Gloucestershire Initial Teacher Education Partnership (GITEP) Geography (26X6)

Postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) with qualified teacher status (QTS)

• Financial support: Bursaries and student finance are available if you’re eligible
• Qualification:
  PGCE with QTS

  A postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) with qualified teacher status (QTS) will allow you to teach in state schools in England and may allow you to teach in other parts of the UK.

  It may also allow you to teach overseas, though you should always check what qualifications are needed in the country you’d like to teach in.

  Many PGCE courses include credits that count toward a Master’s degree.

• Age range: 11 to 18 - secondary
• Course length: 1 year - full time or part time
• Date you can apply from: 11 October 2022
• Date course starts: September 2023
• Website: http://www.gitep.org.uk

Contents

Course summary

Full details of the programme can be found on our website.

Our programme has 3 stages:

• Explore

Explore covers induction and parent placement 1. Three weeks of professional studies in September are followed by three weeks of school induction, exploring the application of education theory in the context of the parent school. After October half-term, assessed teaching time gradually increases, to 9-11 hours a week by December. The PGCE assignment focuses on inclusion for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. You will explore the differing needs of pupils and how teachers adapt their practice to include them in learning.

• Embed

Embed covers the twin placement, taking place between January and March. This gives you the opportunity to embed your practice in a different school context, a contrasting one as far as possible. You will be encouraged to begin to try new approaches and to be more creative, as you embed your learning from the Explore stage. Assessed teaching time increases to 11-13 hours a week. The PGCE assignment focuses on medium-term planning, giving you the opportunity to reflect on subject specific pedagogy, through making connections between analysis of academic literature and evaluation of your own classroom practice.

• Enhance

Enhance covers parent placement 2, from April to June. You will return to a familiar environment with the opportunity to really progress and enhance your practice. This placement aims to give a better understanding of the big picture, with longer term planning and use of a variety of techniques to assess pupil outcomes. Assessed teaching time increases to 13-15 hours a week. The PGCE assignment focuses on researching a current issue relating to your subject curriculum, enhancing and deepening your understanding of subject pedagogy.

Subject Pathway

A distinctive feature of our programme is that subject sessions take place every week with the subject lead and other trainees in your subject. These sessions focus on exploring current issues in your subject, developing expertise and equipping you with a range of teaching strategies. Close collaboration between your subject lead and mentor in school supports you to apply this learning directly into your classroom practice,

Assessment

The programme leads to Qualified Teacher Status, awarded through GITEP, with a PGCE worth 60 Master’s credits awarded by the University of Bristol. No training takes place at the University - subject tutors from the University will visit the GITEP sessions in Gloucestershire.

School placements

The GITEP programme follows a ‘parent/twin/parent’ structure, with three school placements. You will be placed in a parent school from October to December, a contrasting twin school from January to March and return to the parent school from April to June. Placements are 9-10 weeks in length.

Each school has a professional lead, with responsibility for all the trainees and mentors within the school. You will be allocated a mentor in both of your placement schools, a subject specialist who will see you most days and meet with you individually once a week to review your progress and plan next steps.

Placement schools are mostly in Gloucestershire but we do work with a few schools in neighbouring counties - around 35 schools in total. When placing trainees, we take account of travel distance, particular needs and trainee requests. We are well aware that most of our applicants are looking for placements in local schools and we will not require trainees to drive long distances or move home between placements. The vast majority of our trainees travel less than 20 miles to placement schools.

When applying to GITEP you will be asked to name a partner school as a preferred location. We cannot guarantee that one of your placements will be at this school but we will do our best to place you close by.

Our four School Direct lead schools (Balcarras School, Pate’s Grammar School, The Cotswold School and Marling School) have their own applications and you can apply directly to them as well as to GITEP SCITT.

Our programme covers the 11-18 age range. If trainees are placed in a 11-16 school for their first placement, we ensure that the second placement gives the opportunity for sixth form experience.

Our partnership includes some of the highest performing schools in the country. Around one third of our current placement schools are rated outstanding by Ofsted and typically over 80% of our trainees have at least one placement in an outstanding school. Liaison between GITEP course leaders and placement schools is exceptionally strong, contributing to excellent outcomes for our trainees.

Locations

You can select one of the following locations to indicate a preferred placement when you apply.

Location	Vacancies
Abbey Park School The Learning Campus, Redhouse Way, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN25 2ND	Yes
Archway School Paganhill, Stroud, Glos, GL5 4AX	Yes
Barnwood Park School St Lawrence Road, Barnwood, Gloucester, Glos, GL4 3QU	Yes
Cheltenham Bournside School Warden Hill Road, Cheltenham, Glos, GL51 3EF	Yes
Chipping Campden School Cider Mill Lane, Chipping Campden, Glos, GL55 6HU	Yes
Chosen Hill School Brookfield Road, Churchdown, Gloucester, Glos, GL3 2PL	Yes
Churchdown School Academy Winston Road, Churchdown, Gloucester, Glos, GL3 2RB	Yes
Cirencester Deer Park School Stroud Road, Cirencester, Glos, GL7 1XB	Yes
Cirencester Kingshill School Kingshill Lane, Cirencester, Glos, GL7 1HS	Yes
Cleeve School Two Hedges Road, Bishop’s Cleeve, Cheltenham, Glos, GL52 8AE	Yes
Dene Magna School Abenhall Road, Mitcheldean, Glos, GL17 0DU	Yes
Farmor’s School Leafield Road, Fairford, Glos, GL7 4JQ	Yes
Five Acres High School Five Acres, Coleford, Gloucestershire, GL16 7QW	Yes
Henley Bank High School Mill Lane, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL3 4QF	Yes
John Kyrle High and Sixth Form Centre Ledbury Road, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7ET	Yes
Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School Wotton Road, Wotton-under-Edge, Glos, GL12 8RB	Yes
Maidenhill School King’s Road, Stonehouse, Glos, GL10 2HA	Yes
Newent Community School Watery Lane, Newent, Glos, GL18 1QF	Yes
Pittville School Albert Road, Cheltenham, Glos, GL52 3JD	Yes
Rednock School Kingshill Road, Dursley, Glos, GL11 4BY	Yes
Ribston Hall High School Stroud Road, Gloucester, Glos, GL1 5LE	Yes
Severn Vale School School Lane, Quedgeley, Gloucester, Glos, GL2 4PR	Yes
Sir Thomas Rich’s School Oakleaze, Longlevens, Gloucester, Glos, GL2 0LF	Yes
Sir William Romney’s School Lowfield Road, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8AE	Yes
St Peter’s High School Stroud Road, Tuffley, Gloucester, Glos, GL4 0DE	Yes
Stroud High School Beard’s Lane, Cainscross Road, Stroud, Glos, GL5 4HF	Yes
Tewkesbury School Ashchurch Road, Tewkesbury, Glos, GL20 8DF	Yes
The Crypt School Podsmead Road, Gloucester, Glos, GL2 5AE	Yes
The Dean Academy Church Road, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 5DZ	Yes
Thomas Keble School Eastcombe, Stroud, Glos, GL6 7DY	Yes
Wyedean School and Sixth Form Centre Beachley Road, Sedbury, Glos, NP16 7AA	Yes

Entry requirements

Qualifications needed

An undergraduate degree at class 2:2 or above, or equivalent.

Your degree subject should be in geography or a similar subject. Otherwise you’ll need to prove your subject knowledge in some other way.

Grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths, or equivalent qualification.

We’ll consider candidates with pending GCSEs.

We’ll consider candidates who need to take a GCSE equivalency test in English or maths.

We do accept some overseas qualifications, in line with the University of Bristol PGCE entry requirements. We do not normally accept UK candidates who do not have GCSE English and maths. We do accept equivalency tests in some circumstances, especially for trainees educated abroad. Please contact us if this may apply to you.

Personal qualities

There is no personality profile for the perfect teacher and no one way to be a great teacher. Our trainees share enthusiasm for their subjects and the ability to communicate this effectively, a genuine interest in how children learn, and a commitment to doing their best for every child.

It is a training year, however, and there will be times when things don’t always go according to plan. We value trainees who are happy to take risks, who seek and act on feedback, and who will reflect constantly on how they could improve their teaching to improve outcomes for pupils.

Other requirements

All applicants will require an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate before commencing training. If you have spent any time living abroad, you may also need to obtain a certificate of good conduct from your country of residence. We can support you with this process.

Previous experience in schools is not a requirement of the programme and should not hold up your application. It can be useful, however, and we may be able to help organise this. We run a series of taster days and events in schools over the year, listed on our website.

Fees and financial support

The course fees for UK students in 2023 to 2024 are £9,250.

Financial support from the training provider

GITEP does operate an access fund for trainees experiencing financial difficulties. We are supported by Gloucestershire Association of Secondary Headteachers Ltd, a charity dedicated to supporting teacher training and professional development in Gloucestershire schools. The trustees, who are all secondary school leaders, are aware that the decrease in bursaries means that some trainees will find training difficult financially and have increased the amount available to our access fund.

About the training provider

GITEP SCITT is a highly successful school centred initial teacher training provider, rated outstanding by [Ofsted].( https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/70026)

Five key values underpin the partnership:

• Partnership and community

Our intention is that trainees will go on to teach in partnership schools, growing together as a community of new teachers and supported by a community of expert colleagues, drawn from schools across the partnership.

• Subject knowledge and expertise

Trainees develop a strong understanding of the pedagogical principles of their subject through weekly sessions with expert colleagues currently teaching in local schools.

• Evidence-informed and reflective practice

Trainees engage critically with the latest research and professional expertise, drawing on this to develop their understanding of high-quality teaching and curriculum design.

• Pupil progress and outcomes

All training focuses on the progress of pupils. Trainees develop a strong understanding of the value of inclusion and supporting the needs of individual pupils.

• Wellbeing and support

Our aim is for trainees to build a career in our partnership schools and feel fully supported in doing so, developing effective strategies and habits to manage workload and enjoy teaching.

GITEP SCITT works in partnership with the University of Bristol to offer the academic PGCE. GITEP and the University both focus solely on secondary teacher training and share a commitment to developing outstanding subject expertise.

GITEP has around 35 partner schools - “the richest possible mix of different settings” according to Ofsted. We pride ourselves in knowing all our trainees individually and providing outstanding support.

Interview process

Interviews take place either at the GITEP SCITT base at Maisemore, near Gloucester, or at one of our partner schools. The interview will typically be with a member of the GITEP leadership team and the subject lead. Interviews typically last no more than two hours. You can let us know beforehand if you have any access requirements or need any reasonable adjustments provided.

The interview will include a short teaching episode presented to the interview panel and a formal interview. There will also be an opportunity to discuss the programme, any particular needs you may have and potential placement schools.

We work with four School Direct lead schools across the county (Balcarras, Pate’s Grammar School, Marling and The Cotswold School) and many of our applicants apply to one or more of these as well as GITEP SCITT. Someone from GITEP will be on the interview panel for School Direct interviews and we will do our best to avoid calling you for a separate interview with GITEP - the process is the same.

International candidates

You’ll need the right to study in the UK. You already have this if, for example, you:

• are an Irish citizen
• have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (you may still be able to apply)
• have indefinite leave to remain in the UK

If you do not already have the right to study in the UK, you may need to apply for a visa. The main visa for fee-paying courses (those that you have to pay for) is the Student visa.

To apply for a Student visa, you’ll need to be sponsored by your training provider.

Sponsorship is not available for this course.

If you need a visa, filter your course search to find courses with visa sponsorship.

Alternatively, check if you’re eligible for a different type of visa, such as a Graduate or Family visa, that allows you to train to be a teacher without being sponsored.

Find out more about training to teach in England.

International qualifications

If your qualifications come from a non-UK institution, we may want to see a ‘statement of comparability’ from UK ENIC. This will show us how they compare to UK qualifications.

You can call Get Into Teaching on 0800 389 2500 for:

• guidance on the UK equivalents of your qualifications
• a free statement of comparability once you’ve submitted your application (if we ask you for this)

Training with disabilities and other needs

The GITEP SCITT partnership is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We work with our partnership schools to promote diversity in the teaching workforce and create a safe space for all trainee teachers. We welcome applications from people with disabilities, protected characteristics, and particular needs. We can provide support or reasonable adjustments throughout the application process and beyond.

Our partnership schools are experienced in providing support for trainees with a range of needs. Trainees receive excellent support from subject mentors and professional leads in schools, as well as their GITEP subject lead. Liaison between schools and the GITEP leadership is very strong and we are used to considering reasonable adjustments to help trainees both in the short term, where needed, and over the whole course. A conversation with you by telephone, or at one of our taster days or promotion events, can help us to clarify how we could provide personalised support for you where appropriate.

All GITEP PGCE trainees are registered as students with the University of Bristol and this gives access to the full range of student services offered by the University. This includes support with academic assignments for trainees with dyslexia, and all the University counselling and student support services. Trainees with disabilities and other needs are strongly encouraged to register with the University Library Support service.

Contact this training provider

• Email: admin@gitep.org.uk
• Telephone: 01242 505945
• Website: http://www.gitep.org.uk
• Address: Unit 23, The Steadings Business Centre; Maisemore; Gloucester; Glos; GL2 8EY

Support and advice

You can speak to a teacher training adviser for free, dedicated advice. They are all experienced teachers who can give you one-to-one support with your application. They can also help you get school experience, and find events where you can speak to training providers and teachers.

Call Get Into Teaching free of charge on 0800 389 2500, or chat online Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm (except public holidays).

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