Overseas Teachers
As an overseas trained teacher, what do I need to be able to teach in the UK?
In order to come to the UK and teach you will need to have the following:
1. You will need to have QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) unless you are working temporarily for a maximum of four months and you need to be registered with the General Teaching Council.
If you qualified as a school teacher in another country you will need to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) before you can work as a permanent, qualified teacher in England. The TTA's Overseas Trained Teacher Programme gives Overseas Trained Teachers (OTTs) the opportunity to gain QTS while they work in a school. There are special arrangements which give Overseas Trained Teachers the option of presenting themselves for QTS assessment without further training. For more information visit http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/becomingateacher.aspx.
2. Your qualifications must be recognised and given a UK equivalent. The best people to talk to about this are NARIC (the National Academic Recognition Information Centre). They can give you further information regarding your qualifications and their equivalent in the UK.
What is QTS and how do I get it?
QTS stands for Qualified Teacher Status. This is awarded to a teacher who has completed an appropriate teaching qualification and is deemed to uphold the professional code of the General Teaching Council of England. Only a teacher with QTS can be employed in a maintained school on a permanent contract, with pay according to the qualified teacher pay scale and access to continuing professional development and pension contributions. The most common route to QTS is through the completion of a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) followed by a year's induction in schools. For full details of the standards for QTS visit: http://www.tta.gov.uk/php/read.php?sectionid=108&articleid=456.
What is a CRB and how long is it valid for?
A CRB is the common term used to refer to a background check performed by the Criminal Records Bureau. A clear 'enhanced disclosure' from the CRB is an essential pre-requisite for any person who wishes to work with children or vulnerable adults, regardless of their job-role.
Enhanced disclosure takes between three and six weeks from initial application. You cannot work in the presence of children or vulnerable adults until this is returned. Under the present DfES guidelines, a CRB check is valid for three years unless you have a break in service of over three months, in which case a new disclosure will be required. Visit http://www.crb.org.uk/ for information on services, your rights and details of the check.
What is the GTC?
The GTC is the General Teaching Council for England and Wales. The role of the GTC includes the improvement of standards in teaching and in the quality of learning. It is particularly concerned with professional standards and acts as a regulator of teaching standards, including a disciplinary function.
GTC registration is required for all teachers with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Overseas Trained Teachers (OTTs) may work in England for up to four years without QTS but if an OTT gains QTS then registration is required. http://www.gtce.org.uk/
