Q I’m likely to be made redundant soon. How do I apply for a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE)?
A Assuming you have access to the Internet, the Teacher Training Agency’s website provides general information, www.canteach.gov.uk. And the Central Registry site, www.gttr.ac.uk, has a list of courses with places available and details about application procedures.
Q I want to gain qualified teacher status but am unsure of what routes are available to me. I am a qualified post-16 teacher with a degree. I work in a special school on supply, but would like to teach in a primary school. I would find it difficult to stop working full-time to follow a PGCE course or to take a cut in wages. Are there any options?
A You say you are working in a special school, but don’t state in what capacity. You didn’t specify the type of special school, or the age of pupils you are working with, making it more difficult to provide a specific answer. However, the most obvious solution is the graduate training programme that allows you to train in the classroom. There are more than 500 primary school teachers training through this route. The only snag is that you will need to find a school that is prepared to offer you a training place.
Q I will be taking up a full-time maths post in January after teaching overseas. Can I claim the government bonus?
A At present unless you have been on a returners course this term, you would need to have been in a teaching post in a qualifying school by December 31 to be able to claim the bonus. Those who have been on the returners’ courses must start teaching by February 28, 2002.
Q Are all supply agencies the same, or are some better than others in what they can offer teachers?
A The Government has recently announced a new quality assurance scheme for supply agencies. Such firms now provide up to 19,000 teachers a day for schools in England and Wales. The Government kite mark will cover matters such as police checks and interviewing. For you, a good agency will be one that looks after your interests, gets you the best salary possible and doesn’t neglect your need for further training.
Send in your questions to our Qamp;A experts. E-mail susan.young@newsint.co.uk
