Release Date 10 June 2013

The University of Reading is delighted to announce its involvement in a Government funded project to train military personnel as teachers once they leave the Services.

Reading is part of a consortium of six universities, led by the University of Brighton, who will offer the Government's new Troops to Teachers Programme. The Programme aims to support a smooth transition into the civilian workforce for those Service members who are exiting their military careers and have the potential to become outstanding teachers. The consortium will enable former Service personnel to train to teach by accessing newly created Initial Teacher Training (ITT) routes.

Reading is working with a range of outstanding primary and secondary schools in the region to support the development and delivery of the programme.  The programme will have a school-centred approach which will immerse trainees in high quality teaching environments, combined with specialist expertise and evidence-based research from one of the leading teacher training providers in the country.  

Professor Andy Goodwyn, Head of the University of Reading's Institute of Education, said: "We are extremely pleased to be involved in this important new scheme which intends to help members of our armed forces retrain to become exceptional teachers.  The programme will only select the very best candidates who show a genuine aptitude for, and commitment to, teaching. Our geographical location, close to many British Armed Forces establishments, is a mutual advantage for all involved and shows that as a major international university we can still demonstrate real commitment to the region and its community."

The Troops to Teachers programme, funded by the Department for Education, aims to recruit the best Service leavers into teaching, including those with the highest qualifications, qualities and experiences, who have the potential to become outstanding teachers. It has been designed and developed with a group of outstanding schools and ITT providers in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Career Transition Partnership. Those Service personnel who are in the two years before discharge or in the two years post discharge from the Armed Forces are eligible to apply.

Graduates interested in undertaking teacher training can apply for a one year, School Direct salaried, School Direct training, Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme.

The School Direct salaried route into teaching is available to high-quality graduates with at least three years' work experience. Trainees are employed as an unqualified teacher by the school. Previous experience in the Armed Forces will count towards meeting the School Direct eligibility criteria.

The School Direct training route into teaching is open to all high-quality graduates and funded by tuition fees paid by the trainee, who may receive a bursary from the Department for Education. PGCE and SCITT programmes are fee-paying routes in partnership with universities and also offer bursaries for eligible graduates. More information

A two-year non-graduate programme will start in January 2014. Find out more details about this pathway.

Graduate Service Leavers please contact the University of Reading via email or call 0118 378 2624

For general enquires please contact the DfE Teaching Line 0800 389 2500 or visit http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options/school-based-training/school-direct

ENDS