Welcome
Welcome to the December edition of the Teacher Recruitment Bulletin (TRB) from the Department for Education (DfE). We have categorised the contents of this TRB below to help you navigate to the information you need.
Please forward pertinent information on to your colleagues and ITT partners to help us share important information and updates during this busy and difficult time.
ITT Guidance
1) ITT Placements: Winter Break
2) ITT Placements: Local tiers
3) Returning in January 2021
4) Sufficient time in schools
5) Ofsted – ITE Inspections
6) SCITT fee limits
Attract & Recruit – funding
7) SKE package AY 2020/21
8) ITT Scholarships Bursary
Attract & Recruit
9) School Experience
10) Maths and Physics – Chairs
11) Future Training Scholars (FTS)
12) Teaching advertising campaign
Flexible working & overseas guidance
13) Implementing flexible working
14) Recognition of overseas teaching qualifications
15) Overseas ITT recruitment
DfE Systems & Census
16) Register trainee teachers
17) DfE Apply
18) ITT Census
ITT Guidance & Support
1) ITT placements: Winter Break
We have updated our guidance on students returning home during December. The guidance clarifies that, as critical workers providing support to schools, postgraduate trainees and final-year undergraduate trainees can continue their placement in person until the end of term, where they are operationally essential and content to do so.
For all placements that end in person earlier than planned, ITT providers should consider how to best use the remaining training time before the end of term. This may include remote centre-based or school-based training.
For more details on placements during December, please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reopening-buildings-and-campuses/student-movement-and-plans-for-the-end-of-autumn-2020-term#healthcare-and-other-students-on-placements-returning-home-during-december
2) ITT placements: local tiers
The local restriction tiers that came into force in England on 2 December make provision for public sector workers, including those in education settings, to continue to go into work where necessary. ITT trainees are classed as critical workers and should continue to travel to and from their placement, in line with arrangements agreed with their host school.
In addition, a contingency framework for education settings (excluding universities) has been published. It reiterates that restrictions in education are a last resort and describes how such restrictions would be implemented. This framework has replaced the tiers of national restriction for education.
For more information on the local restriction tiers, please see: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know
For more information on the contingency framework for education settings, please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-contingency-framework-for-education-and-childcare-settings/contingency-framework-education-and-childcare-settings-excluding-universities
For more information on critical worker status, please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-initial-teacher-training-itt/coronavirus-covid-19-initial-teacher-training-itt#critical-workers
3) Returning in January 2021
ITT trainees will be able to return to their courses and placements from 4 January 2021.
Trainees should make use of asymptomatic testing, where available through their higher education institution or through local community testing, before returning to placement. Where trainees have spent the winter break in a tier 3 area, they should use local community testing and take a test before travelling, where this fits with locally targeted programmes.
Where asymptomatic testing is not available, trainees should return to their placement as planned and seek a test if they develop COVID-19 symptoms, in line with the guidance for teachers.
For more information on returning to study and training in January, please see:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reopening-buildings-and-campuses/students-returning-to-higher-education-from-spring-term
For more information on asymptomatic testing, please see: https://dfemedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/12/03/university-testing-your-questions-answered/
4) Sufficient time in schools
We have published guidance relating to the time ITT trainees spend on placement in 20/21. This clarifies that ITT courses should be designed to provide trainees with the time they need training in school to demonstrate the Teachers’ Standards, but that in the event of disruption due to coronavirus (COVID-19), courses with fewer than 120 days physically in school are acceptable.
We recognise that disruption due to coronavirus may lead to discrepancies in the length and consistency of trainees’ placement experience this year.
In addition, we have published guidance on arranging remote lesson observations and moderating placements remotely.
For more details, please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-initial-teacher-training-itt/coronavirus-covid-19-initial-teacher-training-itt#november-2020-updates
5) Ofsted – ITE inspections
Routine inspections of ITT partnerships were scheduled to commence from January 2021. Following the announcement of a return to routine school inspections, alongside other inspection remits, we can now confirm that inspections of ITT partnerships will commence from April 2021 instead.
Ofsted will provide updated information to partnerships on any interim activity taking place prior to April 2021.
Ofsted’s revised ITE inspection framework and handbook can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-education-ite-inspection-framework-and-handbook
6) SCITT fee limits
Current DfE guidance limits SCITTs to a fee charge of £9,250 for all full time ITT courses, and £6,935 for all part time ITT courses.
When we revise the guidance for recruitment to 2022/23 courses we will amend the fee charge limits for full and part time ITT courses, respectively, so that these limits apply only to trainees that are eligible at that time for student support.
This will mean that SCITTs can set and publish their own fees for international trainees for full-time programmes of ITT in 2022/23.
In the meantime, for recruitment to 2021/22 courses, SCITTs should adhere to their currently published fees, and the current limits. Guidance for this cohort will be updated shortly.
For more information on current fee charges and fee loans for ITT trainees, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-criteria/initial-teacher-training-itt-criteria-and-supporting-advice
Any questions please contact ITT.accreditation@education.gov.uk
Attract & Recruit – Funding
7) SKE package AY 2020/21
We wrote out to SKE and ITT providers on 10 December confirming the SKE package for AY 2020/21
The following changes have been made:
i. Reduction of the SKE candidate bursary from £200 to £175 per week
ii. Removal of geography as a SKE subject
iii. Tightening eligibility for SKE to exclude those who have a degree in their chosen ITT subject awarded in the previous 5 years.
We will continue to offer SKE courses in nine subjects: mathematics (including primary mathematics), physics, chemistry, computing, biology, languages, English, design and technology and religious education.
With the exception of physics, which will be available from 1 January, all other SKE courses listed will be available from 1 April 2021.
We will be confirming funding allocations with individual SKE providers week commencing 14 December.
SKE information on Gov.UK and Get into Teaching will be updated in the next few days to reflect the announcement.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/subject-knowledge-enhancement-an-introduction
8) ITT Scholarships – Bursary
If you are recruiting chemistry, computing, maths or physics trainees, please promote the scholarships available in these subjects. Scholarship Trainees will receive an enhanced bursary of £26,000 if they secure an ITT place by September 2021.
The scheme is aimed at high quality candidates who are passionate about their subject and have the potential to be inspirational teachers.
Successful applicants will receive additional support to enhance their subject knowledge and gain access to high quality professional development resources.
For further details, including application processes and eligibility, please visit the Scholarships page here: https://www.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=51a09bc4febb44c520a61d4fc&id=29016e9666&e=f76b880e67
More guidance on postgraduate bursaries and scholarships is available here : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-itt-bursary-funding-manual
Attract & Recruit
9) School Experience
Schools offering in-school or virtual school experience can use the Manage School Experience Service to promote their offer to candidates. We have candidates searching the service daily, with some schools offering talks about their school and local ITT providers and others running 1-to-1 virtual sessions.
To access the School Experience service, please click this link: https://schoolexperience.education.gov.uk/schools
If you would like your organisation to be added to the Get School Experience service, please email organise.school-experience@education.gov.uk
10) Maths and Physics Chairs
The Chairs programme aims to help schools to recruit high-calibre secondary school trainees in maths, physics and wider E-Bacc subjects by offering a tailored teacher training route to subject expert post-doctoral researchers. This initiative is delivered by the education charity The Brilliant Club through the Researchers in Schools programme (RIS) and operates in conjunction with school-led ITT providers.
The programme recruits trainees to the School Direct Fee and Salaried routes in non-selective state schools in England and is keen to hear from ITT providers who are interested in training and placing RIS participants in their partnerships for 2021-22.
For more information about the programme, please see: https://thebrilliantclub.org/researchers-in-schools/
If you would like to speak to a member of the team, please email: hello@researchersinschools.org
11) Future Teaching Scholars (FTS)
FTS is looking for schools in England with maths and physics teaching vacancies that are interested in employing a Scholar to start September 2021. FTS is a different approach to teacher training, supporting students throughout their degree and beyond.
Schools that hire a Scholar must provide a well-supported environment in which Scholars can build on their incredible experiences. Scholars will join your school as ITT students with three or more years of in-school experiences and training and come with no recruitment fees.
If you have a maths or physics teaching vacancy, or would like more details, please visit https://www.futureteachingscholars.com/itt/employing-scholars.
For more information, please email the Employment Coordinator, Kate Wastie, at kwastie@educationdevelopmenttrust.com.
12) Teaching advertising campaign
From December, the Get Into Teaching campaign will be live across multiple media channels including TV. We will be relaunching our ‘Tuesday’ creative, showing a day in the life of a teacher.
From January, we are also running a Media Partnership with Channel 4/The Guardian which aims to show there isn’t a one size fits all when it comes to a career in teaching, by profiling 100 Teachers.
The content will be live across a variety of media platforms.
If you are using Twitter for recruitment activity, tag us (@getintoteaching), and where possible, we will retweet to our 101,000 followers.
The Get Into Teaching Twitter page can be found at: https://twitter.com/getintoteaching
Flexible working & Overseas guidance
13) Implementing flexible working
The application process to procure webinar-based training for school leaders on how to implement flexible working is now open The successful provider will train school leaders, including Heads, MAT CEOs, School HR and Business Leads, Governors and Trustees on how to implement effective flexible working practices and, in particular, how to develop strategic approaches to increase their flexible working offer.
This activity aims to increase recruitment, retention and career progression of high-quality teachers through supporting schools that would like to develop their flexible working practices. The application process will be open until 8 January 2021.
More details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/implementing-flexible-working-training-for-school-leaders
14 )Recognition of overseas teaching qualifications
Teachers qualified in the EEA or Switzerland who are applying for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) from 1 January 2021 will still be able to apply but will need to provide a Letter of Professional Standing from the organisation responsible for regulating teachers in their country of qualification.
There is more information on the UK transition page https://www.gov.uk/guidance/applying-for-qualified-teacher-status-qts-from-1-january-2021
Individuals with QTS who are applying for recognition in the EU from 1 January 2021 should act now to check the latest recognition arrangements with the organisation responsible for regulating teachers in their intended destination country.
15) Overseas ITT recruitment
The new points-based immigration system will apply to all trainee teachers from overseas arriving in the UK on or after 1 January 2021. These trainees, including those from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, will need to apply for a visa. ITT providers may need to become visa sponsors if they want to recruit trainees who are not UK or Irish nationals.
There are restrictions on state schools becoming visa sponsors.
EEA and Swiss trainees living in the UK by 31 December 2020 can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living, working and studying in the UK without applying through the points-based immigration system.
You can find more information on recruiting trainee teachers from overseas here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/recruit-trainee-teachers-from-overseas-accredited-itt-providers
Please access the DfE/Home Office webinar for ITT providers about the points-based immigration system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5SzSZfFEiM&feature=youtu.be
DfE Systems & Census
16) Register trainee teachers
We are developing a new service to make registering your trainee teachers easier and more streamlined. Register trainee teachers is being rolled out gradually starting with the Assessment Only route in the new year. This service will eventually replace the DTTP portal you currently use. Over the coming months, we’ll keep you up to date on our progress.
For more information about becoming an early adopter or getting involved in our User Research, please get in touch by emailing: becomingateacher@digital.education.gov.uk
If you are an Assessment Only provider and want to partner with us, and help shape the new service, please contact us at: becomingateacher@digital.education.gov.uk
17) DfE Apply
If you have altered courses due to the financial incentives announcement, please update any changes in Publish. If your courses become full, mark them as full in Publish to ensure they aren’t available to new applicants on Find. Closures or alterations made in Publish can be reviewed and changed if needed
To update or close your courses, you can access Publish here: https://www.publish-teacher-training-courses.service.gov.uk/
To discuss or join DfE Apply, please contact: becomingateacher@digital.education.gov.uk
18) ITT Census
The ITT Census for 2020/21 was published on Thursday 3 December 2020.
This statistical release provides provisional figures on the number of new entrants who have started an ITT programme in England in 2020/21 by school subject, training route, training region and a range of trainee demographic factors. The publication also includes revised data for 2019/20.
Information is broken down and includes statistics by route and subject and the number of entrants to ITT and their:
*gender
*age
*declared ethnicity
*declared disability
*entry qualifications
*nationality
It also includes statistics on early years ITT.
You can view the full statistical release on GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/initial-teacher-training-trainee-number-census-2020-to-2021
Enquiries can be directed to the ITT Routes Analysis and Research team by emailing ittstatistics.publications@education.gov.uk
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