I'm a Scholar on the programme - ITT and ECT 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, Max Jones, 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, Max Jones, 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, Max Jones, 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