Guidance for Schools and FAQs

Transcription

1 Guidance for Schools and FAQs 1. What is HMC Teacher Training? HMC Teacher Training is a teacher recruitment, training and induction programme that aims to promote the recruitment of new teachers into the profession and enable them to train on the job in an HMC senior school. Trainee teachers will gain a PGCE with Qualified Teacher Status, preparing them for a career in teaching in either independent or maintained schools, though we expect that the majority will wish to continue working in the school in which they trained subject to satisfactory performance. Trainees will undertake a variety of professional development activities during the two-year programme, designed to help them become excellent classroom practitioners, able also to contribute to the pastoral care of students and the co-curricular elements of school life. 2. Why has HMC Teacher Training been developed? The identification, training, recruitment and retention of good teachers is vital to the success of all schools, but as numbers of students studying university-based PGCEs shrink rapidly and the School Direct model grows, there is a risk that independent schools will not have enough high quality new teachers applying for posts. HMC Teacher Training is designed to attract talented aspiring teachers to the profession, and to train and teach in HMC schools. It will also provide Members with the opportunity to build capacity in their Common Room, particularly in key or shortage subject areas. The offer of high-quality training is an important factor in recruiting teachers, and enables them to become effective practitioners as quickly as possible. 3. How does HMC Teacher Training work / what s involved? HMC will promote HMC Teacher Training to undergraduates, postgraduates and career-changers, to raise awareness of the opportunities offered by the programme and to publicise individual school-based vacancies. Potential trainees can view current vacancy information via the HMC Teacher Training website, register to receive regular vacancy newsletters, and opt to share information about themselves with schools recruiting via the programme. Schools who register for the programme will have their HMC Teacher Training vacancies advertised widely, including on the HMC Teacher Training website, and will be granted access to the data which potential trainees have chosen to share. Schools may then choose to contact potential trainees to encourage them to apply for their vacancies if they so wish. 1

2 Schools will make conditional offers 1 of employment to trainees following their usual recruitment processes and then support their application for the University of Buckingham or other university PGCE. It is anticipated that schools will publish full recruitment details such as application forms etc on their own websites, and candidates will be directed to this information via the advertisements on the HMC Teacher Training website. Schools will nominate appropriate members of staff to act as in-school mentors, and these mentors will receive training from HMC in August 2015 to support them in this role. Schools will employ trainees on a two-year contract, which is the duration of the HMC Teacher Training programme, though it is likely that most schools and trainees will wish to continue the employment contract after that time. Trainees will undertake the following professional development activities during the twoyear programme: Year 1 Year 2 Support from in-school mentor Three-day residential training programme prior to starting in post, half a day of which will be spent with their in-school mentor School-based PGCE leading to Qualified Teacher Status, including a placement in a maintained school (HMC Teacher Training can provide assistance with arranging this if required). IStip statutory induction Two HMC-led one-day courses (one at either end of the academic year) Online learning and professional development Reciprocal visits to other HMC schools 4. What are the entry requirements for trainees who want to join HMC Teacher Training? There are no specific entry requirements set by HMC. Employer schools will set out criteria and a job specification for each role advertised by HMC Teacher Training, which aspiring trainees will be expected to meet. It is anticipated that criteria will include the requirement for trainees to demonstrate a strong motivation for teaching, and an excellent academic background. 5. Which universities will trainees come from? HMC Teacher Training is promoting the programme directly to Oxford, Cambridge and Russell Group Universities through careers fairs and other events. We are also communicating to students and careers directors in other universities through broadcast and social media, thereby reaching as wide a group of talented, aspiring teachers as possible. 1 Subject to DfE Skills Tests, DBS check, acceptance onto PGCE etc 2

3 6. What salary should schools offer to trainees, and are there any salary guidelines or boundaries? HMC have set no salary guidelines or boundaries, although it is anticipated that most schools will offer salaries based on the fact that trainees will initially be unqualified teachers. Salary considerations for individual schools may include the teaching load expected of the trainee, regional variations in pay, and other benefits which may be available such as accommodation. 7. Are there any constraints on school teaching load whilst training? University of Buckingham recommend that the teaching load is a minimum of 50% and a maximum of 90% during the PGCE year. IStip specify that NQTs have a right to 10% timetable remission on lessons taught during their statutory induction. HMC will provide guidance for schools on how to ensure that trainees receive an effective and supportive induction, and initial teaching load will form part of that guidance. 8. Is HMC Teacher Training available to all HMC schools? HMC Teacher Training is available to all HMC schools. HMC schools in Scotland should note that the University of Buckingham PGCE currently recommended by the programme is not as yet accredited by GTC(S). HMC are working with the University of Buckingham and GTC(S) with the aim of being able to offer a fully accredited route to future cohorts. International schools and schools in Wales should note that the University of Buckingham PGCE available to trainees in their schools does not lead to QTS. A short QTS conversion option is available however should trainees wish to teach in England in the future. 9. Is it possible to recruit prep school / primary phase teachers through HMC Teacher Training? At present it is only possible to recruit and train secondary phase teachers through HMC Teacher Training. 10. How likely will it be that trainees can get on the programme and will there be subject specific limits? The University of Buckingham can accommodate all HMC Teacher Training trainees on their PGCE programme with QTS, and HMC have planned at an appropriate scale to cope with the maximum number of likely trainees. There will be no subject specific quotas or limits. 11. Our school has a long standing teacher training relationship with another HEI; can we continue working with them? The University of Buckingham is HMC s preferred provider for the PGCE element of the programme. HMC Teacher Training is designed to be aligned with the University of Buckingham course both in terms of course content and the timing of training events. If however a school still wishes to work with an alternative HEI, then this is possible so long as the HEI is capable of delivering a comparable high quality PGCE leading to QTS. Schools must identify the HEI they will work with at the point at which they submit their vacancy information to HMC. 3

4 12. Are schools able to advertise vacancies elsewhere as well as via HMC Teacher Training? Yes, schools may advertise their HMC Teacher Training vacancies wherever they choose. To help with search engine optimization, we suggest that Members include the HMC Teacher Training logo and brief information regarding the programme in advertisements, which will help to communicate the broad benefits of the opportunity available. 13. Can unqualified teachers join HMC Teacher Training even if they have not been recruited through the programme? Yes, schools may register other unqualified teachers for the programme. Please use the appropriate form available in Member Zone. Schools must still arrange the PGCE with the University of Buckingham, or another appropriate provider. 14. When will be the best time for schools to advertise vacancies via HMC Teacher Training? Schools can advertise their vacancies from the start of November 2014 onwards, although we expect that most vacancies will be advertised during the spring term, and potential trainees are being made aware of this. By January a larger pool of potential candidate data should be available which it is hoped will be of value to schools if they wish to encourage particular students to apply for a vacancy. There may of course be advantages to advertising jobs during the Autumn term if schools wish to attract high calibre undergraduates before they have secured positions elsewhere. 15. How far in advance must schools submit their booking forms prior to advertisements going live? Wherever possible, schools should submit their booking forms at least five full working days ahead of the date that they wish their vacancy information to be published on the HMC Teacher Training website. 16. How can our school best support a trainee if there is only one of them? Schools may wish to work in local clusters to provide their NQTs with local peer-support groups. HMC will also provide guidance as to how the divisional structure may provide opportunities in this area. Members may wish to consider appointing more than one trainee, particularly in key or shortage subjects, to continue to build their schools teaching capacity for the future. 17. What are schools committing to when they sign up to recruit trainees through HMC Teacher Training? When a school submits the information required to advertise an HMC Teacher Training vacancy, they are committing to fund and support the eventual postholder through all aspects of the two-year HMC Teacher Training programme. HMC anticipates that the trainee will stay in school in a permanent role after they qualify, subject to good performance. 18. What are the roles & responsibilities of HMC, schools, HEIs and trainees? HMC responsibilities: National marketing, brand awareness and promotion of HMC Teacher Training and teaching posts in HMC schools; primarily to students, university careers offices and career-changers Publication of vacancy advertisements, including on the HMC Teacher Training website 4

5 Circulation of vacancy newsletters to aspiring teacher trainees Management and protection of candidate data, including sharing information with schools Design and delivery of all HMC-led professional development for trainees and mentors, including: o Three-day pre-induction training for participants o One-day mentor training o Two one-day courses in Year 2 of the programme o Support for trainees peer-networking o Support in arranging reciprocal visits to other participating HMC schools o Online learning and development o Course materials, accommodation and meals/refreshments at all training events (please note: travel and expenses are the responsibility of schools/trainees) Provision of support and guidance for schools in on the job training; Quality assurance of the whole HMCTT programme, including mentoring/in-school support School responsibilities Initial liaison with HEI to ensure an appropriate PGCE place with QTS will be available Drafting & publication of job information/application forms on own school website Submission of HMC Teacher Training booking form and related details Recruitment of trainee including processing applications, co-ordinating interviews etc Ensuring that trainees in receipt of conditional offers undertake the Skills Tests Ensuring that PGCE applications and supporting statements are submitted to HEI DBS checks Identification of in-school mentors Ensuring that trainees and mentors attend required training, and paying for their travel expenses Arranging the maintained school placement required by the PGCE with QTS course (University of Buckingham will be able to advise on how to go about this, and HMC may be able to assist in establishing contact with maintained schools where required) Employment of trainee(s) for two years, with option to extend subject to satisfactory performance Booking of IStip statutory induction HEI responsibilities (University of Buckingham is the preferred PGCE provider) Initial confirmation of capacity to host PGCE places for individual schools Processing of PGCE applications / supporting statements Co-ordination and delivery of PGCE interviews Confirmation of PGCE interview outcomes, and sharing of initial assessment of training needs with schools and participants Delivery of PGCE course / award of QTS Provision of Tutor support for trainees throughout the PGCE Trainee responsibilities Apply for jobs / attend interviews in schools Undertake Skills Tests as early as possible to enable PGCE interviews to take place Work with schools to submit PGCE application Attend PGCE interviews Attend summer pre-session training prior to starting in role Undertake PGCE and IStip induction courses 5

6 19. Once a school has appointed a trainee, what are the next steps? Schools should notify HMC of recruitment outcomes as soon as possible so that pre-induction training can be arranged in August Skills Tests, PGCE applications and DBS checks should also be progressed to ensure that PGCE interviews can be completed as soon as possible. 20. What happens if a school fails to recruit after signing up to HMC Teacher Training? If a school fails to fill a vacancy which was advertised through HMC Teacher Training then there will be no further charges beyond the initial annual registration fee of 300 (which will be waived for schools recruiting in in any case). 21. What if a trainee fails to pass the DfE Skills Tests? Passing the DfE Skills Tests should be a condition of the offer of employment made by schools. HEIs cannot interview trainees for their PGCE with QTS until they have passed their Skills Tests, and so it is important that trainees are encouraged to complete them as early as possible. It is thought to be extremely unlikely that a high calibre trainee who has been given a conditional offer by an HMC school will fail to pass the Skills Tests, particularly as candidates have the opportunity to re-sit the test twice. If however this does occur then the school will need to decide whether to withdraw their conditional offer of employment. The trainee will not be able to continue with the HMC Teacher Training programme in any case, and so HMC should be notified so that their training can be cancelled. In these circumstances HMC would refund the costs of the pre-induction residential training. 22. What happens if a trainee drops out, resigns or has their contract terminated during the programme? In the unlikely event of a trainee withdrawing part-way through the programme, schools will handle these scenarios following their standard HR processes and should notify HMC as soon as possible. Schools should also notify their HEI / IStip as appropriate depending on when this occurs. HMC will attempt to minimise their own charges to schools in these circumstances, and individual cases will be judged on their own merits. Refunds may not be available from HEIs or IStip, and so schools may wish to consider how they structure their contracts with trainees in this regard. 6