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Your Path to Teaching

This page aims to help you find out how to become a Teacher.

• Secondary Teaching in Ireland
• Primary Teacher Training in Ireland
• Northern Ireland
• Primary Teacher Training UK
• Secondary Teacher Training UK
• Choosing a course in the UK
• Funding
• Am I qualified to Teach in Ireland after Studying in the UK?
• Useful Links

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Secondary Teaching in Ireland

ASTI have produced a booklet  Thinking of a Career as a Second-Level Teacher?, downloadable from their website. Aimed at undergraduates who are interested in second level teaching as their career choice.

For details on the Irish Language Certificate (and exemptions) see the State Examinations Commission's website.

All teachers are required by law to register with the Teaching Council in order to be employed in a recognised school.

Qualifications below are HETAC level 8.

• Professional Diploma in Education in NUI Galway , NUI Maynooth, UCD or UCC apply before December 1st.
  Application and information online from September at The Professional Diploma in Education (NUI) Applications Centre
• Trinity College Dublin also has a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. Apply by December 1st. Apply online at http://www.pac.ie/  (under TCD)
• University of Limerick offer a Grad.Dip.Ed. in Business, Technology, Mathematics, PE, Languages or Music. Closing date is (usually) the first Friday of March in any calendar year for Business, Languages and Music. Check website for details.
• Dublin City University offer a part-time Graduate Diploma in Education. Apply online at http://www.pac.ie/  (under DCU) - Check website for details.
• Hibernia College offer a new online 2-year HDip in Arts Post-Primary Teaching. Applications on a rolling basis.

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Primary Teacher Training in Ireland

Those that do not have the BEd, can apply to an 18 month Grad Dip after graduating with another degree. 
All primary teachers serve a probationary period after their training.

Full admission criteria can be read online (under Students & Trainees, Teacher Training).

Full time 18-month courses available at

• St. Patrick's College of Education, Drumcondra - Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching)
• Mary Immaculate College, Limerick - Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching)
• Froebel College of Education, Co. Dublin - Higher Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching)
• Coláiste Mhuire, Marino Institute of Education, Dublin - Higher Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching)

Application forms for this course are available from each of the Colleges listed above. There are two centres for applications, Dublin and Limerick- apply to one Centre only. 

Online course: Hibernia College – min 2 years duration.

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Teacher Training in Northern Ireland

Application forms and details of the entry requirements for admission to both Secondary and Primary teacher training courses in Northern Ireland may be obtained from the Registrar/Admissions Office of each institution. 

Details of all courses and course links, tuition fees and funding available from Department of Education Northern Ireland.

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Primary Teacher Training in the UK

Applications are through GTTR – Graduate Teacher Training Registry (for all except University of West Scotland). You can apply online. You can choose up to 2 primary teaching courses in your application. Your application cannot be sent until the reference has been received. 

Apply to GTTR from September and before December. Applications are processed in order of the date they are received. Some institutions will have filled all their places before the December deadline.

Teachers are fully qualified on completion of a probationary teaching year in a school after the teacher training course.

Entry requirements for primary teacher training courses in Scotland.

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Secondary Teacher Training in the UK

To apply for courses, use the GTTR system - you can choose up to 4 secondary teacher training courses. Late applicants: your form will be considered as long as there are vacancies. Applications are processed in order of the date they are received. The GTTR website hosts a database of courses with vacancies, searchable by teaching subject.

Teachers are fully qualified on completion of an induction teaching year in a school after the teacher training course.

Entry requirements for secondary teacher training courses in Scotland

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Alternative route available to graduates:

The TDA Graduate Teacher Programme ( from tda.gov.uk)
Applications for the GTP in England must now be made electronically, through the TDA website. To apply to a chosen provider applicants must click on the ’Apply’ button that appears on the provider’s information page. Please note that the ’Apply’ button only appears when the chosen provider is accepting applications for the GTP – otherwise there is a message ’This provider is not currently accepting applications. Deadlines for applications will be published here when available’.
The web site allows applicants to GTP programmes to register an account, search for GTP providers and participating schools, create shortlists and apply on line. You can view the web site here - http://www.tda.gov.uk/recruit/thetrainingprocess/typesofcourse/employmentbased/gtp.aspx
After receiving the application, the training provider will assess it and contact the applicant about next steps. All communication about the progress of the application will then be directly between the individual and the training provider. The TDA is not able to enter into any communication with applicants on the progress of applications to the GTP.

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Choosing a course in the UK

There are many reasons to choose a particular PGCE:

• Geographic - you may want to live in a particular region/city
• Grades required or subjects (e.g., England and Wales look for a Science Leaving Cert subject for primary PGCE's)
• Do you get help finding a placement?
• Costs
• Facilities for students
• Student experience

Find out more from performance profiles at the Teacher Development Agency website.

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Funding in the UK

Northern Ireland: see Department of Education Northern Ireland.

There are incentives for those studying in England and Wales. EU students who have residence status in an EU country are eligible for the incentives.  
From 2012, most applicants will need a minimum of a 2.1 to be eligible to apply for a bursary.

2012/13 bursaries for England have been announced - details from TDA website .  

The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) provides funding for fees of eligible candidates. 

Funding awards and bursaries can change annually - we recommend that you check with the above websites for updates.

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Am I qualified to Teach in Ireland if I do the PGCE?

If you are a teacher who qualified outside of Ireland and wish to teach in a recognised school in Ireland, you must apply for recognition of your qualifications prior to registration. First, you must be fully qualified in the country in which you did your training - more from The Teaching Council

Once your qualifications have been recognised (forms available from Teaching Council), you then apply for registration.

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Useful links:

Department of Education and Science

Teaching Council - Ireland

National Council for Curriculum and Assessment - Ireland 

Teachers Union of Ireland – information on teaching conditions

Career Development Centre - useful links

UK:

Graduate Teacher Training Register -  tips on filling out the personal statement.

TDA (Teacher Development Agency)  - UK

*** TDA interview - online interactive help for applicants of PGCE courses

Teacher Development Agency Applications Assistant for help with Personal Statement.

Teach in Scotland

Teacher Training Wales

GTCS - Information on registering as a teacher in Scotland

Scotland Curriculum

TeacherNet - UK for information on salaries and conditions in the UK

Prospects Education & Teacher Training Digital Magazine 2009/10

New White Paper on Teaching for the UK (2010) - see chapter on Teaching and Leadership for details on proposed changes to teacher training.

How do you become a PE teacher? - FAQ

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The Career Development Centre offers advice and information in good faith and based on the best information available to it. The Service does not accept any responsibility for any decisions made by individuals based on such advice or information. The Career Development Centre does not take responsibility for the contents of any sites linked to from its pages.  

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