School Direct: guidance for applicants intending to
make a submission for a Schools Direct place at Oak
Grove College
Schools Direct places are offered by a school or group of schools. In our case we
will be working in partnership with Palatine and Cornfield Schools, with one of the
places based at Palatine School.
Currently we are eligible for four places: 2 salaried and 2 unsalaried. However this is
flexible and we can change it to suit the school.
Subject
Schools Direct Model
English
Schools Direct Salaried
(QTS Only)
Schools Direct Salaried
(QTS Only)
Schools Direct
(QTS Only)
Schools Direct
(QTS Only)
Maths
Drama
Primary
What is different about a Schools Direct offer?
Applicants apply directly to a school or federation of schools rather than to the
university. Successful applicants will then spend at least one placement within the
school with the expectation, though no absolute guarantee, of employment at the end
of the year.
As on any training route, you will spend the majority of your time in schools. Sussex
University remains responsible for the quality of your training and you will benefit
from the combined expertise of the university and your placement schools. The exact
format of the school-based elements of the year will depend on the school you apply
to. See Sussex University “Schools Direct Delivery Models and Resource
Allocation”.
Entry and selection requirements
 Undergraduate degree
In order to be considered for the School Direct programme you must be:
o a graduate of a recognised UK higher education institution, usually with a
degree class of 2:2 or above OR
o have a degree or qualification obtained outside the UK, which is accepted by
the university as of an equivalent level OR
o have a qualification that gives graduate status, and which is acceptable to the
university
For secondary schools you should be able to demonstrate that at least 50 per cent of
your undergraduate studies were in the subject you wish to teach.
 General certificate of secondary education (GCSE)
Applicants must have achieved a standard equivalent to a Grade C in GCSE
examinations in both English language and mathematics. In addition to this, primary
applicants must have achieved a Grade C in GCSE Science. We accept equivalency
tests through Equivalency Testing only: http://www.equivalencytesting.com.
 Clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)
We have a duty to protect children and vulnerable adults, and to ensure that they are
not put at risk by student teachers whose previous conduct shows that they are
unsuitable for access to these vulnerable groups. If you are offered a place on the
Schools Direct course, you will be asked to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure
Certificate from the CRB as a requirement of entry to the course. This document will
contain details of any cautions, convictions, reprimands, warnings or recorded against
your name (even where they would ordinarily be considered spent) or confirm that
you have none. It will allow us to make an assessment of your suitability for access
to these vulnerable groups.
How to apply
1. Registration with the TDA
You will need to sign up with the TDA and receive a TDA registration number here.
2. Schools participating in the programme
A list of schools participating in the programme will be posted on the Department for
Education’s website in the first instance.
3. Completing the application form
When completing your application, please read the school information provided and
consider how your personal statement takes account of this.
Schools will be interested in your ability to communicate clearly and effectively, to
be well organised, to be receptive, and to work as part of a team. The school and the
university will need to judge whether, by the end of the Schools Direct PGCE, you
have the potential to have met the Standards for Teaching to the required level.
These cover professional values and practice; subject knowledge; knowledge of
theory and research; lesson planning and record-keeping skills; classroom
management; your understanding of assessment and pupil progress; and the ability to
reflect critically on your own practice and progress.
You should have an interest in working with young people and be able to share your
enthusiasm for the subject/s you wish to teach. Previous experience of working with
children and young people in school or other contexts is a considerable advantage.
4. Submitting the Application Form
Applicants must apply to lead schools through the Department for Education’s online
application portal. Applicants will be able to search for places by Schools Direct
Strand Direct Training Programme (Funded) or School Direct Training Programme
(Salaried), by lead school, by subject, by phase or by location. An applicant will not
be able to submit more than three individual applications in the first instance. Further
applications can be submitted if an applicant is not successful in securing one their
first three choices.
Fees
Trainees on a Schools Direct course will have to pay tuition fees of £9,000 to the
university.
Home and EU trainees will be eligible for a tuition fee loan to cover the cost of these
fees and will not have to pay anything back until they are earning over £21,000 per
annum. You should contact Student Finance England to apply for a tuition fee loan.
You may be eligible to receive a bursary while you train dependent on teaching
subject and a degree class of at least 2:2. Find out about bursary information. If you
train in a school where more than a quarter of pupils are eligible for free school meals
you may, if eligible, also receive an additional 25 per cent training bursary top-up.
Home trainees can also apply for a means-tested maintenance grant of up to £3,250
and a maintenance loan of up to £5,500 (more if you live away from home and you
study in London). More details of how to apply for funding can be found on the
Directgov student finance pages.
Contact
For more information please go to: http://www.ioe.ac.uk/schooldirect/
For further enquiries please contact Schools Direct at: schoolsdirect@ioe.ac.uk
Oak Grove College Timeline
Action
Advert in local press
Open Evening at school
Application deadline
School interview, including
presentation and observation
University interview
When
End of November
December
11 January 2013
End of January
By February half term