School Direct Teacher Training

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Upcoming Events in 2023:

Get into Teaching with the Institute of Education Partnership

Tuesday 7 February 2023, 17:30 – 19:00

London Road Campus, University of Reading

Drop in to speak to representatives from the University’s Institute of Education and our School Direct Partners.  Find out about the different postgraduate routes into teaching for Primary and Secondary teaching and how to apply. 

School Direct Teacher Training

Upton Court Grammar School is the lead school for the TeachSLOUGH School Direct teacher training programme. We work alongside Reading University to offer School Direct teacher training in the Slough area. Whether you have just finished a degree or have been working in a career for many years, you can combine your training whilst working in the classroom. To find out more about TeachSLOUGH, please visit www.teachslough.org.uk.

Teacher Training at Upton Court Grammar School

Upton Court Grammar School is more actively involved in teacher training than ever before. 14 separate departments have supported GTPs (now School Direct Salaried and Unsalaried) in recent years. We have also supported PGCE students from Brunel University, Oxford Brookes, the Open University and Reading University in Maths, English, Geography, PE, Music, Drama and many more.

Since 2002, Upton Court Grammar School has been the lead school in the Slough Partnership GTP training programme, training, on average, 6 Secondary GTPs in various subjects and 8 Primary trainees alongside Reading University and our partnership schools. In 2013, Upton Court Grammar School became the lead school for School Direct and the Slough Partnership. Each year, we train approximately 30 trainees in varying subjects in one of our 34 partnership schools and, we are proud to say that, this year, most colleagues who trained with TeachSLOUGH were also employed by a school in the Slough Partnership.

All departments have trained mentors and the school also has an experienced trained assessor of trainees.

What type of training will Upton Court Grammar School offer?

It can be difficult to interpret all the different types of teacher training currently available. At Upton Court Grammar School, we offer the School Direct route. These positions are either salaried or unsalaried, depending on the subject specialism.

School Direct 

In 2022 – 2023, we are offering School Direct in the following subjects:

Unsalaried: Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Design and Technology, Drama, English, Geography, History, Mathematics, Physical Education, Physics, Primary, Primary with Mathematics and MFL (French / German / Spanish) where trainees are expected to pay tuition fees as per most University courses.

The award would be QTS only (from the DfE) although trainees are able to opt for a PGCE during the recruitment process. This should be made clear at interview.

There are Subject Knowledge Enhancement Courses available for candidates that are interested in boosting their subject knowledge. For more information, please follow this link: http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/subjects-age-groups/age-groups/teaching-secondary/boost-subject-knowledge?keywords=SKE.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer any School Experience Days this year. However, to see which other local schools are able to accommodate you for in-school observations, please follow this link: www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/school-experience/sep.aspx

If you wish to discuss a salaried or unsalaried place with Upton Court Grammar School, please telephone Mrs Barbara Tappin on 01753 522892, or email schooldirect@uptoncourtgrammar.org.uk 

For further information about Primary and Secondary Schools Direct and to view tips on how to apply for teacher training including funding information, please view the links below:​

Primary School Direct – University of Reading   http://www.reading.ac.uk/education/pgce-qts/ioe-primary-school-direct.aspx

Secondary School Direct – University of Reading   https://www.reading.ac.uk/education/pgce-qts/ioe-secondary-school-direct.aspx

Tips on applying for teacher training | Get Into Teaching (education.gov.uk)

Fees UK students: £9,250 International students: £17,100 **Please note that post BREXIT, EU students will pay the International fee (with the exception of the Republic of Ireland or any other country the UK government may subsequently allow Home fee status

Candidates can now only apply to postgraduate ITT courses for academic year 2022/23 through the DfE’s Apply for teacher training here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-teacher-training

Why Train with Upton Court Grammar School?

Whilst we have a proven history of teacher training, there are a number of other reasons why you may wish to train as a teacher with Upton Court Grammar School:

• Outstanding OFSTED 2008
• Please visit our Ofsted Report January 2008 for information
• We have a new purpose built 6th form facility
• We are situated in very pleasant surroundings with excellent working conditions

Further Information on School Direct ITT

To find out more about becoming a teacher with School Direct, please visit:

 Get into teaching – Teaching Agency  

https://www.google.com/search?q=Get+into+teaching+-+Teaching+Agency&rlz=1C1GCEB_enGB944GB944&oq=Get+into+teaching+-+Teaching+Agency&aqs=chrome..69i57.862j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 Reading University  http://www.reading.ac.uk/

TeachSLOUGH    https://www.teachslough.org.uk/

School Direct Information Meetings

The University of Reading hosts regular Information Meetings to explain School Direct and other routes into initial teacher training. Although not an application requirement, we do recommend that all those wishing to apply for initial teacher training attend one of these open meetings where there is an opportunity to find out:

• General information about training to become a teacher
• Information about the School Direct scheme
• Structure of courses
• Entry requirements, deadlines and how to apply

Throughout the presentation, there are opportunities to ask any questions you may have.

We are pleased to announce that some of Reading University events are now able to take place on campus and with an audience. You are advised to check the location of each event as they will state if they are in person or online.

For more information and updates on the University’s approach to the Coronavirus pandemic, please visit https://www.reading.ac.uk/coronavirus/

Term Dates 2020-21

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Autumn Term 2020

Term 1

Term starts on Thursday 3rd September 2020 (First day for students)
Term ends on Friday 16th October 2020
Half Term Monday 19th October 2020 – Friday 30th October 2020
Inset Days Tuesday 2nd September 2020 (School closed for students)
                   Wednesday 3rd September 2020 (School closed for students)

Term 2

Term starts on Monday 2nd November 2020
Term ends on Friday 18th December 2020
Christmas Holiday Monday 21st December 2020 – Friday 1st January 2021

Spring Term 2021

Term 3

Term starts on Monday 4th January 2021
Term ends on Friday 12th February 2021
Half Term Monday 15th February 2021 – Friday 19th February 2021

Term 4

Term starts on Tuesday 23rd February 2021 (First day for students)
Term ends on Thursday 1st April 2021
Easter Holiday Friday 2nd April 2021 – Friday 16th April 2021 
                          (Good Friday – 2nd April 2021, Easter Monday – 5th April 2021)
Inset Day Monday 22nd February 2021 – Trust Development Day (School closed for students)

Summer Term 2021

Term 5

Term starts on Monday 19th April 2021
Term ends on Friday 28th May 2021
Half Term Monday 31st May 2021 – Friday 4th June 2021

Term 6

Term starts on Monday 7th June 2021
Term ends on Friday 23rd July 2021 (Last day for students)