Teacher Induction Scheme FAQ

The Scheme offers a guaranteed one-year training post to every eligible student graduating with a teaching qualification from one of Scotland's universities. Below you will find some frequently asked questions:

Teacher Induction Scheme

Q1.    Who is eligible to join the Teacher Induction Scheme?

The GTCS are notified by the HEIs of who is eligible for the Teacher Induction Scheme. Please contact your university direct if you require any information on eligibility.

Q2.    How do I join the Scheme?
Teacher Induction scheme students are now able to apply for provisional registration using our online facility. The online form asks you to indicate in preference order the 5 local authority areas that you would be willing to work in for your induction year. You must remember you could be allocated to any of these 5 areas including your 5th choice. Alternatively if you are prepared to work anywhere in Scotland and receive £6,000 (primary) or £8,000 (secondary), (less tax and national insurance) you can tick the 'anywhere' box. You will receive an email around late May to advise you which local authority you have been allocated to. Your allocation details are also available to view on your MyGTCS account.

Q3.    Can I change my preferences?
Yes, you can. Should your circumstances change from filling in the online application form, GTC Scotland can amend your preferences. You should Email GTC Scotland with your revised preferences to studentadmin@gtcs.org.uk by 24 February 2012 at the latest. Changes cannot be made after this date.

Q4.    Since completing the GTC Scotland Application for Registration my circumstances have changed. Do I need to inform anyone?
It is important that you Email studentadmin@gtcs.org.uk to inform us of any changes to your address, email address or phone number to ensure you receive all correspondence sent by us.

Q5.    What is the process after I have completed my online application?
You will be sent a Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) application which you are required to complete and return along with your signed declaration form and disability pro forma if necessary, these will be returned to GTC Scotland by the student.

This follows the on-line application process that students are required to complete by first week of January. Preference information from the online applications will then be sent to the Scottish Government. They will use this information, to ask the local authorities to provide enough posts to cover the number of probationers on the scheme.

Q6.    When do I join the Scheme?
You would join the Scheme following successful completion of you Initial Teacher Education programme at the start of the new school session in August.

Q7.    How much do I get paid and when?
The annual salary for a probationer teacher is £21,438. Your salary will be paid through your bank account on a monthly basis. The local authority you have been allocated to will provide you with details of how much your salary will be and on what date of the month it will be paid.

Q8.    Can I delay joining the Scheme?
You may only delay joining the Scheme in very exceptional circumstances, such as illness. Should you wish to delay joining the Scheme, you should contact GTC Scotland, using the .

Q9.    If I fail my course can I still join the Scheme this year?
No. You must be a fully qualified teacher at the beginning of the school session in August, to take up your post. There is only one entry point to the Scheme and local authorities must have teachers to start at the beginning of the new school term. If you have failed elements of your course and/or are not recommended for Registration by the first week in July you will be unable to take up your place this year. But you will have the opportunity to join the Scheme next year assuming you have gained your qualification and meet the eligibility criteria.

Q10.    I am on a part-time course, do I have to choose 5 preference local authorities?
You must select 5 options or PWP, unless you have been sponsored by a local authority.
GTC Scotland will check this with your university and local authority. If you are eligible, we will contact you about selecting one local authority.

Q11.    Am I able to carry out my Induction year on a part-time basis?
No. The Teacher Induction Scheme was designed in such a way that probationers on the Scheme would be afforded the opportunity to reach the Standard for Full Registration (SFR) in one school year. You would not be able to reach the SFR in one year if you were working on a part-time basis.

Q12.    I have failed my course/do not intend to work in Scotland - do I need to inform
anyone?
Once you have received your allocation information and are sure that you will not be taking up that post, you should notify the local authority you have been allocated to immediately so that they can make alternative arrangements for the class to be covered by another teacher. Please also Email studentadmin@gtcs.org.uk

Q13.    I finish my course in December, why can't I join the Scheme until August?
We fully appreciate the importance to you of joining the Scheme as soon as possible after qualifying. However, there are significant barriers which prevent a second entry point to the Scheme. There are two main reasons for this: we need to consider disruption to pupils, particularly for those with important exams in the following May. Furthermore there are key activities, for which you would not be sufficiently well prepared to play a meaningful role, that take place between January and Easter such as pupil assessment and parent meetings which are crucial to meeting the Standard for Full Registration.

Q14.    When can I join the Scheme and what do I do in the meantime?
Students completing concurrent degrees in December will be guaranteed a place on the August Scheme of the following year. In the meantime you can register and work either on supply or temporary contracts. Should the local authority (not just your Headteacher) you are working with wish to retain you for your induction year and you are content with this situation, the Scottish Government are content to facilitate this. This is not a foregone conclusion; Scottish Government will invite local authorities to provide details of the probationers that they wish to keep on.

Q15.    Can I get full registration in both my subjects at the end of the Teacher
Induction year?
No. The Scheme provides each probationer with a maximum class commitment of 18.5 hours with time set side for professional development. Therefore there is not enough time during your probationary year to enable you to meet the Standard for Full Registration (SFR) in both subjects. You will be able to work towards the SFR in your second subject once fully registered in one subject.

Q16.    Can I do the Teacher Induction Scheme outwith Scotland?
No, your Induction year will be with a state school in a Scottish local authority.

Q17.    Will the induction post be in one school?
Local authorities will try as far as possible to offer you an allocation in one school, but it is feasible for the probationer teacher to cover two schools (in secondary).

Q18.    Do I need to wait till the end of my training post/my probationer year before
applying for permanent jobs?
No. By Easter you will have had an indication from your headteacher whether you are on target to meet the Standard for Full Registration (SFR). If you are, you would be able to apply for permanent posts but you should make it clear to the local authority that you have not yet reached the SFR but that you are on course to do so.

Flexible Route

Q19.    What's the alternative to joining the Scheme?
The Scheme is not compulsory; you could work in temporary and supply contracts or apply for a teaching post in the Independent sector. However, if you wish to be considered for full registration with GTC Scotland within one school year you should complete the Induction Scheme. If you do not join the Induction Scheme you will need at least 270 days teaching experience to reach the Standard for Full Registration, rather than 190 days if you are on the Scheme. Find out more information about the .

Q20.    Am I able to work while I am awaiting a place on next year's Scheme?
Yes. If you pass your course later in the year, you would still be able to register with GTC Scotland and be in a position to apply for supply or temporary work. However you would not be eligible for a place on this year's scheme, but would be guaranteed a place on the following August Scheme. You may find yourself in a long-term temporary contract, which provides you with the opportunity to reach the Standard for Full Registration (SFR), and may not wish to take up your place on the following year's Scheme. You should inform GTC Scotland at studentadmin@gtcs.org.uk if you no longer wish to be considered for the Induction Scheme.

Q21.    If I do not join the Scheme can I apply for permanent jobs?
No. It is the policy of the local authorities only to employ fully registered teachers into permanent appointments, but you will be in a position to apply for temporary and/or supply teaching posts.

Q22.    I am from Canada and have paid full fees, can I teach in Scotland?
Yes, subject to the relevant home office approval, you can apply for temporary and supply contracts but you are not eligible for a place on the scheme. It is the policy of local authorities to only employ fully registered teachers into permanent contracts.

Allocation

Q23.    I am a single parent/looking after elderly parents etc. Will my personal
circumstances be taken into account?
No. Your personal circumstances will not be taken into account for the random allocation process to local authorities. You should be fully aware that you could be allocated to any of your 5 preferred local authorities, although our aim is to allocate you as high up your preference list as possible. When you are allocated, the local authority will endeavour to take into account where you live when allocating you to a school. But first and foremost, local authorities' statutory responsibility is to deliver education to school age children across Scotland.

Q24.    When will I hear which local authority I have been allocated to?
You will receive a communication from the GTC Scotland, advising which local authority you have been allocated to, at the end of May.

Q25.    If I am allocated to a school which is out of the way will the local authority pay
additional travel expenses?
No. There are no provisions within the Scheme to pay travel expenses, although some local authorities pay expenses for teachers to attend parents' meetings and development courses. Allowances are also payable to teachers who work in remote areas and some of the Islands. Should you be entitled to these allowances the local authority will ensure that they are paid to you through your monthly salary.

Q26.    What if I am unable to work in the local authority I have been allocated - will I be
reallocated?
It is unlikely that any reallocation will be made should you decide not to take up your post. The local authority may have difficulty in finding a replacement teacher to teach the class you were allocated to. But the first step would be to discuss this issue with the local authority you have been allocated to (contact details available on your MyGTCS account). Indeed it is for them to decide if they are able and willing to release you to another local authority. If they are willing to release you to be reallocated, you must turn down your allocation before the Scottish Government can attempt to reallocate you to another teaching post. However this is dependent on other probationers turning down their allocation. Scottish Government cannot guarantee that you will be reallocated and you should be fully aware that you may lose your post on the Scheme if they cannot do so.

Q27.    I have ticked the denominational box on the Application for Registration, will I
be allocated a denominational post?
Where you have ticked the denominational box, the allocation process will attempt to allocate you to a denominational post using your preferences starting with your first choice. If there are no denominational posts available, the system will allocate you to a non-denominational post.

Q28.    I do not have Church approval yet, how will I obtain this?
Please look at Scottish Catholic Education Service for further information.

Q29.    I am qualified to teach in the medium of Gaelic. Will I be allocated to a Gaelic
medium training post?
You should ensure that you tick the Gaelic Medium box on the application form. The local authority that you are allocated to will allocate you to a Gaelic Medium post as far as possible.

Q30.    I have a disability; will this be taken into account when allocating me to a post?
You will be asked when completing the GTC Scotland application form if you have a disability which would affect where you could be allocated to for your Induction year. Once you have submitted your online application you will receive an acknowledgement email and also a disability pro forma which you must complete and return to us. Your correspondence will be forwarded onto the local authority you have been allocated to.

Q31.    Will I be allocated my first subject?
We will make every effort to allocate you to your first subject, but this is dependent on the vacancies offered up by local authorities. The computer system will attempt to allocate you to your first subject. Should no teaching posts be available you will be matched against your second subject.

Q32.    How many probationers were allocated to their 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice etc in
last year's Scheme?

Primary	Secondary
1st preference 84.41%	1st preference 60.19%
2nd preference 8.04%	2nd preference 18.45%
3rd preference 3.82%	3rd preference 10.68%
4th preference 2.55%	4th preference 6.31%
5th preference 1.18%	5th preference 4.37%
96.27% of students were allocated to their 1st, 2nd or 3rd choices	89.32% of students were allocated to their 1st, 2nd or 3rd choices

 

Preference Waiver Payment

Q33.    How do I apply for the preference waiver payment option?
All you have to do is tick the box on the online application that asks you if you are willing to work anywhere in Scotland for the induction year. By ticking this box when you apply, you are agreeing to work in any Scottish local authority. If you tick this box, you must not complete the preferred locations section. For choosing this option, you will receive the following payments: £8,000 for Secondary or £6,000 for Primary, as long as you complete your Induction year in the local authority you have been allocated to.

Q34.    I ticked the box, does this mean I am guaranteed the payment?
Yes. But you must take up your teaching post with the local authority you have been allocated to and complete the full Induction year to receive the full payment.

Q35.    Which local authorities could I be allocated to?
This is very much dependant on the number of vacancies offered by local authorities for the Scheme. However you could be allocated to any one of the 32 Authorities - anywhere from Dumfries and Galloway to the Shetland Isles. To receive the monies you must be prepared to take up a teaching post anywhere in Scotland and complete the full induction year.

Q36.    How will the payment be paid?
The payment will be made by the local authority in three instalments, subject to tax and national insurance. Please check with your local authority when these payments are going to be made. Once you have started in the classroom, any enquiries regarding payments should be directed to the local authority you have been allocated to.

Q37.    If I ticked the anywhere box and cannot work in the local authority I have been allocated, will I be reallocated?
No. If you ticked the anywhere box and but then subsequently cannot go to your allocated local authority you will not receive the payment and will not be reallocated to another local authority. You will have to opt out of the Induction Scheme and follow the Flexible Route.