Funding for PGCE 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. Once qualified you will start on a decent salary with good career development prospects - and you may qualify for a 'golden hello' on completion of your first year.
Tuition fees for courses starting in 2010 have not yet been announced, but the amount is unlikely to increase much beyond the figure for the 2009-10 academic year, which is £3,255. 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 £15,000 a year.
Maintenance grants for PGCE students
In England students are currently eligible for a maintenance grant or special support grant of up to £2,906 for the 2009/10 academic year. It is also possible to apply for a maintenance loan. For the academic year 2009-10 a tax-free bursary of £9,000 is available to eligible secondary trainees in maths, science, ICT, design and technology, modern languages, religious education and music; trainees in all other secondary subjects are entitled to £6,000. Trainees on primary courses are entitled to £4,000 and trainees starting secondary courses in English, dance and drama will receive £6,000.
Students in Wales are also entitled to tax-free bursaries, which are known as training grants. For the academic year 2009-10, maths, science, design and technology, ICT, Welsh, music and religious education trainees will receive a £7,200 training grant; trainees in art, geography, history, physical education and English (including drama) are entitled to a training grant of £4,200. Trainees starting postgraduate primary courses will receive £2,200. There are several other awards you may be able to apply for: visit www.studentfinancewales.co.uk for full details.
Funding for trainee teachers on employment-based routes
If you decided to train via the graduate or registered teacher programmes (GTP and RTP) you will be paid a salary by the school where you are working. The minimum salary will be £15,461, but you could be paid more.
Golden hellos for teachers of priority subjects
If you have qualified in one of the priority subjects via a postgraduate route to qualified teacher status (QTS) such as a PGCE, you could be eligible to receive a golden hello once you take up a permanent position teaching that subject in a maintained or non-maintained special school in England. Currently, maths and science teachers are entitled to £5,000, while £2,500 is available to teachers of ICT, design and technology, modern foreign languages, religious education and music. Similar awards are made in Wales where they are known as teaching grants.
