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University chalks up new Teaching Apprenticeships

15/11/2018

New Teaching Apprenticeships to enable staff working in schools to upskill and enhance their qualifications have been launched by the University of Wolverhampton.

The Apprenticeships are an employment-based route to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), enabling people who are working in a school and already have an undergraduate degree to gain the teaching qualification. 

The first cohorts for the Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship (Primary) and Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship (Secondary) courses started this academic year.

The students attend lectures and seminars during the year at the University’s Walsall Campus, continuing to work within their schools for the rest of the time.

Vicky-and-Adam

 

Apprentice Victoria Fitzgerald works at The Brades Lodge in Oldbury, a secondary school which supports and educates students with social, emotional and/or mental health needs.

She said: “The thing that attracted me about the Apprenticeship route was that it allowed me to train and still teach at the school where I felt comfortable whilst allowing me to progress personally.

“I’m really enjoying being back at University. It is enabling me to see massive progress in how I’m teaching within the setting.”

Head of the Brades Lodge in Oldbury Simon Hobbs said: “We have two apprentices, Vicky doing English and another Adam doing PE. As a school, we’ve noticed the impact our new apprentices are making just six weeks, they’ve settled in well and their teaching is excellent.

“We’ll certainly be looking at developing the skills of existing staff with higher apprenticeships in the future.”

Sue Giacoletto is the Lead Tutor for employment-based routes into teaching at the University’s Institute of Education. She said: “The benefits of the Apprenticeships are that people can earn while working but also gain Qualified Teacher Status working in the environment that they are familiar with.”

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for children’s services Councillor Simon Hackett, added: “A higher apprenticeship is a great route into teaching, helping us to recruit more teachers as well as benefiting from the funding available to support apprenticeships.”

Designed by employers, universities and professional bodies, Apprenticeships deliver higher level technical and professional skills and offer an alternative to a traditional degree course. Bringing together university study with paid work in a blended learning model, Degree Apprentices spend part of their time at university and part with their employer.

For further information email: apprenticeshiphub@wlv.ac.uk or call 0800 953 3222.

Further information

For more information please contact the Media Relations Office on 01902 32 2736 or 01902 518647.

Date Issued: Thursday, 15 November 2018

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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