Latest news: Help for prospective teachers

Premier Plus is a new service from the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA). It is aimed at prospective trainee teachers in maths, physics, chemistry or modern foreign languages (MFL). 14/12/2011

To be eligible for the service, individuals must have a secured or been predicted a 2:2 degree classification or higher, and intend to start their training course in the academic year 2012/13.

Specialists in maths, physics, chemistry and modern languages are traditionally in short supply. The service is designed to encourage more top graduates to apply for teacher training in these subjects by providing them with:

• personalised one-to-one advice and guidance from experienced advisers;
• access to the new School Experience Programme (SEP), which will give people first-hand experience in a modern secondary school;
• invitations to exclusive TDA events;
• the latest news and advice on teacher training;
• access to courses which allow prospective trainees to top up their subject knowledge before they begin their teacher training;
• a full fee reimbursement for their application through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) .

‘We want to attract the highest quality graduates to train to teach. The new Premier Plus service will ensure that we can provide specialist teachers in maths, physics, chemistry and foreign languages,’ said Stephen Hillier, chief executive of the TDA.

Top graduates who want to train to teach these subjects are eligible for a bursary of up to £20,000. Those that meet the full criteria will automatically qualify for the full range of exclusive benefits.

Anyone interested in the service should register online with the TDA or call the Teaching Information Line on freephone 0800 389 2500 (or 0800 085 0971 for Welsh speakers).