Teacher training : Where to train

All Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) courses include placements in schools to develop your teaching skills to professional standards set by the government.

A minimum of 18 weeks of classroom-based training is required for primary initial teacher training (ITT) courses and 24 weeks for secondary - usually in two schools. Because of the need to meet these requirements, ITT courses tend to be similar to each other, and it may be difficult to choose where to apply. Research the institutions via their websites and open days. Discuss your ideas with your careers adviser or with other people you trust.

When choosing your course, you should consider:

• Type of institution: Be realistic about your choices. If you only choose prestigious institutions or those where there are very few places, you may be unsuccessful. When it comes to getting a job afterwards, the institution you attended is less important than how you performed on teaching practice and on the course. Schools now play a much larger part in teacher training, with students spending more time in schools during their courses.
• Quality of the course: You can get a flavour of the course, including the qualifications that admissions tutors are looking for and the quality of the course, by checking the ITT Performance Profiles at Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) .
• Geographical location: If you want to get a job as a teacher in a particular city, it makes sense to train there. Think of the school placements as both window shopping for possible future employment and an extended interview. However, if your geographical mobility is limited, mention this in your application as some institutions may take it into account when considering your application.