Golden hellos are an incentive payment designed to encourage new teachers into certain subjects, including English and drama. As an NQT you are eligible for a new-style golden hello if you had trained on a PGCE or other postgraduate course as a teacher of English since 200001, and received a pound;6,000 training bursary from the Government. You must have successfully completed the statutory induction period (three school terms or equivalent) in teaching; and within 12 months of completing induction be employed in a relevant post in a maintained school, a maintained or non-maintained special school, or an Academy in England on a permanent basis or a fixed-term contract of one term or more. The claim for payment must be made within this period unless exceptional circumstances apply. If you gained your qualified teacher status through the employment-based routes (graduate teacher programme, registered teacher programme and the overseas-trained teacher programme) you are not eligible. Payments will be made through your salary and are subject to tax and national insurance contributions, but is neither pensionable nor consolidated. You should be able to apply next September, if you meet the requirements. For more details visit: www.dfes.gov.ukgo4itnowgoldenhellos.shtml.

If you have a question for John Howson, please email susan.young@tes.co.uk