School Direct is a route into teaching which involves schools working in partnership with accredited teacher training institutions, such as the University of Greenwich, to devise a training programme. The programme is a combination of school based training and university-based courses. This route allows candidates to apply to a lead school with an expectation of employment in either the school in which they trained or within the School Direct provision on successful completion.
School Direct offers two types of training places; the School Direct Training programme and the School Direct Training programme (Salaried). The School Direct Training programme places are open to all graduates and funded by tuition fees paid by the trainee. Home and EU students may be eligible for a tuition fee loan to cover the cost of tuition fees charged available through Student Finance England. In addition, a bursary may be available from the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL).
The School Direct Training Programme (salaried) is open to graduates with three or more years' career experience. Trainees will be employed as an unqualified teacher with a salary subsidised by the National College for Teaching and Leadership. This programme replaces the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP).
School Direct places are offered by a school or group of schools in partnership with an accredited teacher training institution.
The University of Greenwich is currently working in partnership with the following schools for primary School Direct training places: Bensham Manor School; Heronsgate Primary School; Saint Mary Magdalene Church of England Primary School.
All School Direct places will lead to recommendation for qualified teacher status (QTS) and in the case of the School Direct Training programme a PGCE.
For more details visit www.education.gov.uk/teachschooldirect.
The aims of the programme are:
- To train you to teach in two consecutive phases, i.e. FS/KS1 or KS1/KS2 or KS2. NB: KS2 is comprised of two consecutive age phases (Years 3-4 and Years 5-6)
- To develop the practical knowledge and theoretical understanding you will need to work with primary school children
- To give you an understanding of the National Curriculum and the learning needs of children
- To develop the professional values and practice that you will require to meet the broad demands of teaching.
