HES/BASS
Employment-Based Routes into Teaching
Graduate Teacher Programme
Creating a brighter future for children and young people
HES/BASS Train to Teach Information Sheet. August 2011
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The Health Education Service (HES) and Birmingham Advisory and Support Service (BASS)
are part of Birmingham Local Authority School Effectiveness Division which has been training
teachers since 1998. In 2003/04, following a successful Ofsted inspection, BASS became
accredited as a Recommending Body (RB) for the Graduate and Registered Teacher
Programmes (known as employment-based routes into teaching – EBITT). This means that
the programme can appoint trainees onto one of our programmes and following training,
award Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to successful trainees.
Please note that the information below relates specifically to HES/BASS EBITT. Places on all
EBITT courses are limited (especially those for salary grants) and therefore rigorous
application and selection procedures are in place.
Birmingham City Council is committed to equal opportunities in employment and we positively
welcome your application irrespective of your gender, race, disability, colour, ethnic origin or
national origin, nationality, sexuality, marital status, responsibility for dependants, religion,
trade union activity and age.
NOTE: ALL SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE PROCEDURES WILL BE
STRICTLY ADHERED TO
The Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP)
The Graduate Teacher Programme is an on-the-job training programme that allows graduates
to qualify as a teacher while they work. On the GTP graduates are employed by a school, earn
a salary and work towards qualified teacher status. It's a good choice if you want to change to
a teaching career but need to continue earning while you train.
For more information on the GTP, see the TDA website:
http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/thetrainingprocess/typesofcourse/employmentbased/gtp/about.a
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The GTP is available for both primary and secondary applicants, with places being allocated
by the TDA. These are divided into the following categories:
 Secondary shortage priority subjects
 Other secondary subjects and
 Primary
A full list of secondary priority subjects is available on the TDA website: www.teach.gov.uk
Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications do I need?
For all EBITT routes into teaching the following qualifications are required:
GCSE English grade ‘C’ or above, or equivalent
GCSE maths grade ‘C’ or above, or equivalent
In addition, primary applicants must have a GCSE science grade ‘C’ or above, or equivalent
HES/BASS Train to Teach Information Sheet. August 2011
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To be eligible for the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) you need qualifications at least
equivalent to a UK bachelors degree at level 2:2 or above. For secondary teacher training, the
degree must be in the subject you wish to teach, i.e. if you wish to train to teach history, you
require a history degree.
NOTE. All overseas qualifications will have to be verified by the National Academic
Recognition Centre (NARIC) before you will be accepted onto the programme. For further
information or to contact NARIC, visit their website - www.naric.org.uk

How long does the GTP take?
GTP training is for 1 academic year, starting in September. (NOTE. There are several one day
courses in the preceding July, e.g. Induction, behaviour management, etc.)

Do I need to find a school willing to support and train me?
Yes. This is often the most challenging aspect of accessing an EBITT programme. We have
found that ‘cold calling’ schools / headteachers tends to be ineffective. Most trainees will have
done voluntary work in the school that employs them - or they will have firstly taken up a
position such as teaching assistant or cover supervisor. If the school likes you and see your
potential then they are then more likely to offer to be your training school. Try thinking about
anything that you could offer a school in terms of voluntary help ( what would make you an
attractive proposition to schools - possibly what could you offer in terms of pupil support or
coaching and clubs) - and contact them to see if they would be interested in making use of
you. This will also give you much useful experience to draw on if you are called for an
interview.

Will HES/BASS work with any school?
As the local authority provider we prioritise funding for trainees in Birmingham schools,
although we do also work with schools outside of the authority. We are not able to work with
trainees in schools in Special Measures or with a Notice to Improve.

Can I train in a special school?
Yes. However, you will need to demonstrate that you can teach effectively in a main stream
school. This means that you will have to spend a substantial proportion of your training year in
a main stream school. On our programme trainees from special schools will spend one term in
a mainstream school.

Can I train in an independent school?
Yes. However, there is no TDA funding to support either training or salary costs. Therefore, in
addition to paying your salary, the independent school would also have to pay HES/BASS the
training costs (or you could self-fund). NOTE. We also may require you to teach for part of the
year in a main stream school (in addition to the 6 week school placement), for example, if
class sizes in the independent school are small.

Once I’ve found a school, will I automatically get a place on an ITT programme?
No. Once a school has agreed to support and train you on one of the above programmes,
school must contact the HES/BASS ITT administrator to request the appropriate application
HES/BASS Train to Teach Information Sheet. August 2011
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pack (we do not send application packs to individuals). There are then formal selection and
interview procedures.

How are the various Programmes funded?
The TDA provide funding for the following programmes:
GTP Salary and training grant – the TDA pay all training costs and also pay you a salary whilst
you are training in school. NOTE. Places for the training and salary grants are limited and very
competitive.
GTP training grant only – the TDA pay HES/BASS all training costs but not your salary. School
will pay your salary.
NOTE. The key difference between these two situations is that the person with a salary grant
is not expected to be filling a vacancy on the staff and be in addition to the normal staffing
complement, whereas a training grant place is given to trainees with prior experience, who
may be filling a vacancy.
Self-funding – the school meets all salary and pays your training costs to HES/BASS

I have been told that I have to spend time in a second school. Is that correct?
Yes. The TDA require all trainees to have a second school experience. This will normally take
place after the Christmas holiday for a period of 6 weeks. There may be instances where the
second school experience is extended, for example, if your employing school is a special
school.

Do I have to do written assignments?
Yes. There are 3 formally assessed assignments, ‘How Children Learn’, ‘Planning for Effective
Learning and teaching’ and ‘Assessment for Learning’.

Do I have to take the TDA Skills Tests in English, maths and ICT?
Yes. You will have to pass all three tests regardless of which route into teaching you choose.

Can I take the tests before I start a programme?
No. You currently need your Teacher Reference Number which is allocated to you after
starting the programme in order to register on the TDA Skills Test website.
For further information please email the BASS ITT administrator:
ebitt@birmingham.gov.uk
HES/BASS Train to Teach Information Sheet. August 2011
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