We are always happy to answer queries and provide more information about our Initial Teacher Training Programme. However, at this time of year – just before and at the opening of UCAS applications – we are extremely busy and can’t answer questions as quickly as we would like. We have therefore put together this list of FAQs which we hope is helpful.
If your query isn’t answered here, then please feel free to get in touch.
Yes, absolutely! We strongly encourage anybody who is thinking of applying to train with us to visit us before they submit their application. We have found in the past that students who visit before they apply perform better at our assessment days, and are much clearer on what to expect from the programme when they begin their course. We understand that life is busy, but becoming a teacher is a huge commitment and we believe that an hour’s visit to the school is a very important part of making the decision that is right for you.
We are holding a number of open days in 2018-19:
You can register for a place in advance here.
Yes. In 2019-20, we will have a very small number of salaried places available on our teacher training course. These places are extremely popular, and in previous years have been filled before Christmas. Therefore, if you want to apply for a salaried place we would urge you to submit your application as early in the round as possible. When all of our salaried places have been filled, this course will be closed in UCAS and only non-salaried places will be available to apply to.
There are a few key differences between the salaried and non-salaried places we are offering in 2019-20. You should consider these carefully before submitting your application:
Salaried |
Non-salaried |
| Provides Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) ONLY | Provides a PGCE with QTS |
| You will receive a salary from the school, set at Wiltshire Council’s Unqualified Teacher salary, for the duration of the course (2nd September 2019 – 26th June 2020) | You will not receive a salary from the school for the time that you are training. However, you may be eligible for a bursary or other government funding – more details are available here |
| All assessment and training is provided by the school. You will need to attend the University of Gloucester twice (once for an induction at the beginning of the programme, and once in January for a day-long conference) | You will attend up to 8 days at the University of Gloucester, which are critical for you to gain the academic element of your qualification (the PGCE) |
| You will receive input from our specialists in the core subjects – English, Maths and SEND. All other curriculum input will be learned in the classroom by observing and working with your mentor | You will receive input from The Mead’s specialist teachers in all areas of the primary curriculum, including PE, Geography, History, RE, PSHE, and more |
Yes. In Apply One, you are able to apply to up to three different courses. These may be with the same provider, or with different providers. If you apply to multiple courses with the same provider, it will still count as a course choice. In 2019-20, we will have four courses available to choose from:
UCAS course code |
Course title |
Salaried? |
| 23Y9 | Primary (4-11)
PGCE with QTS |
No |
| 23YL | Primary (3-7)
PGCE with QTS (Early Years qualified only) |
No |
| 36FK | Primary (4-11)
QTS Only |
Yes |
| 38KM | Primary (3-7)
QTS Only (Early Years qualified only) |
Yes |
If you are not successful in gaining a place in Apply One, or you do not like the offers you are made, you can then enter Apply Two. This allows you to continue applying to courses, one at a time. You could re-apply to us in Apply Two, applying to a different course than the course you originally applied to.
No. All of our courses are full time. They all begin on the first day of the school year – 2nd September 2019 – and run for the full length of the academic year.
For all of our courses, you must hold:
You must hold these qualifications at the time you apply (unless you are in your final year of University and have not yet completed your degree).
If you do not hold a GCSE in any of these subjects, you can complete an Equivalency Test, which again you must do before applying for a place on our courses.
If you hold a degree from a non-UK University or other institution, you will need to get your qualification certified by NARIC. UK NARIC is the designated United Kingdom national agency for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications and skills. It performs this official function on behalf of the UK Government. Unfortunately, we are not able to advise on what qualifications may be acceptable.
You will be able to apply for a place as soon as UCAS opens on 9th October 2018. You apply for a teacher training place in the same way as you apply for any other University course.
There is no deadline for applications. We hold an assessment day once a month, and if your application is shortlisted you will be invited to the next assessment day that is available after your application is received. We will continue to accept applications and hold assessment days until all of our places are filled. When a course is full, we will close it on UCAS and it will no longer be available to apply to.
All of our students will spend the first two terms of their trainee year within a Mead Academy Trust school. In terms three and four, all of our students must switch schools and key stages. You may move to a different school within the Trust, or move to one of our partner schools. For terms five and six, you may move back to your original school, or you may stay where you are. This means that all of our students will teach in at least two different schools, and in two different key stages, during their trainee year.
Whilst we make every effort to accommodate particular requests for placements, we cannot guarantee a placement in a specific school or year group. Placements are dependent on a number of factors, including how many students there are in a cohort, and which schools can support a student. Hosting a trainee teacher is a big investment for a school, and sometimes there is not always capacity within a school or particular year group to place a student there.
Unfortunately, we can only review applications as they are received via UCAS. Sadly, we don’t have the time to look at individual CVs or work histories before receiving a full application.
It’s important to remember that your UCAS application needs to tell us everything about you, we won’t see any other documentation. Spend time on your personal statement to ensure it’s a good reflection of who you are, and ensure that your referees are able to comment on you as a person as well as your experience.
Yes. We are always happy to support people who are looking to get more experience of primary school life, whether they want to apply to one of our trainee teacher courses or not. Making arrangements of this kind is quite time-consuming for us, so we would ask that in the first instance you register to come along to one of open days. This will give you a good feel for our school, and the opportunity to find out more about it before volunteering. You can find out more about the open days, and register for a place, here.