Applications

Entry Requirements

There are 2 parts to what is required to be a teacher. The first part consists of qualifications and other entry requirements. The second is your aptitude for teaching and interpersonal skills.

Degree or equivalent

You must hold an undergraduate degree with Honours, with a minimum 2:2 classification or equivalent, or be predicted to achieve this before the course starts in September. Ideally, 50% of your degree should be either in the subject that you will specialise in, or in a closely related subject area. There is no requirement for you to have a degree in the subject you want to train to teach. If you have a Masters or PhD, the highest qualification will supersede your undergraduate degree.

UK ENIC – UK European National Information Centre for the Recognition and Comparison of International Qualifications and Skills

If you gained your academic qualifications outside of the UK, you must obtain a Statement of Comparability from UK ENIC (formally UK NARIC) in order to meet criteria set by the UK Government.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

Successful applicants will be subject to a DBS check, managed by the University of Winchester. Further information regarding this process will be provided to successful applicants.

GCSEs

You must have GCSE Mathematics and English at grade 4, C, or above, before the course begins in September. If you do not meet these requirements, specific equivalency tests may be accepted in lieu of English and Mathematics, or other evidence of attainment may be also be considered. Such decisions will be at the discretion of the Alliance.

Certificates

If you are invited to interview, you will be asked to provide certificates for both your degree and GCSEs (or equivalent) examinations. You will need to show the original certificates - scans or photocopies cannot be accepted. If you can't find your original GCSE certificates, click the word 'certificates' above to find out how to get replacements.

Health Declaration Form

Everyone that accepts a place on one of our training courses is obliged to complete and return a Health Declaration form, leading to confirmation by the relevant Health Service of their fitness to teach. Further information will be provided to successful applicants. This form will be sent and dealt with by the University of Winchester.

References

References will be requested if you are successful at interview and accept our offer. We require two references, including one academic reference. If you completed your studies more than 5 years ago, it may be more appropriate to have references from an employer, or from an institution that you volunteered at whilst gaining school experience. It is your responsibility to seek permission to name referees on your application and it would be useful if they were in a position to be able to comment on your suitability for a trainee teacher post.

Aptitude for teaching and interpersonal skills

Qualifications are only half of the picture when you are considering a career in teaching. Teaching is a profession like no other: as a teacher you never stop learning, and as a learner you never stop teaching. You need to be able to embrace the opportunities to collaborate as an active member of a team, and have the discipline and initiative to put yourself forward to lead and drive projects as they arise.

Does this sound like you?

As an Alliance, we particularly value candidates who have had recent formal or informal experience in an educational context and can articulate examples of how their vision or practice has been shaped by this experience.

Personal Skills Profile

As a successful applicant, you will have:

  • excellent communication skills
  • a commitment and drive to work hard
  • the ability to establish positive working relationships
  • the confidence and ability to engage with children
  • the desire to be an active part of a professional team
  • an understanding of, and commitment to, excellence in education
  • a developing knowledge of pedagogy and current educational issues
  • the ability to adapt and be flexible
  • a sense of humour