Embarking on a journey to become a qualified teacher in England is a wonderful experience for many and allows them to pursue a career that allows them to utilise their subject specialist knowledge and have a real impact on society by helping to guide the next generation.
Concerns about the cost can be a major roadblock for many aspiring educators but here I’ll try to give a little more context around some of the common misconceptions surrounding the affordability of teacher training courses in England and explore viable options to make your dream of becoming a teacher a reality.
Reality: While it’s true that teacher training courses come with associated costs, most notably the tuition fee to the provider and your own day-to-day cost of living, there are various financial support options available to help ease the burden. Many individuals may not be aware of the funding opportunities, scholarships, and grants specifically designed to support aspiring teachers.
Scholarships and Bursaries are offered from the government to encourage trainees in specific in-demand subject routes. The bursaries are paid for each month you are on the course. More details can be found here: getintoteaching.education.gov.uk
Reality: There are multiple routes to becoming a teacher in the UK, and the cost varies depending on the route you choose. Most University led routes or School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) providers are likely to have tuition fees, but there are also school-led and apprenticeship routes that offer alternatives.
The vast majority of trainees engage with funding from Student Finance England to aid in their tuition fees and most trainees simply add the cost of training to be a teacher of their existing student loans.
Maintenance loans are intended to help with living costs during your teacher training. It includes support for accommodation, food, travel, and other general living expenses.
Reality: Student loans in the UK are designed to be accessible and manageable. Repayment plans are income-contingent, meaning you only repay when you earn above a certain threshold. This ensures that your repayments are proportionate to your income, making the financial commitment more reasonable.
Reality: There is no upper age limit on training to be a teacher and as a provider we welcome applications from people that are fresh graduates looking for their first job all the way through to people that have had significant careers in industry but want to spend a few years immersed in a passion for helping young people develop.
Bursaries and scholarships are dependent on eligibility for Student Finance support, so it is always worth contacting Student Finance England to assess your entitlement for funding before making an application.
Reality: As a provider, we are looking at your suitability to train to teach. It takes many years to be a great teacher and, in all honesty, even then you have occasional lessons that are not as good as you would like them to be.
The teacher training year is designed to give you are the knowledge and skills to apply throughout your career as a teacher. Therefore, when interviewing for a teacher training course we want to know why you want to be a teacher and what relevant experience you can draw upon in guiding yourself to that decision.
This could be any relevant experience of working with young people such as experience with Scouts, Guides or within the Combined Cadet Force or sporting clubs.
Becoming a teacher in the UK is an achievable goal, and financial constraints should not be a barrier. Remember, a fulfilling career in teaching is within reach, and the investment in education is an investment in the future. If you’d like more information, come and speak to us at one of our train to teach information events.
Secondary Programme Lead
Becoming a teacher in the UK is an achievable goal, and financial constraints should not be a barrier. Remember, a fulfilling career in teaching is within reach, and the investment in education is an investment in the future. If you’d like more information, come and speak to us at one of our train to teach information events.
Secondary Programme Lead
Secondary Programme Lead
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