Written question WQ88438

In Wales there are several options for those looking to retrain and become a school teacher in the maintained school sector, including:

• Full-time undergraduate Initial Teacher Education (ITE) qualifications

• Full-time postgraduate ITE qualifications (PGCE)

• Part-time postgraduate ITE qualifications (PGCE)

• and Employment based postgraduate ITE qualifications (also known as the Salaried PGCE)

Student finance is available to eligible students wishing to undertake either a full or part-time ITE qualification with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in Wales. Welsh students can apply for maximum maintenance support equivalent to the National Living wage while they study at undergraduate level. Eligible post-graduate ITE students can apply for the same maximum level of support as ITE undergraduate students.

Part time student teachers may also be eligible for student finance support. The support offered to part-time students (since 2018/19) provides parity of support across full and part time study providing us with a real chance to tackle some of those inequalities in social mobility, employment outcomes, access to the professions, diversity in academia and genuine life-long learning.

The Welsh Government continues to provide the most progressive student finance system in the UK. Welsh undergraduate students have less to repay on average than their English peers as they can access our generous living costs package of grants and loans. Students receive a guaranteed level of maintenance support irrespective of their household income. We continue to provide non-repayable grants.

Both the Part-time PGCE and Welsh Government’s employment based postgraduate ITE qualification, the Salaried PGCE, enable people traditionally unable to access full-time PGCE provision (such as, for example, older career changers) to enter the teaching profession via an alternative ITE route, which they can be assured provides them the same robust, high quality teaching qualification and access to decent employment, as their peers undertaking full-time programmes of ITE.

To support student teachers undertaking the Salaried PGCE Welsh Government provides grant funding, covering students full training costs and, where eligible, supporting their employing schools with a salary contribution grant.

The Education Workforce Council regularly attend careers fairs and similar events to promote teaching and provide information and guidance to those considering a career change. They also offer support and guidance to individuals on the processes around applying for ITE programmes and for teaching vacancies for those already qualified.