPECTATIONS
Straight to Teaching is a personalised QTS preparation programme, so expectations will be based on
your individual circumstances. However, as typical learner would be expected to complete:
• Work as outlined in your personal QTS
• Learning diary entries
preparation plan on a weekly basis (the
• Online discussions on the interactive
amount of time per week will depend on
forums
individual circumstances)
• Collate and upload evidence relating to The
• Online and offline tasks (where relevant)
Standards
• Independent learning and reading where
appropriate
ASSESSMENT
Your progress on the programme will be
continually assessed, such assessment
contributes to the overall QTS assessment. You
will be monitored throughout the programme
by your pathway tutor and school mentor, both
during school visits and online. They will monitor
your responses to online tasks and reflections
in your Learning Diary, whilst supporting your
progress towards the Teachers’ Standards.
FEES
During the final visit (or INA for learners requiring
Assessment Only) you will be recommended for
independent assessment providing the pathway
tutor and school are confident that you have sufficient
evidence and your teaching is good or better.
The assessment in phase two can take up to
12 weeks to complete and the independent
assessor will visit and observe you in school as
part of this process.
Preparation Length
Assessment
Total Programme Fees
Short preparation
One term
up to one term
up to one term
£2,500
£4,500
Two term
Three term
Four term
up to one term
up to one term
up to one term
£5,500
£6,500
£7,250
Five term
up to one term
£8,000
Six term
up to one term
£8,750
Programme Length and Fees
The programme length and fees will be agreed at stage one (initial needs assessment) of the
programme. All fees include the full S2T programme and the cost of QTS assessment. A £500 nonrefundable deposit will normally be required to secure your place on the programme. This will be
deducted from the total fees once you commence the programme.
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Payment
The fees can be met in full by you, the employing school or shared between both parties. A number of
flexible payment options are available. To discuss the payment options, call us on 0800 088 6126 or
e-mail us at [email protected].
Straight to Teaching can be funded by a Professional and Career Development Loan (PCDL). A PCDL
is a commercial bank loan for learners to help pay for work-related learning. As a bank loan, it is very
different from other forms of funding such as grants as you must repay the loan even if you do not
finish your course.
Loans are available for up to 24 months and can cover programme fees, living expenses and other
associated costs depending on your circumstances. Repayments start a month after you complete or
leave your Straight to Teaching programme. The government pays the interest during the programme
and for one month after you leave. If you are interested in a PCDL you should apply via a bank using
HCUK’s learner provider number 20930. For further information on PCDLs visit www.gov.uk/careerdevelopment-loans.
THE SCHOOL’S ROLE
SCHOOL BENEFITS
Straight to Teaching is designed to offer schools a number of benefits, including the ability to:
• Increase the range of professional
• Recruit and retain quality candidates that
development opportunities they offer
show strong potential for becoming good
to outstanding teachers
• Upskill existing staff and promote from
•
•
within their current team
•
Bridge recruitment gaps and address
teacher shortages at their schools
Grow their own high-quality teachers at a
low cost, efficiently and effectively
•
Develop staff professionally while they
continue to work in their existing role
Increase the quality of teaching and the
number of fully qualified teachers at their
schools
THE SCHOOL’S RESPONSIBILITIES
For you to be successful on the S2T programme, you must have the commitment of your employing
school. The school’s responsibilities include:
•
A willingness to work in partnership with
HCUK (the school must sign a working
agreement with HCUK)
•
A willingness to allow and facilitate you to
gain teaching experience in another school
if necessary
•
Discussing, negotiating and agreeing your
personal QTS preparation plan and timeline
with your S2T pathway tutor
•
•
Providing you with the support and
resources necessary
Appointing a suitable member of school
staff to act as your school mentor (this
person should have some experience of
coaching new teachers)
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SCHOOL MENTOR’S ROLE
The school mentor plays a vital part in the programme. Successful completion of the programme
is dependent on you having an appropriate member of school staff to act as your mentor who
has experience of coaching and supporting new teachers. The mentor plays an essential role in
facilitating the programme by ensuring that the school and S2T pathway tutor are working together
and that your needs are accommodated.
SUPPORT OFFERED BY HCUK
We provide a range of support for the school and school mentor on how to facilitate the programme,
support you and monitor progress. This support and professional advice is delivered in the school
by an S2T pathway tutor and online via HCUK’s virtual learning platform, Moodle.
WORKING TOGETHER
As part of the application process, schools will be expected to sign a working agreement with HCUK
that confirms they are committed to supporting you and working with HCUK throughout the period of
your S2T programme.
For full details of a school’s responsibilities and how HCUK and the school will work together, please
request a copy of the HCUK Straight to Teaching handbook from [email protected].
TESTIMONIALS
Below are a range of testimonials from learners on the Straight to Teaching programme.
The flexibility this course provides is perfect in enabling me to gain my QTS
while I continue working at my school which is also amazingly supportive.
Natasha Vock-Betton, learner
S2T has given me the opportunity to start my teaching career. The support I
received from my tutor and her colleagues at HCUK has been first class. They
have provided me with all the tools I need to succeed and gain my QTS.
Louis Aristides, learner
I find the presentations extremely useful and the learning diary helps me to
see what I am already doing but what I can further improve on.
Lucy Cole, learner
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START DATES
Straight to Teaching programmes begin at regular intervals throughout the year and can be tailored to
individual needs. For more information, please contact us on 0800 088 6126 or email us at [email protected].
APPLICATION PROCESS
HOW TO APPLY
To register your interest or apply for a place on our Straight to Teaching programme, e-mail info@
hcukonline.com or call 0800 088 6126 and request an application form.
A member of the team will acknowledge receipt of your application within one working day of
receiving it. Your application will then be assessed and you will normally be notified of the outcome
within three to four weeks.
CONTACT
If you would like further information, call the S2T team on freefone 0800 088 6126, e-mail
[email protected] or go to www.hcukonline.com.
Hibernia College UK (HCUK)
10 Greycoat Place
London
SW1P 1SB
Telephone: +44 (0) 207 960 6536 Email: [email protected]
For more information, visit www.HCUKonline.com
Limited
places
available.
Register
your interest
today.
We have endeavoured to ensure the accuracy of the information provided in this prospectus at the time of
publication. However, this information is issued as a guideline to potential applicants and interested parties.
While we aim to implement what is outlined in the prospectus, we cannot undertake any obligation to provide
the programme and facilities as stated and we reserve the right to amend course information, cancel, suspend
or modify the course or change the entry requirements at any time.
Correct at time of issue: April 2015
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Accredit your
experience with
Straight to Teaching
Who are we?
Hibernia College UK (HCUK) is a leading provider of high-quality,
online and in-school teacher training and development programmes
and England’s largest provider of SKE courses. Our initial Teacher Training
programmes are accredited by The National College for Teaching and
Leadership.
What is straight to teaching?
Straight to Teaching is a unique professional development programme aimed at suitable school staff
who want to become fully qualified teachers. It supports and prepares learners to meet all of The
QTS Standards and other criteria for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). And, when ready,
provides the learner with the opportunity to be assessed and awarded QTS.
Straight to teaching prgrammes
Primary (ages 3-5, 5-7, 7-11)
All main secondary subjects (ages 11-16 and 14-19)
Other subjects may be available on request
Now
Enrolling
Start dates
Programmes begin at regular intervals throughout the year and
can be tailored to the school’s needs, resources and timetable.
For more information please contact us.
What Next?
If you would like further information, please call the S2T team on freefone
0800 088 6126, e-mail [email protected] or go to:
www.HCUKonline.com
Correct at time of issue: April 2015
HCUK reserves the right to amend or change the details in this prospectus at any time without prior notice.
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