Gloucestershire SCITT Consortium

Why teach?

Teaching is an exciting, challenging profession where every day is different. It also offers high quality graduates the chance of a career which uses their subject knowledge. Even more than this, teachers make a difference and can change lives - they influence young people far beyond their years at school.

What is GITEP?

GITEP is the Gloucestershire Initial Teacher Education Partnership which is a partnership between the Gloucestershire Association of Secondary Headteachers and the University of Gloucestershire.

GITEP's aim is to recruit and train high calibre secondary school teachers who have the ability to inspire and influence the lives of young people of all abilities. We work with 50 partnership schools resulting in a large proportion of our trainees gaining employment within Gloucestershire's schools. We offer more places in a wider range of subjects that any other school-led provider in the country.

How is the course structured?

Trainees choose from three different routes:

• PCGE
• School Direct QTS and PGCE
• School Direct (Salaried)

The School Direct PGCE is accredited by the University of Gloucestershire but whichever route is taken, most time is spent in schools learning from teachers who are expert practitioners.

Our Course Leaders are highly skilled, experienced and deeply committed professionals. Their aim is to provide an outstanding course that meets the needs of both schools and trainees.

'A key strength of the programme is very high quality training.'

'Exceptionally high levels of commitment exist across the Partnership.'

Ofsted, June 2010

What is School Direct?

GITEP works with lead schools recruiting to the School Direct routes into teaching. Our schools select the trainees they want, with the expectation that the trainee will go onto work within the group of schools in which they were trained, although there is no absolute guarantee of employment.

• School Direct is open to all graduates and funded by tuition fees.
• School Direct (Salaried) is open to high quality graduates with at least three years' of career experience. The trainee is employed as an unqualified teacher by the school.

How much does it cost?

2013-14 Tuition fees start at £6000 for QTS and £8250 for PGCE.

There are no tuition fees for School Direct (Salaried) trainees as this is an employment based route,

However, don't let tuition fees put you off! In order to encourage high quality recruits into teaching, the government has introduced substantial tax-free bursaries of up to £20,000 for trainee teachers. The amount available depends on your chosen subject and degree classification.

If you are undertaking a PGCE or School Direct Tuition Fee route the you may also be eligible for other bursaries, maintenance grants and loans.

What do I do now?

If you're interested and want to find out more:

• Go to the GITEP website www.gitep.co.uk
• View our video www.youtube.com/user/teachgitep
• Email teach@gitep.org.uk or phone 0845 0779005