We’re interested in employing a Scholar

• What are the criteria to become an Employer School with Future Teaching Scholars?

  The school needs to be state-funded and cover at least Key Stage 3 and 4 to meet Initial Teacher Training requirements for Scholars to achieve Qualified Teaching Status. The school needs to complete an application process and sign a Partnership Agreement, which includes being approved by the nearest FTS Regional Training Centre (RTC). During this process, the Ofsted rating and other information provided as part of the application process is carefully considered by the RTC to make sure that the school evidences it can provide a supportive environment for Scholars.

• How can my school apply to become an Employer School?

  Please complete the Expression of Interest form that can be found here. The Employment Coordinator, Kate Wastie, will get in touch with further information and to explain the next steps of the application process.

• How is the Scholar’s Teacher Training delivered?

  The Employer School application process will connect the school with the nearest FTS Regional Training Centre, which will be associated with a SCITT provider. The Partnership Agreement details the commitments of the Employer School, including the number of days to release the Scholars to complete their Teacher Training. Please complete the Expression of Interest form to receive more information about the Partnership Agreement.

• What type of employment contract do we need to offer Scholars?

  It is the responsibility of the Employer School head teacher to determine and agree the salary and type of contract supplied, and the decision of the Scholars as to whether or not they accept the contract. Contracts must however be issued for a minimum of 11 months (if temporary), or be permanent on the condition the Scholar achieves QTS, and adhere the requirements of a Future Teaching Scholars Employer School as per the Partnership Agreement.

• How will the DBS and other employment checks work?

  This will be the responsibility of the head teacher at the Employer School.

I’m a Scholar on the programme - undergraduate phase

• How will the EU referendum result affect my place on the programme?

  The Prime Minister outlined in a statement on Friday 24 June 2016, that there will be no immediate changes in the circumstances of European citizens living, studying or working in the UK. Further details on eligibility to study and work in the UK can be found on the Gov.uk website.

• I have already taken and passed my skills tests in literacy and numeracy. Will these still be valid when I begin my initial teacher training?

  Professional skills test passes for applicants to ITT courses remain valid for 3 years. You must start an ITT course within this period. If your ITT course starts beyond the period of validity, you will need to re-take the skills tests.

  As of February 2018, candidates will have unlimited attempts to achieve a test pass, and all candidates will be able to book up to three tests, free of charge. A charge will be applied from the fourth test attempt per subject. For more information, please visit http://sta.education.gov.uk/

  The DfE have announced proposed changes to the professional skills test for teachers from 2020 – details to be confirmed.

• What costs will I incur as part of the programme?

  Each year you will need to attend national and regional events, so you should think about train fares and the cost of any overnight stays. You should also think about how you will get to schools for the development activities and events, and also the cost of any learning materials you think you might need.

• How will the Future Teaching Scholars grant affect student finance?

  The Future Teaching Scholars grant is taxable income, but this will be dependent upon each Scholar’s personal circumstances. Each Scholar is responsible for his/her own tax affairs, and if the Scholar is required to pay tax on receipt of the grant, the Department for Education shall not be obliged to increase the value of the grant to compensate the Scholar for the tax paid. Furthermore, if the Scholar’s obligations are not met, the full amount may be requested to be repaid. However the Department for Education acknowledges and understands that there may be reasons which prevent the Scholar from fulfilling the obligations set out in the Funding Deed which are outside of the Scholar’s control, in which case the amount requested to repay may be reduced.

  The amount of financial support available to you through student finance is based on household income, which takes into account both your parent’s/carers income in addition to your own. Scholars should declare the grant to Student Finance when applying for financial support. It is possible that your student loan may be affected by the grant, and we recommend contacting Student Finance for any financial advice.

  You may want to use the student finance calculator to estimate the financial support which could be available to you. Remember to include an additional £5,000 per year to the annual household income for your Future Teaching Scholars grant.

  For further information please visit the Student Finance section of the GOV.UK website, or call Student Finance England on 0300 100 0607.

• If I do not complete the programme what happens to the grant?

  You will receive a £15,000 grant paid in three instalments of £5,000 at the beginning of each year of undergraduate study. If you do not complete the full programme (6 years) the Department for Education will ask you to repay the grant – recovery will be on a sliding scale – so the full grant will be recovered if you leave before successfully completing initial teacher training (ITT); two-thirds will be recovered if you have successfully completed ITT and then withdraw; and one-third if you successfully complete 12 months’ subsequent employment but do not stay employed as a teacher for a further 12 months.

• What are my responsibilities as a Future Teaching Scholar?

  Places on the programme were limited, and therefore we accepted only the very best students who were both passionate about their subject and the benefits of effective teaching and learning, not only for individuals but also in terms of wider economic and social benefits. We expect high levels of commitment – Scholars will need to attend all events and activities that are part of the Future Teaching Scholars programme – they are designed to give you a head start in your career as a teacher. All Future Teaching Scholars will be expected to be ambassadors for both their subject and for teaching as a career. Future Teaching Scholars will be expected to adhere to a code of conduct based on the Teachers’ Standards and embody the values of the programme.

• What can I spend my grant on?

  You can spend your grant on whatever you wish. However, you should think about the potential costs of being a Future Teaching Scholar.

• What happens if I move universities or want to move to a different part of the country during the programme?

  Most participants are likely to remain geographically stable during their undergraduate degree and will be based at the same Regional Training Centre (RTC) for the first three years of the programme. If you move universities for whatever reason, you will be assigned to the nearest RTC. It is more likely that you may need to transfer between RTCs as you secure your ITT place with a partner school (in year 4 of the programme), and then again when you gain employment as a newly-qualified teacher and beyond (years 5 and 6). The central programme team will manage the placement process, and make sure you are always assigned to an RTC throughout the years, so you know who will support you year on year.

• What impact will the Future Teaching Scholars programme have on my degree?

  The Future Teaching Scholars programme is demanding, and you will need to be organised and committed to succeed. At times you will need to manage attendance and preparation for teaching-related activities and events alongside your degree. National events will mainly take place outside of term time and the activities at Regional or Local Centres are unlikely to be in blocks of more than three days at a time. You will need to maintain your interest in teaching-related current affairs, school-based activities and be an active ambassador for teaching and your subject. That said, these are all activities that will supplement your degree, and are designed to ensure you become one of the very best teachers with a strong career.

• What kind of schools will I teach in?

  The schools you will teach and gain experience in will vary throughout the programme. The Regional Training Centre (RTC) you will be attached to is part of an outstanding Teaching School Alliance (TSA). TSAs work with a wide range of schools including those that may be considered challenging or require improvement. You will also get to work with, or in, good and outstanding schools. It is hoped that at the end of the programme, Scholars will use their expertise in schools that are most in need of support.

• What support do I get as a Future Teaching Scholar?

  As well as the very best personal and professional development from a network of outstanding Teaching Schools and the £15k grant you will get:

  • online support through a web-based portal including information zone, regional zone, CPD zone, learning zone and discussion zone
  • support to find teaching jobs
    • partner schools will be asked to broker job opportunities at the initial teacher training stage and beyond
    • job alerts from the central programme team – letting you know about opportunities across England – particularly in areas where there are mathematics and physics teacher shortages
  • membership of a national network of Future Teaching Scholars.
• What types of things will I do on the programme when I am an undergraduate? Who organises these activities and events?

  You will be ‘attached’ to a Regional Training Centre (RTC) close to the university where you are studying for your degree. Your RTC will build a programme of events, activities and support for you and your fellow Future Teaching Scholars to take part in. Some of these will be based in schools local to where you are studying for your degree – these are known as Local Training Centres. You will be assigned a school-based mentor, in a Local Training Centre, for the three years you are studying for your degree.

  During these years you will:

  • get the chance to meet with other Future Teaching Scholars in your region at three regional events per year
  • have an induction review with the Regional Training Centre Co-ordinator (who is responsible for looking after you and your school experiences during the following three years)
  • begin learning about school life and having an impact on pupils in need of a maths or physics specialist
  • build a strong relationship with your Local Training Centre through two immersion opportunities that year in the autumn and spring terms.
  • Further develop your knowledge of school life in the second year of your degree through eight in-school experiences linked to the Teachers’ Standards
  • develop an Action Research project in the autumn term of your third year
  • take part in an Immersion Period after your final exams. This will help you prepare for your ITT year, and will include a wide range of activities and experiences such as: shadowing teachers, experience as a teaching assistant, training sessions and group discussions with experienced teachers.
  • regularly take part in reviews and personal development planning (this might be through the online system or Skype as well as face to face).

I'm a Scholar on the programme - ITT and NQT phase

• How much teaching can I expect to start with in my ITT year?

  You will be starting on a reduced teaching timetable, which means that you will have more time to plan your workload, mark and give feedback, and observe other teachers. Your teaching timetable will increase over the year, and by the end of your ITT year you can expect to be on an 80% teaching timetable.

• I’m looking to move to a different area to my current Regional Training Centre – how does this work?

  Future Teaching Scholars is supported by 13 Regional Training Centres across England. If you are working in a school closer to one of these RTCs, we will connect you with the RTC Coordinator and you will complete your Initial Teacher Training here instead. If you are considering moving area, please let the Employment Coordinator, Kate Wastie, know as soon as possible so that she can put you in touch with your new RTC Coordinator and answer any further questions you might have.

• I’ve heard about the Employer School application process – how does this work?

  All schools interested in employing a Scholar must complete an application to do so. This process allows us to check that the school you are teaching in for your ITT year can provide a supportive and positive environment for you to train in. We work closely with the RTCs and your Employer School to make sure that everything goes smoothly during your ITT year. Schools that are interested in employing a Scholar share information including their most recent Ofsted inspection report, that is then sent to the nearest RTC that will consider and either approve or reject their application to become an Employer School.

  There is nothing for you to complete here, the Employment Coordinator manages this process, however the school must become an approved Employer School before you can officially accept a job offer with them. Keep the Employment Coordinator, Kate Wastie, as up to date as possible with your applications to make this a smooth process.

• I’ve applied to a school – what happens next?

  Make sure that you let the Employment Coordinator, Kate Wastie, know the details of the school that you have applied to. The Employment Coordinator will need to know the name of the school, the date you applied, and the name, role and email address of the contact at the school.

  If the school that you have applied to is not already an Employer School, the Employment Coordinator will get in touch with them with more information about the programme and details of the Employer School application process. You will be unable to accept and sign your contract until the application process is complete and the school is confirmed as an approved Employer School.

  If the school that you have applied to is already an Employer School, you will be able to accept and sign your contract immediately.

• I’ve secured a teaching job for my ITT year – when do I start?

  First of all, congratulations, that’s great news!

  You will have an Immersion Period at your Employer School before the summer break – this will be at least two weeks for you to find your feet, meet your colleagues and get to know the school and how the school day runs. This will be organised ahead of time so that you can get dates in your diary.

  You will then start work at your Employer School at the start of the academic year in September – this is usually a day or two ahead of the pupils so that you have time to prepare. Your Initial Teacher Training course led by your RTC will start shortly after this.

• What extra support will I get as a Future Teaching Scholar during my salaried teacher training?

  During this phase of the programme you will be supported by your SCITT (school-centred initial teacher training) provider, where you will receive tailored support during your intensive year-long salaried teacher training. In addition, the Future Teaching Scholars programme will continue to provide:

  • links to the Regional Training Centre staff
  • support from the Future Teaching Scholars network
  • online portal support to find your first teaching position.

Programme Structure

• How does the Future Teaching Scholars programme relate to the PGCE route?

  The PGCE and Future Teaching Scholars programme are different routes into teaching, and cannot be taken together. The PGCE is a stand-alone one-year teacher training course, whereas the Future Teaching Scholars programme is a six year programme offering a new route into teaching, supporting students throughout their time at university, during their teacher training, and through the first two years of their first teaching role.

  There are many routes into teaching, but the Future Teaching Scholars programme is unrivalled in its level of training, learning, support and financial benefits. As a Future Teaching Scholar you receive a £15k grant, as well as a salary during your initial teacher training year, with a total of 6 years of support and training, access to exclusive events, and help finding your first teaching job.

• How do I apply for the Future Teaching Scholars programme?

  We are not currently recruiting for this scholarship programme. If you would like to know when applications re-open, please email your contact details to info@futureteachingscholars.com and we will let you know.

• How much can I earn as a teacher? What are my career prospects?

  Teachers start on a salary of between £22k and £27k. Good teachers are in demand, and there are excellent employment prospects. Benefits of becoming a teacher include strong job security, a variety of career progression routes and immense job satisfaction – knowing that what you do makes a difference.

  Currently, there are not enough maths and physics specialists in education – the Future Teaching Scholars programme is breaking the mould and will develop people to fill important roles in this area of education. The activities, events and development opportunities in the Future Teaching Scholars programme are designed to give you a great start in your career as an outstanding and inspiring teacher of maths or physics. In 10 years’ time you could be:

  • a physics specialist designing curricula across a chain of 50+ academies
  • a school-based teacher-researcher working with a thinktank or research foundation trialling interventions and teaching methods to boost pupils’ mathematical understanding
  • a school adviser raising the quality of maths or physics teaching across the sector
  • a master teacher, whose model lessons are filmed and shown across the country as part of teacher training

  Whichever career route you choose, we hope that you will be instrumental in the delivery and design of the maths or physics education of young people – giving them an opportunity to succeed.

• What is a Regional Training Centre?

  An outstanding Teaching School that co-ordinates all activities, events and support for the Future Teaching Scholars in a given area.

• What is an Assessment Centre?

  An Assessment Centre is a bit like an extended interview during which applicants took part in a number of activities that gave them a chance to show off their skills, interests and potential. During the Assessment Centre applicants took part in:

  • a competency-based interview – a one-to-one interview that lasted around 25 minutes
  • a group problem-solving exercise – working in small groups applicants were presented with a task related to science, maths or teaching to complete
  • a classroom roleplay activity – applicants delivered an 8-minute teaching activity on a maths or physics concept. A list of topics from which to choose was sent to applicants when they were invited to attend the Assessment Centre
  • a reflection activity – following the classroom roleplay activity applicants were given some time to reflect on how it went.

  Find out more about the Assessement Centre by watching our short film.

• What undergraduate degrees can Scholars study?

  Please see below a list of eligible degrees and other eligibility criteria for undergraduate degrees:

  • Dual honours degrees are eligible only if the course contains at least 50% mathematics or physics content.
  • Education degrees, such as Mathematics with Education, are ineligible because the Future Teaching Scholars programme is in itself a new route into teaching. The elements offered in education degrees overlap with learning content and teaching experiences provided throughout the Future Teaching Scholars programme. Please note, QTS is included in the structure of the programme.

  • Finance degrees cannot be supported, unless they are taken as a dual honours with Mathematics, and must contain at least 50% maths modules.

  Please note, the list of eligible degree courses below is not exhaustive.

  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Operational Research
  • Statistics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Others in Mathematical and Computing Sciences
  • Materials Science
  • Astronomy
  • General Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Naval Architecture
  • Electronic and Electrical Engineering
  • Production and Manufacturing Engineering
  • Others in Engineering