Working in Leicestershire Schools & Colleges

From 1st September 2004 all applications to join the scheme must be via a Designated Recommending Body (DRB) as the central pool of GTP places will no longer exist. There are now more than 90 DRBs in place across the country.

There are four main DRBs in operation in Leicestershire. Their contact information is as follows:

Loughborough Encompass Partnership - contact Roy Davis on (0114-2670192) or loughboroughgtp@aol.com (Primary).  Loughborough Encompass information documents can be accessed below:

The Beauchamp Partnership - contact Vanessa Perkins on 0116-2729100 or vmp@beauchamp.org.uk (Secondary)

EM Direct - contact Carol Atkinson on (01476-512780) or gtp@emdirect.co.uk (Primary & Secondary)

Nottingham Trent University - contact Mark Patmore on (0115-8483780) or mark.patmore@ntu.ac.uk (Primary & Secondary)

There are also other DRBs operating in the East Midlands. For a full contact list please visit www.tda.gov.uk/drbs

A European Union Directive was implemented in December 2003, which requires the UK Government to introduce equality in employment legislation (including age). This challenges the 24 year age limit for the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP). The DfES and TDA have decided to remove the age requirement for all programmes starting in the Spring Term 2004 and beyond. Designated Recommending Bodies (DRBs) can now accept applications for programmes starting in January 2004 from trainees of any age.

The GTP is still intended for mature career-changers and/or progressing school based non-teaching staff and DRBs will take into account experience and suitablity to teach when assessing applications. Applicants for the GTP should also possess a UK degree or equivalent.

Further information on the GTP and RTP can be found on the Teacher Training Agency’s new website www.tda.gov.uk/ebr.

For more information on the above policy change or the GTP in general please contact the Workforce Development Team on (0116) 305 6873/8045 or teaching@leics.gov.uk.

The Beauchamp College is running Teacher Taster Courses in October 2007 and January/February 2008.  Please contact Vanessa Perkins on 0116 272 9100 or email vmp@beauchamp.org.uk for further information.