Postgraduate Certificate of Education (Further Education) Teacher Training Incentive Grant in Wales 2004/05 Guidance Notes

Transcription

1 Postgraduate Certificate of Education (Further Education) Teacher Training Incentive Grant in Wales 2004/05 Guidance Notes National Assembly for Wales Circular No: 39/04 of Issue: 13 August 2004 Guidance Circular Higher Education Adran Hyfforddiant ac Addysg Department for Training and Education

2 Title of Document: Audience: Copied to: Overview: Action required: Further Information: Post Graduate Certificate of Education (Further Education) [PGCE(FE)] Teacher Training Incentive Grant in Wales 2004/05 Guidance Notes. Cardiff University and University of Wales, Newport (UWN). Careers Wales Companies; Chief Executives of County and County Borough Councils in Wales; Directors of Education of County and County Borough Councils in Wales; Further Education Institutions in Wales; General Teaching Council for Wales; Estyn; Higher Education Funding Council for Wales; Higher Education Institutions (including Teacher Training); Dysg; Education and Learning Wales; Teacher Associations and Trade Unions; other interested parties. Guidance for use by PGCE (FE) initial teacher training providers offering the one year full time course [i.e. Cardiff University and University of Wales, Newport (UWN)] in administering, assessing eligibility and the methodology for calculating payments made under the scheme in 2004/05. Cardiff University and UWN financial administrators. Any questions on policy matters (e.g. eligibility, pilot evaluation etc) should be addressed to: Justin Davies Lifelong Learning Division Telephone: Fax: Any questions on payment procedures should be addressed to: Higher Education Division Telephone: Fax: Further copies may be obtained from: Justin Davies, Lifelong Learning Division. Telephone: Fax: or from the Assembly s website Welsh Assembly Government, Department for Training and Education, Higher Education Division, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ Related documents: The Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1997 (as amended) Post Graduate Certificate of Education (Further Education) [PGCE (FE)] Teacher Training Incentive Grant in Wales 2001/02, 2002/03 Guidance Notes and 2003/04 Guidance Notes. ISBN Designed by Graphics Unit G154/04-05 August INA Crown copyright 2004 Typesetting by Text Processing Services

3 PGCE (FE) TEACHER TRAINING INCENTIVE GRANT IN WALES 2004/05 GUIDANCE NOTE Contents Page Summary 2 Section 1: Eligibility for training grants 3 Section 2: Payment of grant 3 Section 3: When payments should be made 4 Section 4: How the training grants will be made 4 Section 5: How the funding for the training grants will be passed to initial teacher training providers 5 Section 6: Funding to cover the provider s administration costs 5 Section 7: Recovery of grants paid 5 Annexes 1. Technical Questions 6 2. Payment of Grants 7 3. Timetable for Payment of Grant 9 4. Training Grants Notification Form Yearly Notification Form Monthly Information for Trainees 17 1

4 PGCE (FE) TEACHER TRAINING INCENTIVE GRANT IN WALES 2004/05 GUIDANCE NOTES Summary These guidance notes provide information on the PGCE (FE) teacher training incentive in Wales and outline the funding available, grant eligibility and how payments will be made. They apply to trainees on full time courses of PGCE (FE) initial teacher training leading to a qualification to teach further education starting between September 2004 and August The course does not lead to Qualified Teaching Status (QTS). A training grant of 6,000 may be paid during the PGCE (FE) course. The guidance notes incorporate information for PGCE (FE) initial teacher training providers on the detailed arrangements for making grant payments and the forms which they will need to complete. Full details are set out in the scheme guidance. These guidance notes should be read as a whole for confirmation of grant availability. 2

5 Training Grant 1. Eligibility for PGCE (FE) training grant 1.1 The training grant is available to those starting pre-service full-time postgraduate initial teacher training at further education level with an accredited institution (university or associated college) in Wales, up to the intake targets for those courses, operating between September 2004 and August Students must satisfy residency requirements as per The Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1997 (as amended). If you are unsure of your status please contact your local education authority or the institution at which you wish to train for clarification. 1.3 Those following a PGCE (FE) full-time course are eligible for a grant of up to 6,000 during the PGCE (FE) course. 1.4 Not everyone will be eligible to receive the training grant. The following are not entitled to receive the training grant: - Anyone from outside the European Union and the European Economic Area. Students who have completed a course of initial teacher training at further education level before 1 September Students taking non-postgraduate Certificates in Education (FE). PGCE(FE) students who study part-time. Anyone who dropped out of full-time postgraduate initial teacher training at further education level between 31 March and 31 August 2004 unless they abandoned the course because they were: - pregnant - sick (confirmation by a doctor would be required) - caring full-time for a dependent. If a student drops out of a PGCE (FE) course anytime between September 2004 and August 2005 the grant must stop. 2. Payment of grant 2.1 For one-year full-time courses in PGCE (FE) a training grant of 6,000 is to be paid in nine monthly instalments from October to June, paid in the last week of each month. The payments from October to May inclusive will be 650; the final payment in June will be Note: for the purposes of grant payments, the last week of each month is the last week in the month that includes a working day (Monday-Friday). 2.3 People who dropped out before 31 March 2004 having completed successfully a term s full-time training and then resume full-time training with the same institution on a course that starts after 31 August 2004, will be eligible for the training grant on a pro-rata basis. 3

6 2.4 Anyone who drops out of a course started after 1 September 2004 and then resumes, or restarts on a new course, will have their training grant reduced by the amount of any existing training grant they have already received. 2.5 Individuals who become eligible for payments by joining a course which is already underway, are only entitled to the monthly payments which fall due whilst they are on the training which they complete in the 2004/2005 academic year. For example, if someone rejoins a course in December they would only be entitled to the December to June payments. 3. When the payments should be made 3.1. The payments should be made in the last week of each month they are due. It is for providers to decide the exact dates of payment, bearing in mind the definition of the last week of each month at paragraph Payments should only be made to those students who are on the course on the day of payment. If any student has dropped out prior to that date, payment should not be made. If the Welsh Assembly Government has already passed funding to the initial teacher-training provider for the grant to any student who subsequently drops out of the course before the payment is made, the Welsh Assembly Government will adjust subsequent payments. 4. How the training grants will be paid 4.1 Trainees will receive the grant from their initial teacher training providers, who will receive funding from the Welsh Assembly Government for the number of trainees on their course. It will be for initial teacher training providers to determine an individual trainee s eligibility for the training grant using the guidance given here. 4.2 Trainees will be required to sign and complete a form to confirm that they have received their payments. A representative of the initial teacher-training provider should also sign this form. Providers should supply replacement copies to trainees at no cost if they are misplaced. 4.3 It is not essential that students sign the form each time that they receive a payment. We know that some providers wish to pay students directly into their bank accounts, and that distances may cause difficulties for some students. 4.4 We are content for providers to determine the most suitable arrangements for making the payments providing two conditions can be met. These are that: - there is an audit trail which ensures it can be demonstrated that particular trainees actually received the payments from the provider; and by the end of the course the form has been signed by both trainee and provider to record that each payment has been made. 4.5 At the end of their course a form needs to be signed by the trainee and training provider to confirm that they have had all the payments to which they are entitled. 4

7 4.6 The provider must keep a copy for their records so that the trainee may be provided with a replacement if their copy is lost. The provider must also send a copy of each of these forms to the Assembly by 1 August How funding for the training grants will be passed to initial teacher training providers 5.1 At the start of the academic year, every initial teacher training provider will need to provide the Welsh Assembly Government with lists of the names and numbers of the students on their PGCE (FE) course on the form provided. These lists should be sent with an official letter requesting payment of the appropriate amount to cover the grants. 5.2 The official request for payment must be on the provider s headed paper. It must state clearly the total amount due to be paid to the provider for that month. 5.3 The Assembly will then make monthly payments to initial teacher-training providers directly into the providers bank accounts to enable them to make payments to the students. This will meet the cost of the grants due to students as well as a payment to the provider towards administration costs. 5.4 During the year the Assembly will liaise with the initial teacher training providers about students who leave the course prematurely to ensure any relevant adjustments are made to payments. 5.5 A copy of the detailed guidance including claim and payment timetables, is included at Annex Funding to cover the providers administration costs 6.1 Providers will be entitled to a payment from the Welsh Assembly Government equalling 2% of the total amount of grant payable. This will be paid along with the training grants at the end of each month they are due. This sum should be included within the total payment requested each month. 7. Recovery of grants paid 7.1 The Welsh Assembly Government has powers under The Teacher Training Incentive (Further Education) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to recover grants paid. It has discretion about whether to exercise those powers and will consider all cases on their merits. 7.2 Cases where these powers might be exercised could include situations where: the recipient has provided in his or her application for grant information which is false or materially misleading or, after receiving an instalment of the grant the recipient fails to meet any eligibility criteria adopted by the Welsh Assembly Government in relation to subsequent instalments. 5

8 Annex 1 TEACHER TRAINING INCENTIVES (FURTHER EDUCATION) Technical Questions Is the training grant taxable? Our understanding is that the training grant is not taxable for full-timers. However, students should speak to the Inland Revenue for advice about their individual position. What will be the effect of the training grant on fees? The training salary will not affect the right of home and EU students to have their tuition fees for PGCE courses remitted. What will be the effect of the training grant on student loans? Those receiving the training grant should not need to add to any student loans or, if eligible, take out new ones. But they will need to apply for eligibility for student support in order to have their tuition fees waived. However, the intention is that receipt of the training grant should not reduce a student's entitlement to student support in the 2004/5 or 2005/06 academic years. What will be the effect of the training grant on benefits? There is no hard and fast rule here - it will depend on what sort of income is taken into account in assessing entitlement to the particular benefit in question. The Benefits Agency can provide further advice. Will the training grant trigger loan repayments? Not while you are in full-time training. Loan repayments may be triggered when you are earning a salary, as in any other job, that is high enough to trigger repayments. Can I claim more than 6,000 of training grant if my course is extended? No, the grant is a maximum of 6,000. The only reasons that allow payment of a second year would be if the student had left early (the previous year) due to the prescribed reasons as set out in guidance (if they abandoned the course because they were pregnant, sick {confirmation by a doctor would be required} or caring full-time for a dependent). If the student has completed the course or received the payment of a training grant for a full year, they will be ineligible for further payments. 6

9 Annex 2 Payment of Training Grants - Instructions for Training Providers Any questions about these instructions should be addressed to: Justin Davies Lifelong Learning Division Welsh Assembly Government Cathays Park Cardiff CF10 3NQ Tel: Fax: justin.davies@wales.gsi.gov.uk 1. Information to be provided to Higher Education Division 2, Welsh Assembly Government a To ensure the simple administration of the training grants, a contact point from each training institution should be provided to Higher Education Division 2 of the Welsh Assembly Government. This Division will be sent the relevant forms for the scheme and will act as a contact point for any enquiries. 2. How to claim the funding for the training grants from the Welsh Assembly a Determine eligibility of all students on postgraduate further education courses. Advice on eligibility is included in the document PGCE (FE) Teacher Training Incentive Grant in Wales 2004/05: Guidance Notes. b Prepare a list of eligible students on the form provided by the Welsh Assembly. This form requests details of surname, first name(s) and student number. A separate list should be completed for each course. c Each month, by the date specified on the timetable provided, send the full list of eligible students along with an official letter requesting payment of the appropriate amount to cover the grants for that month. The claim should include a request for a payment equal to 2% of the training grant to cover administration costs. 7

10 d Any student who leaves the course after they have received the first payment should be indicated by crossing their name through on the eligible students list with a red pen. Please insert the date the student left course not only on the first month s sheet but every subsequent list. 3. How the funding for the training grant will be passed to training providers a The Welsh Assembly Government will pass funding to the training provider by the date indicated on the timetable. This will be paid directly into the institution s bank account. 4. How to pay the training grant to eligible students a Advise students of a common date for the payment of the training grant. Only those students on the course on the day of payment will be eligible to receive payment. If any student leaves the course prior to that date, payment should not be made. If the Welsh Assembly has already passed funding to the training provider for the grant to any student who subsequently drops out of the course before the payment is made, the Welsh Assembly Government will adjust subsequent payments. b A copy of the information note PGCE (FE) Teacher Training Incentive Grant 2004/05 - Information for Trainees should be given to each student. c Before the first payment is made, training providers should complete Section 1 of the claim form for each of their eligible students. d When each payment is claimed, the claim form should be signed and dated by a representative of the training provider and the student. There is a section for signature on the claim form for each month s payment. Ensure that the signatures are next to the correct month. TRAINING PROVIDERS SHOULD RETAIN THE TRAINING GRANT FORM ONCE IT HAS BEEN SIGNED. e After the February payment has been made, a copy of all the claim forms should be taken by the training provider and submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government. Training Providers should retain the original. f When the final payment is claimed in June, the claim form should again be signed and dated. 2 copies should be taken by the training provider, one to be retained by the training provider, the other sent to the Higher Education Division 2 of the Welsh Assembly Government. The original form should be handed to the trainee. 8

11 Annex 3 Timetable for the Payment of Grants Timetable for the payment of PGCE(FE) training grants (2004/2005 academic year) PAYMENT DATE ACTION October 7 October Training providers to send lists of eligible students and an official letter requesting payment Payment of the appropriate amount to cover the first instalment of the training grant, plus 2% of the grant to cover administration costs. 22 October National Assembly to have paid the first instalment of the training grant into the training providers bank accounts by today. w/b 25 October Training providers to pay first instalment of the training grant to trainees during this week. November 4 November Training providers to send lists of eligible students and an official letter requesting payment Payment of the appropriate amount to cover the second instalment of the training grant, plus 2% of the grant to cover administration costs. 26 November National Assembly to have paid the second instalment of the training grant into the training providers bank accounts by today. w/b 29 November Training providers to pay second instalment of the training grant to trainees during this week. December 1 December Training providers to send lists of eligible students and an official letter requesting payment Payment of the appropriate amount to cover the third instalment of the training grant, plus 2% of the grant to cover administration costs. 8 December National Assembly to have paid the third instalment of the training grant into the teacher training providers bank accounts by today. w/b 13 December Training providers to pay third instalment of the training grant to trainees during this week. 9

12 January 6 January Training providers to send lists of eligible students and an official letter requesting payment of the Payment appropriate amount to cover the fourth instalment of the training grant, plus 2% of the grant to cover administration costs. 28 January National Assembly to have paid the fourth instalment of the training grant into training providers bank accounts by today. w/b 31 January Training providers to pay fourth instalment of the training grant to trainees during this week. February 3 February Training providers to send lists of eligible students and an official letter requesting payment of the Payment appropriate amount to cover the fifth instalment of the training grant, plus 2% of the grant to cover administration costs. 25 February National Assembly to have paid the fifth instalment of the training grant into training providers bank accounts by today. w/b 28 February Training providers to pay fifth instalment of the training grant to trainees during this week. March 3 March Training providers to send lists of eligible students and an official letter requesting payment of the Payment appropriate amount to cover the sixth instalment of the training grant, plus 2% of the grant to cover administration costs. 16 March National Assembly to have paid the sixth instalment of the training grant into training providers bank accounts by today. w/b 21 March Training providers to pay sixth instalment of the training grant to trainees during this week. 10

13 April 7 April Training providers to send lists of eligible students and an official letter requesting payment of the Payment appropriate amount to cover the seventh instalment of the training grant, plus 2% of the grant to cover administration costs. 22 April National Assembly to have paid the seventh instalment of the training grant into training providers bank accounts by today. w/b 25 April Training providers to pay seventh instalment of the training grant to trainees during this week. May 5 May Training providers to send lists of eligible students and an official letter requesting payment of the Payment appropriate amount to cover the eighth instalment of the training grant, plus 2% of the grant to cover administration costs. 27 May National Assembly to have paid the eighth instalment of the training grant into training providers bank accounts by today. w/b 30 May Training providers to pay eighth instalment of the training grant to trainees during this week. June 2 June Training providers to send lists of eligible students and an official letter requesting payment of the Payment appropriate amount to cover the final instalment of the training grant, plus 2% of the grant to cover administration costs. 17 June National Assembly to have paid the final instalment of the training grant into training providers bank accounts by today. w/b 20 June Training providers to pay final instalment of the training grant to trainees during this week. 11

14 Annex 4 Notification Form of Eligible Students Training Grants TRAINING PROVIDER: COURSE: PGCE (FE) SURNAME FIRST NAME(S) STUDENT NUMBER PAGE TOTAL OVERALL COURSE TOTAL 12

15 Annex 5 Notification Form Yearly Return Confirmation of Receipt of Payment of Training Grant Teacher Training Incentive 2004/2005 Postgraduate Further Education Courses: Form: PGCE(FE)2004/05 (2) This form confirms that the trainee teacher has received payment of the training grant during the 2004/05 academic year for PGCE Further Education teacher training courses. Trainee Details Surname First name(s) Address Postcode of birth Student Number Course Details Main subject studied Course provider Declaration training incentive Trainee - I confirm that I have received full payment of the training grant to which I am entitled from my training provider. Signature Training Provider I confirm that the above trainee has received full payment of the training grant to which he/she is entitled Signature The training provider must send a copy of this form to Higher Education Division, Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ and keep a copy for their records. The original form is to be retained by the trainee. 13

16 Annex 6 Notification Form Monthly Return Confirmation of Receipt of Payment of Training Grant Teacher Training Incentive 2004/2005 Postgraduate Further Education Courses Form PGCE/FE 2004/05 (1) This form covers payment of the training grant up to May 2005 for PGCE Further Education teacher training courses. A second form PGCE (FE) 2004/05 (2) will be issued to cover the payment due in June Section 1 - Trainee Details Personal Details Surname First name(s) Address Postcode of birth Student Number Course Details Main subject studied Course provider 14

17 Section 2 - Payments For each payment made, please ensure that the form is signed against the relevant month by the trainee and the training provider. For payments made from October 2004 to May 2005 (original form to be retained by the training provider until fully completed) Trainee - I confirm that I have received payment of 650 from my training provider. Training Provider - I confirm that the above trainee has received payment of 650. October Trainee signature Provider signature Position November Trainee signature Provider signature Position December Trainee signature Provider signature Position January Trainee signature Provider signature Position 15

18 February Trainee signature Provider signature Position March Trainee signature Provider signature Position April Trainee signature Provider signature Position May Trainee signature Provider signature Position For the final payment to be made in June 2005, please use separate form PGCE (FE)2004/05 (2). 16

19 Annex 7 PGCE (FE) Teacher Training Incentive Grant 2004/05 Information for trainees Eligibility Who is eligible? Students satisfying residency requirements who start a full-time pre-service PGCE (FE) course from September 2004 at an accredited institution (university or associated college) in Wales. Who is not eligible? Students doing non-postgraduate Certificates in Education (FE). Students who have completed a course of initial teacher training before 1 September What about students starting a PGCE (FE) in September 2006? Funding for training incentives applies to PGCE (FE) students in the 2004/05 to 2005/06 academic years only, on a trial basis. A decision on whether to extend the funding to future years will be made in due course. Are all overseas students eligible? No. In normal circumstances only students from the UK and other EU countries will be eligible for the training grant. Residency requirements for the grant follow those used by institutions to determine students fee status. Is there an upper age limit for applicants? No. What if the provider (university or associated college) requires trainees to attend a further education institution before initial teacher training formally begins? Provided that the course formally starts after 31 August, they will be eligible for the training grant. 17

20 Financial Details How much will eligible students receive? Up to 6,000 during the academic year 2004/05. The training grant is not means-tested. When? Students will receive the money in eight instalments of 650, paid October to May. The final instalment of 800 is payable in June. How? Through the institution (university or associated college). The institution will claim the payments from the Welsh Assembly Government. Related financial queries Is the LEA Award covering academic fees for a PGCE (FE) still available? Yes. The training grant will not affect the right of home and EU students to have their tuition fees for a PGCE (FE) remitted. Is the training grant taxable? Not for full-time students. Is National Insurance payable on the grant? No. What will be the effect of the training grant on student loans? Those receiving the training grant should not need to add to any student loans or, if eligible, take out new ones. But they will need to apply for eligibility for student support in order to have their tuition fees waived. However, the intention is that receipt of the training grant should not reduce a student s entitlement to student support in the 2004/05 or 2005/06 academic years. 18

21 What will be the effect of the training grant on benefits? There is no hard and fast rule. It will depend on what sort of income is taken into account in assessing entitlement to the particular benefit in question. The Benefits Agency can provide further advice. Will the training grant trigger student loan repayments? Normally not while you are in full-time training. But loan repayments may be triggered if you are earning a salary, as in any other job, that is high enough to trigger repayments. What if someone qualifies and then does not become a teacher? They will not have to repay any training grant they have received. Eligibility for trainees who re-start a course What about people who drop out of training? The grant will stop as soon as they leave the course. They will not have to repay any grant. However, if they re-enter initial teacher training later in Wales, their training grant for that course will be reduced by the amount they have already received. What about people who dropped out of full time postgraduate initial teacher training at further education level before 31 March 2004 and want to start again from September 2004? They will be eligible for the training grant. What about people who drop out of full-time postgraduate initial teacher training at further education level between 31 March and 31 August 2004? They will not be eligible for the training grant. What about people who drop out of full-time postgraduate initial teacher training at further education level between 31 March 2004 and 31 August 2004 for the following reasons: pregnancy, sickness or caring for a dependent and start again from September 2004? They will be eligible for the training grant. 19

22 What about people who drop out of part-time postgraduate initial teacher training at further education level between September 2003 and 31 March 2004 and want to start again on the full-time course from September 2004? They will be eligible for the training grant. What about people who completed part of their initial teacher training before training grants were announced, dropped out and then complete the remainder after September 2002? If someone dropped out before 31 March 2002 having completed successfully a term s full-time training and then resumes full-time training with the same institution on a course that starts after 31 August 2002, they will be eligible for the training grant on a pro-rata basis. 20