How We Select Our Trainees

Personal statement

You should put a lot of thought into this section. We pay a lot of attention to what you say about yourself. Make sure that your text is clear and grammatically accurate. We are looking for your potential to be a good or outstanding teacher with the aspiration to be a future leader in Bradford.

Below we have listed aspects you might want to cover in your personal statement, which we offer as a guide only:

1. Your reason for wanting to teach:
   Why secondary education?
   Your vision for education and your commitment to young people.
   What was your 'wow moment' when you knew teaching was the career for you?
2. Your subject knowledge:
   Secondary - your strengths in a secondary phase subject (include your Degree level knowledge in detail).
   How your A Levels broadened your subject expertise.
   Other personal or professional qualifications and their relevance to teaching.
3. Your experience of working with children and young people:
   School experience - what you did, what you enjoyed, what you learnt.
   Other experience with young people - what you have done (community, family and voluntary work and its relevance to teaching).
4. Your other work, voluntary or personal interests:
   Sports, creative work (perhaps link to extra-curricular activities)?
   Work experience (perhaps link directly to subject knowledge and/or emphasise skills transferable to teaching).
5. Your interest in this programme:
   Why Bradford?
   Why Bingley Grammar School?
   Why School Direct?
   Where can you see yourself in five years' time?

Qualifications

Please refer to the Entry Requirements page to see the qualifications you need for your application to be considered. However, you should note that:

 1. We are happy to accept applications from trainees who have yet to complete their studies and won't obtain a formal qualification until later in the year.
2. If you are successful at interview, you'll be given a conditional offer.
3. In the case of GCSE-level qualifications, we accept equivalency testing. See: www.equivalencytesting.co.uk
4. In the case of candidates with a 3rd class honours degree, you should note that gaining a Master's level qualification uplifts your degree to 2:2 equivalence.
5. For trainees with qualifications not from the United Kingdom, we advise that your qualifications are checked for compatibility by http://ecctis.co.uk/naric

References

We pay attention to your references. Choose people who know you well and will be able to comment on your skills, knowledge and how they see you as a potential teacher.

Interview in School

All our trainees who are shortlisted for interview will be invited into our school. If you are asked for interview, we will provide more details about tasks you will be asked to complete. 

All our interviews have the same elements: 

1. A classroom based exercise, where you will be observed interacting with children or young people.
2. Written tasks which are designed to assess your written communication skills; your capacity to access higher level study; and for secondary applicants, subject knowledge.
3. Face to face interview with a panel of School Leaders.

DBS

If you are successful at interview stage, you will be made an offer of a training place subject to satisfactory enhanced DBS clearance. For more information, see the guidance on line at;
https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check

Qualification and ID

If you are successful at interview stage, you will be made an offer of a training place subject to us seeing original copies of your qualifications and proof of your identity. We'll ask for these to be brought to interview, so that we can check and copy them.

Contact Suzanne Swann (Head of Initial Teacher Training) or Lesley Miller (School Direct Administrator) Tel: 01274 807700  Email: schooldirect@bingleygrammar.org Twitter: @BGSschooldirect