I don’t know whether to apply for a PGCE or the graduate teacher programme. The former receives a pound;6,000 training grant, and the latter earns a salary paid by the placement school, so presumably I’d be better off on the GTP.

The PGCE is now financially competitive with the GTP, at least if you train in England and Wales, and especially if you choose a shortage subject.

Everyone on a PGCE course gets a training grant of pound;6,000 but is classed as a student and so is eligible for student loans and exemption from council tax. With a PGCE in a shortage subject you would also be eligible for the pound;4,000 golden hello when you’ve finished your first year and to have your student loans paid off.

If you’re accepted on to the GTP you will get a training salary of about pound;13,000 and a grant of up to pound;4,000 to pay for your training. But you will be classed as a teacher rather than a student and taxed accordingly. You won’t be eligible for loans, exemption from council tax or golden hellos.

The GTP is not recognised in Scotland, so you would be unable to teach there. You also have to be working in a school before you apply - a strange chicken-and-egg conundrum. The application process is time-consuming, and places are very competitive. But most of all you will be working as a teacher, with all the responsibilities that entails. The GTP suits people who already have experience in school. Its great advantage over a PGCE is that a training programme is drawn up to meet individual needs and in recognition of how far the qualified teacher status standards are already met. It may take three terms, or two or one, and starts at the beginning of any term, whereas PGCEs usually run from September to July.

Whichever you go for, good luck.

I gained my BA (Hons) qualified teacher status this summer. We’ve had hardly any help on how to write a letter of application. What are they looking for?

The TES booklet Get Your First Job has everything you need. You don’t need a portfolio or anything to take to an interview.

Think about examples from your teaching that would be useful to talk about in relation to topics you’re likely to be questioned on: equal opportunities, differentiation, control, parents, working with other staff, subject knowledge, and so on.

I’m sure you’ll be fine - but get the book.

Get Your First Job is available from TES Books, tel: 01454 617370, or www.tes.co.ukbookshop, price pound;2.99. Email your questions to: susan.young@newsint.co.uk