Funding: initial teacher training (ITT), academic year 2015 to 16
Guidance for schools and ITT providers on funding available through bursaries, scholarships and subject knowledge enhancement programmes, for the academic year 2015 to 2016.
This guide refers to ITT funding for the academic year 2015 to 2016. For the academic year 2014 to 2015 please see Funding: initial teacher training (ITT), academic year 2014 to 2015.
Overview
The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) allocates and funds teacher training places.
We provide financial incentives, such as training bursaries and scholarships, to help schools and initial teacher training providers attract high-quality graduates to the teaching profession. We do this in line with the needs of the sector and national targets set by the Department for Education.
Information in this guide relates to trainees starting their training in the academic year 2015 to 2016.
Tuition fee routes
The following scholarships and bursaries are available to trainee teachers.
Scholarships
| Maths or physics | Computing | Chemistry | |
| Trainee with 2:1 or first | £25,000 | £25,000 | £25,000 |
Scholarships of £25,000 are available in maths, physics, chemistry, and computing for trainees who are starting their training in the 2015 to 2016 academic year. These prestigious awards are aimed at high quality graduates with a 2:1 and above, who are passionate about their subject and have the potential to be inspirational teachers.
Trainees awarded a scholarship cannot receive a bursary. However, trainees who are not awarded a scholarship will continue to be eligible for a standard bursary.
Bursaries
| Eligibility (1) 2015 to 2016 | Scholarship (2) | Trainee with 1st/PhD | 2:1/Master’s | 2:2 | Other (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | £25,000 | £25,000 | £25,000 | £15,000 | £9,000 |
| Maths | £25,000 | £25,000 | £20,000 | £15,000 | £9,000 |
| Chemistry, computing | £25,000 | £25,000 | £20,000 | £15,000 | £0 |
| Languages (4) | - | £25,000 | £20,000 | £15,000 | £0 |
| Biology | - | £15,000 | £12,000 | £10,000 | £0 |
| Primary maths (5) | - | £12,000 | £12,000 | £12,000 | £9,000 |
| Geography, design and technology | - | £12,000 | £9,000 | £4,000 | £0 |
| Music | - | £9,000 | £4,000 | £4,000 | £0 |
| English, history, RE, primary | - | £9,000 | £4,000 | £0 | £0 |
Notes
- Applicants with a degree from outside the UK should refer to the equivalency table to see if their degree is likely to attract a bursary, or should consult their chosen training provider.
- Trainees in maths, physics, chemistry and computing with a 2:2 or above are able to apply for a teacher training scholarship with the appropriate professional body.
- Trainee teachers in maths and physics, and on primary maths courses, with a relevant degree and at least a B at A level in maths or physics (or equivalent) will be eligible for a bursary of £9,000. Trainees will not be entitled to this bursary if they are also entitled to a higher bursary based on degree class.
- Bursaries are available to train to teach modern foreign languages, community languages and ancient languages including Latin and Ancient Greek.
- Bursaries are available to trainees with at least a B at A level maths (or equivalent) on either primary maths specialist courses or primary general (with mathematics) courses. Trainees without at least a B at A level maths or on other primary courses will be eligible for the standard primary bursary.
Undergraduate bursary
A new bursary for final year undergraduates of £9,000 is available for trainees on courses in maths and physics that lead to QTS (qualified teacher status). The bursary is available to undergraduate trainees who enrol on a QTS course beginning in academic year 2015 to 16, and payable in the final year of their course.
For further information please read the Training bursary guide: academic year 2015 to 2016.
School Direct salaried route
NCTL provides the following training and salary grants to School Direct lead schools to cover training costs for salaried trainees to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS) and subsidise salary costs. Amounts vary on a regional basis. Find out which areas are covered by the definitions for inner London, outer London and London fringe.
High priority subjects: physics, maths and computing
| Funding per place (by region) | Amount |
|---|---|
| National | £25,000 |
| Inner London | £29,900 |
| Outer London | £28,600 |
| London fringe | £26,200 |
The rates detailed in the table above include £6,000 grant-uplift to support the increased salary for mathematics, physics and computing trainees. It is a condition of receiving this higher rate that schools confirm with NCTL that they are offering a salary of at least £21,000 nationally, £22,000 in London fringe, £24,000 in outer London or £25,000 in inner London. If schools do not confirm the increased salary they will be paid the same rates as for chemistry, modern and ancient languages. We will contact you with further information on this shortly.
High priority subjects: chemistry, modern and ancient languages
| Funding per place (by region) | Amount |
|---|---|
| National | £19,000 |
| Inner London | £23,900 |
| Outer London | £22,600 |
| London fringe | £20,200 |
Other priority subjects: English, biology, design and technology, geography, history, music and religious education
| Funding per place (by region) | Amount |
|---|---|
| National | £14,000 |
| Inner London | £17,600 |
| Outer London | £16,600 |
| London fringe | £14,900 |
Primary (non-specialist)
| Funding per place (by region) | Amount |
|---|---|
| National | £14,000 |
| Inner London | £17,600 |
| Outer London | £16,600 |
| London fringe | £14,900 |
Primary maths specialist and primary maths specialism*
| Funding per place (by region) | Amount |
|---|---|
| National | £19,000 |
| Inner London | £23,900 |
| Outer London | £22,600 |
| London fringe | £20,200 |
*This funding only applies to trainees with at least a B at maths A Level and who are on primary maths specialist/specialism courses.
For further information regarding School Direct funding, please read the School Direct: funding manual - academic year 2015 to 2016.
Additional qualifications such as a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) are not funded.
School Direct trainees on the salaried route are not eligible for bursaries or scholarships.
A £2,000 incentive payment is also available for schools recruiting and employing eligible graduate service leavers. This payment is funded directly by NCTL as part of the Troops to Teachers programme.
All recipients of School Direct must agree to the Grant funding agreement: terms and conditions and must complete all highlighted sections in the . Your accounting officer should sign Annex A of the grant offer letter and return it to gfa.nctl@education.gov.uk. This document must be received and accepted by NCTL before any funding is released.
Grant funding agreements
If you are a new ITT provider or lead school for School Direct in academic year 2015 to 16 and have not received training bursary or School Direct (salaried) grant funding before, you will need to complete a grant funding agreement. This is an agreement between you, as ITT provider/lead school and NCTL, and it stipulates how you should treat the grant funding.
Subject knowledge enhancement (SKE)
If you have places to fill in maths, physics, computing, chemistry, languages, design and technology, biology or geography you can request SKE funding to support your recruitment.
SKE courses can be offered to potential trainees to bring their subject knowledge up to the level required to begin training to teach their chosen subject. Courses can vary from an 8-week refresher course up to a 36-week programme, depending on the individual needs of the applicant.
NCTL provides School Direct lead schools and ITT providers with funding for SKE courses up to the following maximum rates:
| Weeks of full-time (or equivalent) study | Maximum rate |
|---|---|
| 8–11 | £1,910 |
| 12–15 | £2,810 |
| 16–19 | £3,705 |
| 20–23 | £4,605 |
| 24–27 | £5,500 |
| 28–31 | £6,115 |
| 32–35 | £6,725 |
| 36 | £7,340 |
For more information see our guide: Subject knowledge enhancement: an introduction.
For more information about the pre-ITT SKE programmes and SKE training bursaries read the: Subject knowledge enhancement operations (SKE) manual 2014 to 2015.
To claim funding, please use the subject knowledge enhancement: funding request form.
To ensure payments are made promptly, the deadline for receipt of the SKE funding request form is the third Friday of the month before the programme start date. We aim to issue:
- programme funding in full in the next monthly payment run after receipt and acceptance of the form
- training bursary funding in the next monthly payment run after the start date of the programme
Any claim forms received after the third Friday of the month before the programme start date will be processed in the following monthly payment run.
All recipients of SKE funding must complete all highlighted sections in the . Your accounting officer should sign Annex A of the grant offer letter and return it with the SKE request form to the ITT funding team at itt.funding@education.gov.uk. This document must be received and accepted by NCTL before any funding is released. This action only needs to be taken once upon submission of the first SKE request form.
Courses
If you would like to add your SKE courses to our SKE course directory, please download the SKE directory form.
Allocated funds
Providers are allocated funds which include the postgraduate ITT training bursaries and SKE financial support referenced above. You are responsible for passing on bursary funding to trainees.
More information and guidance on the bursaries can be found in the Training bursary guide: academic year 2015 to 2016.
You can use the ITT funding extranet to view your current training allocations, payment profile and a detailed breakdown of the funding you receive.
Financial requirements for providers
ITT providers who receive NCTL funding must submit independently audited accounts each year.
The financial statements must confirm that funds provided by NCTL were used only in accordance with the provision of the Education Act 1994 (as amended by the Education Act 2005 Act), the financial memorandum and all other terms and conditions that NCTL has set. All ITT providers are ultimately responsible to NCTL for the proper stewardship of the funds paid to them.
Specific requirements set out in the financial memorandum are that providers shall:
- keep proper accounting records and prepare accounts that are consistent with NCTL requirements
- submit a copy of their accounts to NCTL
- provide NCTL with information on the number of students registered at the institution and on other courses funded either wholly or in part by NCTL
Previous incentive schemes: Golden Hello
This scheme is now closed to all trainees starting their ITT in, or after, the academic year 2011 to 2012. Trainees who started their ITT course before 1 August 2011 can still receive the incentive. Local authorities and academies with eligible trainees can claim reimbursement for the Golden Hello Scheme.
Contact details
Funding team
For funding and audit grant return queries including early years
Subject knowledge enhancement
Updates to this page
Published 25 September 2014Last updated 14 July 2016 + show all updates
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Updated grant offer letter for School Direct (salaried) 2015-2016
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Updated grant offer letter for School Direct (salaried)
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First published.