Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP)

(Add title)

GTP Home | Trainees | Schools | How to apply | Further Information | 07/08 GTP (Password Protected) | GTP Training Resources (Password Protected) | FAQs | Teacher Training Options | FLA Seminars 2008

Why Choose the CILT GTP?

"I think this programme is brilliant and I am extremely happy and proud to be part of it."
(CILT GTP trainee 2007/2008)

As a Trainee:

  • You will be awarded Qualified Teacher Status to teach Key Stage 3 and 4 (11 to 16) in one year on successful completion of the programme.
  • You can train at a school anywhere within England and CILT will provide regular training sessions in CILT London, the University of Birmingham or the University of Sheffield.
  • You will be employed by your training school as a Graduate Teacher from the 1st September to 31st August.
  • You will have access to CILT's wide range of resource materials and extensive expertise as the National Centre for Languages.
  • Choosing an employment-based route means that you will gain lots of valuable school-based experience.
  • You will be supported by an experienced language teacher at your training school (your mentor), as well as by an experienced teacher trainer at CILT (your tutor).
  • You will be supported to develop your second teaching language.
  • You can apply to train in a school that you are already familiar with (for example, where you are working as a Foreign Language Assistant), or you can apply to be selected by an existing CILT partner training school.
  • You will be paid a minimum salary of £14,751.

    gtp trainees

Can I apply?

In order to be considered for the Graduate Teacher Programme, all applicants must:

a) Be native speakers of either French, German or Spanish.

Many language teachers in England are required to teach a second foreign language (usually French, German or Spanish). It is therefore an advantage if candidates can offer a second language at intermediate or advanced level.

b) Have at least the equivalent of a UK bachelor’s degree. According to UK NARIC, the national agency for the comparability of international qualifications, the following qualifications are considered the equivalent of a UK bachelor’s degree:

Austria - Magister or Doktor

France - Licence

Germany - Magister/Diplom or the Erstes Staatsexamen

Spain - Licenciatura

Other countries or qualifications – please check with UK NARIC before you apply.

c) Possess an excellent command of spoken and written English (candidates will be asked to sit a written test at first interview)

d) NOT already hold a qualification allowing them to teach at school level either in the UK or in their home country. According to UK NARIC, if you have successfully completed any of the following courses of study you are ineligible to apply for the Graduate Teacher Programme:

Austria - Unterrichtspraktikum

France - CAPES, PLP2 or any other concours

Germany - Unterrichspractikum or Zweites Staatsexamen

Spain - CAP

Other countries or qualifications – please check with UK NARIC before you apply.

French applicants please note that if you gain a qualification allowing you to teach in France, you will not be eligible to participate in the Graduate Teacher Programme even if you decide to delay the start of your teaching career in France. Although some applicants do apply for both, it is important to decide whether you really want to teach in England or in France.  Only those candidates who are unsuccessful at the written stage of the CAPES/PLP2/other concours exams may be considered for placement with a training school. Candidates who are successful at the written stage may only be considered for a training school placement if they are unsuccessful in the oral examination.

e) Be currently resident in the European Economic Area (EEA - the 25 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or Switzerland

f) Be eligible to work in the UK. Citizens of the EEA or Switzerland do not require a work permit to work in the UK. If you are not a citizen of the EEA or Switzerland and are unsure, please see our work permit guidance notes (MS WORD 30KB). Comprehensive guidance is available through the Home Office website. Proof of nationality/right of residency will be requested at interview. Neither CILT nor the British Council are able to intervene in any issues relating to visa or work permit applications on behalf of successfully placed trainees.

If selected for the programme, you will be required to provide a medical certificate and proof that you have no criminal record (extrait de casier judiciaire, polizeiliches Führungszeugnis, Strafregisterbescheinigung or certificado negativo de antecedentes penales as appropriate).

g) Enjoy working with young people aged 11-16 and/or have experience of teaching or working with groups of children.

h) Be willing to commit to spending more than just one year in England

i) Hold the equivalent of GCSE grade C in mathematics

According to UK NARIC, the following school-level qualifications are considered the equivalent of a GCSE C grade in mathematics:

Austria – any grade between 1 – 3 in maths at Reifeprüfung/Matura

France – any grade between 10 – 20 in maths at Baccalauréat. If you took “Enseignement Scientifique” as part of a Bac L, you must provide written proof that the final examination was in mathematics

Germany – any grade between 7 - 15 in Maths at Abitur or any grade between 1 - 4 in maths at Year 10 level

Spain – any grade between 6 - 10 in maths at Bachillerato

Other countries or qualifications – please check with UK NARIC before you apply.

Candidates who do not hold the equivalent maths qualification will have the opportunity to sit an equivalent test as part of the selection process – a copy of the maths test syllabus is available here (PDF 55KB). A sample exam paper can be downloaded here (PDF 98KB).

These notes for applicants are also available in printable format on the How to apply page.

Questions? Queries? Find further information and answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding the Graduate Teacher Programme