Funding: initial teacher training (ITT), academic year 2017 to 18
Funding guidance for schools and ITT providers for 2017 to 2018, including bursaries, scholarships and School Direct (salaried) grants.
Overview
The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) is responsible for:
- managing bursary and grant funding associated with initial teacher training (ITT)
- monitoring the public cost of student loans accessed by trainees
For the 2017 to 2018 academic year we’ll manage recruitment at a national level. The Allocations methodology for the academic year 2017 to 2018 will be published by NCTL in due course.
This guidance refers to ITT funding for the academic year 2017 to 2018. For the academic year 2016 to 2017 please see Funding: initial teacher training (ITT), academic year 2016 to 2017.
Tuition fee routes
The following scholarships and bursaries are available to trainee teachers.
Scholarships
| Subject | Amount |
|---|---|
| Physics | £30,000 |
| Secondary mathematics, computing, chemistry, geography, modern foreign languages | £27,500 |
Graduates with a 2:1 and above, who are passionate about their subject and have the potential to be inspirational teachers can apply for a scholarship with the appropriate professional body. As well as the financial award, scholars will receive a package of additional benefits provided by the professional bodies.
Trainees with a 2:2 may be awarded a scholarship in exceptional circumstances, if they have significant relevant experience.
Trainees awarded a scholarship cannot receive a bursary. Trainees who aren’t awarded a scholarship are eligible for a standard bursary.
Bursaries
| Eligibility 2017 to 2018 (1) | Trainee with 1st/PhD | 2:1/Master’s | 2:2 | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | £30,000 | £25,000 | £25,000 | £0 |
| Secondary mathematics, classics, computing, geography, modern foreign languages | £25,000 | £25,000 | £25,000 | £0 |
| Chemistry | £25,000 | £20,000 | £20,000 | £0 |
| Biology | £15,000 | £12,000 | £10,000 | £0 |
| Design and technology | £12,000 | £9,000 | £0 | £0 |
| English | £9,000 | £9,000 | £0 | £0 |
| History, music, religious education | £9,000 | £4,000 | £0 | £0 |
| Primary mathematics (2) | £6,000 | £6,000 | £6,000 | £0 |
| Primary | £3,000 | £0 | £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.
- Trainee teachers on primary mathematics courses, with at least a B at A level in mathematics (or equivalent), will be eligible for a bursary of £6,000.
Undergraduate bursary
A training bursary for final year undergraduates of £9,000 is available for trainees on courses in secondary mathematics and physics that lead to qualified teacher status (QTS). The bursary is available to undergraduate trainees who enrol on a QTS course starting in the 2017 to 2018 academic year, and is payable in the final year of their course.
The same £9,000 training bursary is available to trainees on an opt-in secondary undergraduate mathematics, physics, computing or modern foreign language course that leads to QTS. The bursary is available to undergraduate trainees who enrol on a QTS course in the 2017 to 2018 academic year, and is payable in the final year of their course.
For both of these courses, trainees who are on a 4-year undergraduate course that leads to the award of QTS and that also leads to the award of a Master’s degree receive a £9,000 bursary in both the third and fourth years of their course.
For further information postgraduate and undergraduate bursaries, please read the training bursary guide: academic year 2017 to 2018.
School Direct salaried route
On the School Direct (salaried) training route the full costs of training and the trainee’s salary need to be met by the partnership. We provide grants to School Direct lead schools to contribute to these 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: chemistry, classics, computing, mathematics, modern foreign languages, physics
| 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 | £9,000 |
| Inner London | £11,400 |
| Outer London | £10,800 |
| London fringe | £9,600 |
Primary mathematics specialist and primary mathematics specialism
This funding only applies to trainees with at least a B at mathematics A Level or equivalent and on primary mathematics specialist/specialism courses.
| Funding per place (by region) | Amount |
|---|---|
| National | £14,000 |
| Inner London | £17,600 |
| Outer London | £16,600 |
| London fringe | £14,900 |
For further information regarding School Direct (salaried) funding, please read the School Direct (salaried) funding manual - academic year 2017 to 2018.
Qualifications in addition to QTS, such as a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE), are not funded.
School Direct (salaried) trainees on the salaried route are not eligible for bursaries or scholarships.
All recipients of School Direct (salaried) grant funding must agree to the grant funding agreement: terms and conditions.
Grant funding agreements
If you’re a new ITT provider or lead school for School Direct in the academic year 2017 to 18 and haven’t previously received training bursary or School Direct (salaried) grant funding, you’ll need to complete the relevant grant funding agreement. This is an agreement between the ITT provider or lead school, and NCTL. It stipulates how you should treat the grant funding.
Your accounting officer should complete the form and sign Annex A of the grant funding agreement and return the full document to gfa.nctl@education.gsi.gov.uk. We’ll need to receive and accept this document before any funding for the academic year 2017 to 2018 is released.
The grant funding agreement templates are:
- Grant funding agreement for subject knowledge enhancement
Subject knowledge enhancement (SKE)
We’re committed to the use of SKE to support ITT recruitment in priority subjects. We expect ITT providers and lead schools offering these subjects to consider offering SKE.
To support recruitment to ITT, SKE funding will be available in physics, mathematics, chemistry, computing, languages, design and technology, biology and geography. Funding can now be requested for SKE programmes. For more information read the SKE funding manual.
Early years initial teacher training funding
NCTL allocates and funds early years ITT places each academic year. Early years initial teacher training (EYITT) leads to the award of early years teacher status (EYTS).
We provide training bursaries and training grants to attract high-quality graduates to become early years teachers.
This funding can only be used to deliver training programmes to support trainees in meeting the Teachers’ Standards (Early Years). The training grant includes the costs of assessment against these standards.
For more information, please read the early years initial teacher training: funding guidance.
Allocated funds
Providers are allocated funds which include the postgraduate ITT training bursaries and SKE financial support. They’re 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 2017 to 2018.
Providers and lead schools can use the ITT funding extranet to view:
- their current training places
- their payment profile
- a detailed breakdown of the funding they 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 us
Funding team
For funding and audit grant return queries including early years
Subject knowledge enhancement
Updates to this page
Published 29 September 2016Last updated 25 July 2017 + show all updates
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Grant funding agreement for School Direct (salaried) 2017 to 2018 template added
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Subject knowledge enhancement section updated.
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First published.