Hounslow works with and as a partner of The West London Partnership, an Accredited Recommending Body consisting of West London Boroughs and local Inital Teacher Training Providers. To find out about the advice and support available through the Partnership please click on one of the links below:
The Graduate Trainee Programme (GTP
The Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (OTTP)
The 4-Year Rule - All Unqualified Teachers
The Refugees Into Teaching Programme
Contact The West London Partnership
Graduate Trainee Partnership - GTP
Hounslow is part of the West London Partnership, www.wlp.ac.uk an Accredited Recommending Body consisting of 4 Higher Education Institutes, one accredited ITT provider (The Wandsworth Primary School Consortium) and 9 London LEAs. The HE Institutions are:
The partnership operates employment-based training for teachers via the Graduate Teacher Programme and also the Overseas Trained Teachers Programme (OTTP).
The Partnership as an Accredited Body will provide many benefits including the following:
- A rigorous screening process for candidates
- Training needs assessment and assistance in drafting the training programme
- Provision of high quality training and materials
- Quality assurance and support during the training programme
- Management of the final external assessment against standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS.)
- Recommendation of candidates to the General Teaching Council (GTC) for QTS.
The Graduate Teacher Programme is a route into teaching for those who hold a UK degree or equivalent and who wish to train for Qualified Teacher Status and build a career in teaching. It is an opportunity to work and train at the same time and is a flexible programme designed to fit around your needs. You will be paid while you train and spend a minimum of 2 days per week teaching in the classroom.
For more information concerning the benefits of the Graduate Teacher Programme as a route into teaching for you, please visit www.wlp.ac.uk
Profile of GTP Secondary Teacher Saqib Ahmed
Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (OTTP)
If you are an OTT (Overseas Trained Teacher) one of the first things you need to do when looking for a job within the UK is contact UK NARIC to have your overseas qualifications verified. UK NARIC will tell you what your academic qualifications are the equivalent of here in the UK and if you already have UK QTS. This is a requirement for applying for vacancies or for joining the OTT programme. UK NARIC can be contacted on 0870 990 4088 or by visiting www.naric.org.uk
If you are a teacher who has gained their teaching qualification from a country inside the EU or EEA then you may not need to work towards gaining UK QTS. For more information please see: www.teachernet.org.uk/teachinginengland and contact the General Teaching Council for England (GTC) for an EC1 form. For a list of those countries currently in the EU or EEA please see http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/
The OTT Programme as run by the West London Partnership is for those teachers who have an overseas teaching qualification and experience but for whom NARIC have stated that they have not yet gained UK QTS or its equivalent. These teachers may apply for vacancies in the normal manner via our Vacancies Page but should be aware of the 4-year rule and the need to gain UK QTS within this time, regardless of sponsorship / work permit, visa or other UK entry / citizen status. Those teachers without UK QTS will also be paid on the unqualified scale and so it is in all unqualified teacher’s interests to start working towards UK QTS as soon as possible.
You can gain QTS via the OTT programme if a school already employs you, however if you are an OTT not currently working within a school you will first need to find a teaching post.
The West London Partnership runs the OTT Programme in co-ordination with the local ITT providers, schools and Local Authorities but you will need to find a placement yourself. You should approach the schools in your area or apply for vacancies open to OTTs as advertised. Please see our Schools section for a contact list of all our schools or our Vacancies page for the latest opportunities. It is also advisable to view www.schoolsrecruitment.dcsf.gov.uk and www.eteach.com for the regional teaching vacancies.
The OTT scheme
- Is an employment-based route enabling those who have trained outside of the EEA to gain QTS and to continue teaching in the UK
- Can last a minimum of 6 weeks to a maximum of 1 year. The usual duration is 1 school term.
- Assesses candidates through viewing them teach in the classroom, the consideration of evidence against the standards for QTS and interviews by senior colleagues.
- Provides two options for assessment: 1. Assessment against the standards for QTS and 2. Assessment against the standards for QTS and induction - dual assessment. Option 2 is only open to those with a minimum of 2 years teaching experience with at least 1 of those years undertaken in the UK.
To be eligible for the scheme there are a number of criteria that candidates must fulfil. Please contact www.wlp.ac.uk or telephone 020 8547 8789 for full details, an application checklist and form. For a full list of those countries currently in the European Economic Area please visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/
Please Note: The 4 year Rule.
According to the DfE and TDA, OTTs (Overseas Trained Teachers) who trained outside of the European Economic Area and any Unqualified Teachers, need to gain UK (QTS) within 4 years of commencing teaching in UK schools, regardless of sponsorship / work permit or other established right to work in the UK. After that time, they must have QTS in order to continue teaching legally. The DfE and UK Border Agency consider this 4 year period to start on the first day of teaching in a UK school and does not stop with any breaks in employment.
The Teacher Recruitment Team recommend that ALL OTTs and ALL UNQUALIFED TEACHERS should work towards gaining UK QTS as soon as possible in order to be able to continue their teaching career within the UK.
Please note: As of November 2008, the UK Border and Immigration Agency ( formely The Home Office) will be introducing a new Points-Based Sponsership Scheme for all new entrants to the United Kingdom. This will replace the existing Work Permit System. For more information please go to www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
Refugees Into Teaching Project
It is estimated that thousands of refugees have experience of teaching abroad, and also in the UK, but do not currently have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Refugee teachers have a range of skills to offer, which could also be used to fill vacancies in UK schools, while actively promoting equality and diversity in the workplace. Many refugees have problems accessing information, advice and guidance, and refugee teachers in particular face additional barriers to employment in the UK, including the teaching profession.
The West London Partnership offers a scheme to help those with recognised Refugee Status, to obtain the necessary skills in order to build on their current teaching experience and prepare them for a career in UK schools. In conjunction with the TDA, UK NARIC, Newman College and The Refugee Council, the Partnership are able to offer guidance, skills and communication training and access to other QTS routes through this scheme.
For further details please visit www.wlp.ac.uk or www.refugeesintoteaching.org.uk/
Contact
The West London Partnership are based at Kingston University.
Please visit their website www.wlp.ac.uk or telephone 020 8417 5342 / 020 8417 5689 for more information on any of the teaching routes detailed here.