Funding for teacher training
Don't be put off training to be a teacher because you think you can't afford it: there is plenty of financial help available.
If you've an eye for maths, physics, or chemistry you may be eligible for a tax-free bursary of up to £20,000. A flare for computer science or music and that could be a £9,000 bursary.
Once qualified you will start on a decent salary (the average is around £23,000) with good career development prospects.
In England and Wales, you can apply to your local authority for a loan to cover the cost of fees, which you will not have to repay until you have finished studying and are earning over £21,000 a year.
Training bursaries for PGCE, SCITT and School Direct
While in England the teaching shortage that prompted the era of the 'golden hello' for initial teacher training (ITT) is now over, there are still bursaries available to trainees on eligible courses in some subject areas. These are specialities that the government thinks are in particular demand and where recruitment is 'challenging'
Entry requirements
For 2013/14, you will need at least a 2.2 honours degree or equivalent but there is some leyway in the scheme to recognise exceptional achievements. For example, a previous career or experience would qualify the candidate for discretion when it came to awarding the appropriate level of bursary. Read more about the consideration of exceptional achievements.
2013/14 bursaries
Trainees with a first class degree
- Physics, chemistry or maths - £20,000
- Modern languages - £20,000
- Primary maths specialist - £11,000 (with at least a B at maths A level)
- Other priority subjects and secondary or primary level - £9,000.
- Physics, chemistry or maths - £15,000
- Modern languages - £15,000
- Primary maths specialist - £6,000 (with at least a B at maths A level)
- Other priority subjects and secondary or primary level - £4,000.
- Physics, chemistry or maths - £12,000
- Modern languages - £12,000
- Primary maths specialist - £0
- Other priority subjects and secondary or primary level - £0.
NB. The other priority subjects are currently physical education, biology, music, Latin, Greek, English, computer science, history and geography.
School Direct bursaries - an additional payment
An extra 25% is available on top if you are eligible for one of the bursaries above if the trainee is in a school where 35% of the school's pupils are eligible to receive free school meals.
School Direct Training Programme (salaried)
Those with three years' experience they can bring to teaching (not necessarily in education) might also consider the School Direct Training Programme (salaried) programme.
The salaried route covers the cost of the qts award and pays a salary comparable with the pay scale for unqualified teachers. Trainees on the School Direct Training Programme (salaried) scheme are not eligible for a bursary.
Find out more about the unqualified teacher pay scale.
