See below for answers to the following questions:

• Is the CILT Languages GTP suitable for me?
• Do I need previous teaching experience?
• Do I need additional language qualifications?
• How do I apply?
• I want to teach languages at secondary level, but my mother tongue is not French, German, Italian, Spanish or Mandarin Chinese. What training course can I do?
• I want to teach languages in primary schools. What training course can I do?
• I want to teach another subject, not languages. How can I find a training course?
• Can I train to teach languages and another subject – for example, my degree specialism?
• How much does it cost to do the CILT Languages GTP?
• I already have a teaching qualification in another country. Can I do the CILT Languages GTP?
• I am from a non-EU country. Can I do the CILT Languages GTP?
• If I do the CILT Languages GTP, can I be sponsored to stay and work in this country?
• I have a university-level qualification, but I am not sure if it makes me eligible to do teacher training. How can I check?
• Does my maths qualification meet requirements of the CILT Languages GTP?
• Do I need a qualification in English to be eligible to do the CILT Languages GTP?
• I have a school that wants to train me on the CILT Languages GTP. What should I do next?
• I do not have a training school. Can I still apply to the CILT Languages GTP?
• Will the CILT Languages GTP qualify me to work in other countries?

Is the CILT Languages GTP suitable for me?

The CILT Languages GTP is for people wanting to train as Languages teachers at secondary level who want to work and train at the same time.  To be eligible for the CILT Languages GTP, you must be a mother-tongue speaker of French, German, Italian, Spanish or Mandarin Chinese.  You must also have completed a university-level qualification equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree.  Your university qualification can be in any subject.

Do I need previous teaching experience?

You must have experience of working with groups of 11-16-year olds, for example as a youth worker, volunteer, teaching assistant, or of course as a teacher.  You also need to have spent a minimum of 3 weeks in a secondary school in the UK – this could be a series of visits, a period of voluntary work, or a period of paid employment in a school.  If invited to interview, you would be asked to talk about these experiences.

Do I need additional language qualifications?

It is not a requirement to have qualifications in either your own language or in another language.  Your university degree can be in any subject.  However, it is a requirement that all applicants in German, Italian or Spanish have at least a basic knowledge of French.

I want to do the CILT Languages GTP.  How do I apply?

Details of how to apply and guidance notes on completing your application are available on this site.

I want to teach languages at secondary level, but my mother tongue is not French, German, Italian, Spanish or Mandarin Chinese.   What training course can I do?

There are many teacher training courses for secondary languages teachers, both university-based (PGCE) and school-based (GTP or SCITT).  Click on the links for more information on training courses and training organisations

I want to teach languages in primary schools.  What training course can I do?

Follow the link to find out more about teaching languages in primary schools and how to find a teacher training course.

I want to teach another subject, not languages. How can I find a training course?

The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) website has information on teacher training courses in all subjects.

Can I train to teach languages and another subject – for example, my degree specialism?

If you are interested in teaching languages and another subject in secondary schools, you must decide which subject you want to specialise in during your training year.  Some training programmes may allow you to gain experience in a second subject while qualifying as a languages teacher.

In some schools, some other subjects are taught in different languages – this is known as “Content and Language Integrated Learning” (CLIL). 

How much does it cost to do the CILT Languages GTP?

There are no course fees.  You will be employed as a trainee teacher in your training school, and paid a salary.  More information...

I already have a teaching qualification in another country.  Can I do the CILT Languages GTP?

If you are already qualified to teach in a state school in the EU/European Economic Area (EEA)/Switzerland, you cannot do the CILT Languages GTP, since you are already eligible to apply for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).  You can apply to the General Teaching Council for England for Qualified Teacher Status.  More information...

If you are qualified to teach in a country which is not in the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may apply to the CILT Languages GTP, so long as you have the legal right to live and work in this country.  (See also question 10 below.)  You may also work as an unqualified teacher for up to 4 years or apply to the Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (OTTP).  More information...

If you have studied pedagogy or done a teacher training programme which does not qualify you to teach in state schools, then you can apply to the CILT Languages GTP.

I am from a non-EU country.  Can I do the CILT Languages GTP?

You are welcome to apply to the CILT Languages GTP, so long as you meet the eligibility criteria and so long as you have the legal right to live and work in this country.

If I do the CILT Languages GTP, can I be sponsored to stay and work in this country?

If you are from a country outside the EU or the EEA, CILT or your training school cannot sponsor you to live and work here.  This is because trainees on the CILT Languages GTP work in their training school as a supernumerary (additional) teacher and do not fill a vacant teaching post. 

On some other GTPs, trainees fill vacant teaching posts in their training school, in which case they may be willing to sponsor you if they are unable to fill the vacancy with someone from an EU country.  When contacting other training providers, ask them whether you would be supernumerary or whether you woule be filling a vacant teaching post.  Click on the link for a list of training providers.  

More information about living and working in the UK if you are from outside the EU or EEA

I have a university-level qualification, but I am not sure if it makes me eligible to do teacher training.  How can I check?

You can find information about university-level qualifications that meet the degree requirement on these pages.  If you are still not sure, contact UK NARIC, who will be able to tell you whether or not your qualification is recognised in the UK as equivalent to a UK Bachelors’ degree.  Note that there may be a fee for this service.

If you are completing your degree-level qualification this year, you should only apply to the CILT Languages GTP if you will have formal confirmation of whether or not you have passed by 31 May 2012.

If you do not have a university-level qualification recognised as equivalent to a UK Bachelors’ degree, you will not be able to do a postgraduate teacher training programme such as a PGCE or GTP.  Click here for information about other teacher training options.  You might also consider applying for other roles in schools which do not require a university-level qualification.

Does my maths qualification meet requirements of the CILT Languages GTP?

To do teacher training in this country, you must have a maths qualification recognised as equivalent to minimum grade C at GCSE.  See Maths qualification for a list of equivalent qualifications, including details of tests you can take this year.

If you are not sure, contact UK NARIC, who will be able to tell you whether or not your qualification is recognised in the UK as equivalent to grade C at GCSE.  Note that there may be a fee for this service.

Do I need a qualification in English to be eligible to do the CILT Languages GTP?

You need excellent spoken and written English to do the CILT Languages GTP, and we will test both your written and your spoken English if you come for interview.  There is no specific qualification that you need to have in order to apply.  More information...

I have a school that wants to train me on the CILT Languages GTP.  What should I do next?

We welcome joint applications with a training school so long as it is a school where you have worked – for example as a Foreign Language Assistant, a Teaching Assistant or as a volunteer.  The school does not need to be a current partnership training school, but can apply as a new partnership school.

For further details, see Information for schools.

I do not have a training school.  Can I still apply to the CILT Languages GTP?

Applicants in French, German, Spanish or Mandarin Chinese may apply without a training school, but you must be prepared to accept a training place at one of our training schools located throughout England.  If you are successful at your first interview, we will arrange for you to be interviewed by a school looking for a trainee.

Applicants in Italian must apply with a prospective training school.

If you need to stay in a particular part of the country for your training year, we strongly advise you to try to find a school in a suitable location that is willing to train you. 

If you are not able to apply with a school but have a need to stay in a particular location, please be aware that this may make it difficult to identify a suitable placement for you.  If you are successful in the initial stages of selection, we would do our best to arrange for you to be interviewed by suitably-located schools.  The more flexible you are able to be, the better your chances of getting a training place, but please be realistic about how much travel you could commit to.

Will the CILT Languages GTP qualify me to work in other countries?

The CILT Languages GTP leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which qualifies you to teach in England and Wales only.