School Direct
Delivery Models
The University of Sussex seeks to offer - in partnership with established school partners - the following school direct
models (subject to institutional approval and an established partnership agreement).
Unless stated otherwise, the University’s contribution covers:
Administration: marketing, maintaining selection, compliance, CRB, fitness to teach, health checks, student finance,
operating data systems to TA requirements, student support
Resources: specialist library services, access to online resources, ICT facilities including VLE and distance learning
packages, specialist teaching rooms
Expertise: Highly qualified faculty, eligible and equipped to assess at M level, specialist knowledge in pedagogy and
professional knowledge in key aspects of education, research skills, access to international networks, mentor training.
Quality assurance: programme design and evaluation, dealing with appeals, managing ITT inspections, internal/
external moderation, review of performance data, examination boards and processing QTS and academic awards.
Model
Features
Allocation of Resources
Postgraduate
Certificate of
Education
(PGCE)
Schools commissions the University to deliver
every aspect of School Direct, including selection
and mentor training. The school’s only role is to
offer a regular placement.
The trainee pays the University a tuition fee of
£9,000 (usually by student loan) for which the
University allocates resources according to the
current PGCE agreement (approx. £1,500 to
schools).
School
Direct:
Mainstream
Those studying on the School Direct programme
benefit from all the support and training PGCE
trainees get. Therefore, school partners share in
selection, training and assessment. Schools take
ownership of selection, and organise professional
practice placements. The University provides a
dedicated link tutor to support the school in
developing the programme.
The trainee pays the University a tuition fee of
£9,000 (usually by student loan). The University
reallocates £3,000 to the school. This covers the
school’s provision of mentor tuition, the
organisation of both professional practice
placements, enhanced professional studies and
leadership of recruitment and selection.
School
Direct:
Bespoke
School Direct builds on the successful legacy of
the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) but
additionally incorporates the PGCE award (90 M
level credits). Schools take ownership of
selection, professional practice and professional
studies. Attendance at University-led sessions is
negotiated according to individual needs, but
draws on existing teacher education provision.
Trainees have access to a full programme of
subject knowledge development and professional
studies. The programme is quality assured by a
dedicated link tutor. The school and University
share in the design and success of the training
given.
The trainee pays the University a tuition fee of
£9,000 (usually by student loan). The University
reallocates £3,000 to the school. This covers the
school’s provision of mentor tuition, the
organisation of both professional practice
placements, enhanced professional studies and a
contribution to recruitment and selection. Schools
can also opt to take leadership of the provision of
subject pedagogy. In such cases, the University
reallocates an additional £1,000 to the school.
School
Direct:
Salaried
(QTS Only)
Trainees are employed directly by the school as
an unqualified teacher and their pay starts on the
first point of that scale (currently £15,817). The
trainee teacher is not supernumerary and is
expected to take up to 90% of normal teaching
duties. Trainees must have at least three years’
experience (not necessarily of teaching) and are
required to complete a minimum of 60 days’
teacher training. The training programme for
these trainees is similar to the bespoke model
above and builds on the best practice of the GTP.
No fee is paid by the trainee. Schools receives the
full resource to contribute towards the trainee’s
salary and training – variable according to the
trainee’s subject specialism and FSM (£14000 £19000). Schools pay the University a minimum
of £3,000 to cover training costs, including
subject pedagogy training (where available);
professional studies, quality assurance and
compliance; selection and recruitment;
assessment; and recommendations for QTS.
Schools cover their own costs for selection,
mentoring, organisation of professional practice,
and professional studies.