School Direct trainee teachers

Training to teach can be a fantastic experience and is the first step into the best career in the world.

Year on year trainees on school-based Initial Teacher Training (ITT) routes, like School Direct, make up approximately half of those working towards Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in the UK. However, the experiences of School Direct trainees across England can vary, from the excellent to the not so good; and if the Government, schools, and training providers don’t get it right they run the risk of losing passionate teachers before they are even qualified.

With this in mind the National Education Union has produced this 22-point  checklist as a guide for School-Based trainee teachers setting out the minimum expectations for their teacher training year.

This should include information about safeguarding procedures and the name of the designated safeguarding lead, pupil behaviour policy and the name of the SENCO, bullying and harassment policy, equality and diversity policy, health and safety information, and the names of trade union representatives.

Your written particulars might be included in your letter of appointment or given to you as a separate document. The statement should contain your job title; your rate of pay and how often you will be paid; the hours you will work; your entitlements in relation to holiday pay; sick pay; notice pay; pension and any collective agreements which directly affect your terms and conditions of employment. If there is a change to any of the terms in your statement of particulars, your employer should let you know in writing within a month of the change, and any changes made with your agreement.

School Direct is a programme of professional education and training. Ofsted’s inspection framework for initial teacher education sets out expectations for a system based on high-quality training and support for trainees. The capacity of the school to provide high-quality mentoring, and to access academic support, is vital to the success of all new teachers.

Delivered by appropriately experienced, qualified and trained staff, including expert mentors.

Providing appropriate feedback on your teaching, and opportunities to comment on any difficulties you are experiencing. You should expect mentoring which is both phase specific (related to the age groups you are working with) and subject specific.

With clear indication of targets to be met.

Having a good relationship with a supportive mentor, who has time to work with you, is key to your success as a School Direct trainee. Your school or training provider should have a clear and supportive process for addressing issues if you do not feel comfortable with your current mentor or mentoring programme.

Including appropriate research, to support you in your learning and teaching.

Including subject-based pedagogy and training in assessment and behaviour management, as well as access to all INSET day and training opportunities provided to other teachers at the school. 

This should include the observation of good teaching.

It is not fair or realistic to expect the same standards, particularly in terms of responsibility and performance, from a teacher in training to that of an experienced teacher with QTS.

Your mentor or line manager should provide you with the behaviour management policy for the school and in some schools will also provide in-house training. It is important to get behaviour right from the start so do not be afraid to ask for support and advice from colleagues.

All teachers experience behaviour management issues in their class at different points in their career, new teachers are no different.

Advice

Behaviour tips for trainee teachers

Tips for trainee members on managing behaviour in the classroom, including tips for your first lesson and managing conflict.

The National Education Union runs behaviour management courses specifically for student members and NQTs.

Teaching, and training to teach, can be immensely challenging and stressful  at times and your school has a duty to look after you and all employees. If your employer/placement school provides access to a counselling service, you should be entitled to access the same during your training. Many counselling support services provide telephone, live chat and email support.  If you do not have access to an employer funded counselling service, you  may contact the Education Support Partnership. Their details are available at Education Support Partnership. 

When you commence your training you are welcome to seek advice and support from the National Education Union. It is very likely that the union has a rep in  your school so please seek them out and introduce yourself if they haven’t done so to you.

The School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) states that “Teachers should be required to provide cover only rarely, and only in circumstances that are not foreseeable (this does not apply to teachers who are employed wholly or mainly for the purpose of providing such cover).” This should apply to all teachers and trainee teachers, including School Direct trainees regardless of route, equally.

This includes, but is not limited to, help with putting up posters and displays and bulk photocopying.

Teachers are protected from discrimination in employment on grounds of age, disability, marital or civil partnership status, maternity/pregnancy, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, trans status (protected characteristics), trade union membership or activity, and by reason of working part-time or on a fixed-term contract. It is unlawful for employers to discriminate in recruitment or selection procedures, or to treat employees differently, in ways that amount to direct or indirect discrimination.

Discrimination might occur, for instance, in promotion opportunities or training; access to benefits or services; in disciplinary, grievance or other procedures; or in dismissal or other detrimental treatment. Teachers are protected from direct and indirect discrimination, victimisation and harassment. Employers must take steps to avoid discrimination in contractual provision and working practices and must take steps to prevent teachers from being harassed by colleagues, parents and pupils.

Further, good employers should take an inclusive approach, ensuring that their employment practices are supportive and widen access to opportunity for those with a protected characteristic or those with caring responsibilities. For more information about discrimination and harassment speak with your workplace rep or see our equality advice. 

Including, but not limited to, the same rights as NQT colleagues to teachers’ sickness and maternity rights and other leave of absence rights.

During your period of training you will be employed by the school or local authority as an unqualified teacher. The salary you receive will be dependent on the school you apply to and the subject you wish to teach. However, you will usually be paid as an unqualified teacher on point one or above of the unqualified teacher scale.

School Direct (salaried) trainees are normally paid on the unqualified teacher pay scales. However, some trainees have been told that because they have a reduced timetable, they will be paid only a percentage of the FT salary, e.g. if you have 80 per cent of the teaching timetable, you will be paid 0.8 FTE on the unqualified teacher pay scales. The National Education Union completely rejects this. You work a reduced teaching timetable because you are learning on the job and need space to manage your time as both a teacher and a student. You should not be made to suffer a diminution in pay because of this.

As a School Direct (salaried) trainee you are eligible to join the scheme and will have the same rights and entitlements as other teachers in relation to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS). We strongly encourage eligible teachers to join the TPS. Joining the TPS is the major step towards securing your financial future – don’t opt out! 

Pensions

Advice, guidance and news about teachers' pensions.

The National Education Union is committed to reducing workload for all teachers and believes that new teachers especially should be given additional protected time to plan and prepare for the classroom. 

If you believe that your school or training provider is currently not meeting these minimum expectations then you need to take action immediately:

• Speak with your workplace rep or local NEU officer. If you do not know who your rep or local NEU officer is then please call us on 0345 811 8111 or see our contacts page.
• Speak with other School Direct trainees at your school and make them aware of this document. The NEU can help organise a meeting so you and other new teachers can talk about your experiences and start making positive changes.
• See our information and advice about starting out in teaching.

Find out what to expect from your teacher training year, ask your rep for a copy of the NEU's charter for School Direct trainees.