Teaching Dance in Schools - Training to Teach through the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP)

Training to Teach through the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP)

The Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) offers employment based routes to Qualified Teacher Status. Graduates earn a salary as a teacher and train at the same time. It is seen as a good choice for people who want to change to a teaching career but need to continue earning while they train. The programme usually takes a full time school year, but depending on previous teaching experience, may be shorter.

To apply for the Graduate Teacher Programme you need to:
Apply directly for a place with a local Employment Based Initial Teacher Training (EBITT) provider who will assess your application and decide what further training you need to meet the standards for Qualified Teacher Status. You also need to find a place in a school that is willing to support you while you train. Some EBITT’s will help you to find a school that is willing to employ you and support you through your training.GTP places for dance are limited and competition is very strong.

To meet the entry requirements you will need to:
- have a related first degree with a minimum of 50% Dance (normally a First or 2.1)
- Grade C or above (or a recognised equivalent) in the GCSE English and GCSE Maths
- supply verifiable references
- have previous experience of teaching in schools
- be successful in a formal interview

Other requirements:
You will be expected to undertake other tasks to test your subject knowledge, understanding of education, learning and teaching; ICT skills; oral presentation skills; numeracy skills; literacy skills and teaching skills. Each EBITT does this in different ways.

Examples include:
- oral / power point presentation
- test of your ICT skills
- Literacy and /or numeracy test
- demonstration lesson - observed by a member of staff or someone on the interview panel
- discussion with pupils - observed by a member of staff or someone on the interview panel
- written tasks observing a lesson and writing up or discussing your observations
- assessment of subject knowledge via presentation, interview or test
- read an article before interview and then discuss during the interview

During the training you will be expected to:
- with the school at the beginning of your training, audit your subject knowledge, ICT and teaching skills against the Professional Standards for QTS - the school will then draw up a training plan which will be reviewed throughout your training.
- attend EBITT sessions on specific topics
- teach under the supervision and guidance of a subject specialist mentor within 2 secondary schools during the academic year
- teach a balanced timetable of Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and examination courses in Dance
- plan, deliver and evaluate lesson plans, schemes and units of work
- take part in the monitoring and assessing of pupils work
- undertake a short placement in a primary school
- attend weekly meetings with your subject specialist mentor for systematic monitoring of your progress who will also observe you teaching on a regular basis
- attend school based professional sessions on whole school issues
- keep a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate you have met all the standards
- research and complete a number of written assignments
- take and pass the literacy, numeracy and ICT Skills Tests

On completion of the training programme:
You will undergo a final assessment in order to validate the recommendation that you have met all the standards in order to receive Qualified Teacher Status.

Further information is available on the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) website.