Teacher training providers review your application in detail. They use it to get a sense of you as a person, your work history, and your qualifications. If you want to secure a place on a teacher training programme, you'll need a strong application.
Here are our top tips for an effective teacher training application that is sure to impress.
Check you meet the requirements
Before you make a start on your application, double check you have everything you need to be eligible.
The government sets national requirements for all Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses, so it’s important that you meet these basic requirements as well as any additional requirements set by individual providers.
The government says you’ll need:
- A degree
- Grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths GCSEs
- Grade 4 (C) or above in GCSE science if you want to teach primary
If you do not have GCSE grade 4 (C), you’ll need to show that you can meet an equivalent level.
Find out what we look for in trainees and our advice for international candidates.
Do your research
It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the world of teaching and education so that you can confidently use some of the specific terminology in your application, and if all goes well, your interview.
Reading articles in education sector publications such as Schools Week and TES will give you a flavour of the current debates happening at a national level. By keeping up to date with recent events, you will show that you read widely and have a genuine passion for the education sector.
It's also worth spending time researching the teacher training provider you are applying to. What is it about their offering that appeals to you? Why do you want to train to teach with them, over other providers?
Explain how your work experience is relevant
Everything in your application needs to clearly signpost the reasons why you’d make a good teacher. Make sure to expand on any experience working with children and/or young people and highlight the parts that are relevant to teaching.
Don't have any work experience? We recommend arranging some before you apply. Having real experience in a school, even if only for a couple of hours a week, will set your application apart and demonstrate that you are serious about becoming a teacher. If you have an idea of which school you’d like to train in, try and get experience there so that you can build relationships with the staff before you apply.
There are also other ways to get work experience in teaching including volunteering, tutoring, and internships.
Highlight transferable skills
Whether you're training to teach straight from university or as a career changer, you will have plenty of skills that are transferable to teaching. Use your application to highlight these and show how they would translate to a teaching environment, and ultimately make you a good teacher.
As a student, you could highlight your organisation and planning skills, good time management, and examples of working as part of a team or group on a project. If you're coming from a separate career, perhaps you have leadership skills or examples of delivering presentations.
Write a compelling personal statement
Your personal statement is the only part of your application where you can show your personality. Use it as an opportunity for your skills, passion, and suitability for teaching to shine through. Be specific about why you want to become a teacher and why your qualifications and background would make you a good one.
Ask someone you trust for feedback on your statement before you submit it, too—especially on spelling and grammar—they might just spot something you have missed.
Read our tips on how to write a compelling personal statement.
Take your time
It’s usually quite obvious when something has been completed in a rush, and that’s not the impression you want to give. Making multiple mistakes will show that you haven’t invested the time and attention that your application deserves.
We recommend blocking out some time to work on your application, even if that means working on it gradually—little and often. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to gather your thoughts and information, make amendments, and review it with a fresh pair of eyes.
Good luck with your application!