For all Initial Teacher Education courses the minimum qualifications currently required are as follows:
A first degree or equivalent (Trainees applying for the Registered Teacher Programme need to have achieved 240 credits towards a first degree).
A standard equivalent to GCSE Grade C in Maths and English (those applying for Primary courses also need to achieve a standard equivalent to GCSE Grade C in a science subject).
All qualifications must be UK or UK equivalent.
If your application is for a Secondary course, other than your main degree subject area, you will be asked to demonstrate the appropriateness of your degree or background experience to your proposed main teaching subject.
All applicants are expected to demonstrate interest in and experience of working with children and young people; to exhibit a commitment to a career as a school teacher and to show a positive view of the opportunities provided by working in a rural or city context. Applicants should show experience of working in a classroom or with young people.
All potential entrants to the Robert Owen Group’s Initial Teacher Education courses will be interviewed by a panel representing schools, subjects, and central staff to assess their personal and academic qualities. The majority of interviews will take place in schools.
Please note that the entry requirements set out by the Training and Development Agency for Schools state that, “Level 2 key skills in application of number and communication, and certificates in adult literacy and adult numeracy, are not sufficient to meet the requirements for entry to Initial Teacher Education. Although they are at the same level of the national qualifications framework (NQF) as GCSE A-C grades, they do not cover the full breadth of knowledge demanded by GCSEs.”
For the Overseas Trained Teacher Programme, in addition to the above standard entry requirements, applicants must also hold a professional teaching qualification from their country.
Health Check
You will be asked to complete a self-declaration questionnaire and you may also be required to undertake a medical examination.
Trainee Teachers with disabilities
The Robert Owen Group is committed to a positive and welcoming approach to people who have a disability.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 introduced new laws and measures aimed at ending the discrimination faced by people with disabilities. The Act defines disability as a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. A severe disfigurement is also regarded as a disability.
We will strive to provide equal access to all the services we offer through the provision of any additional support they may need to achieve this wherever it is possible, and reasonable adaptations can be made.
We will do our best therefore to put in place such necessary measures that are required to ensure our premises, workforce and practices do not discriminate against any persons with a disability in any shape or form.
Customers and visitors are invited to ask any member of staff if they need assistance and employees should contact Reception.
A useful source of information for disabled candidates is the Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities website. The website covers issues such as support, funding, the Disability Discrimination Act and the 'fitness to teach' regulations.
Information is also available on the "information and advice for trainee teachers with disabilities" section of the Graduate Teacher Training Registry website.
Any applicants wishing to discuss special circumstances should please telephone us on 01568 615510.
Police Check and CRB Clearance
Declaration of any criminal convictions is also required and applicants will be required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure form in accordance with the Government regulations for people working with young persons and a suitability declaration form as required by the General Teaching Council (GTC). The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 does not apply to the teaching profession. The Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) will also have an involvement