Funding for training in Wales
There are many sources of funding available both during and after your training.
Sometimes the amount of funding you receive depends on the subject you are training to teach. Priority subjects in Wales for 2008/09 are:
- design and technology
- information and communications technology
- mathematics
- modern foreign languages
- religious education
- music
- science, and
- Welsh.
If you are training to teach in Wales you may be eligible for:
Undergraduate funding
Undergraduates training to be secondary teachers may be eligible for a grant during their school-based placement. These grants amount to £1,000 and are available from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) for undergraduate students on initial teacher training (ITT) courses in Wales who are training to teach secondary priority subjects.
Postgraduate funding
All eligible postgraduate trainee teachers are entitled to a tax-free bursary while they train, the value of this depends on where you train, the subject you are training to teach, and when you start your course. Visit the Student Finance Wales website for full details of available funding and how you can apply.
Hardship awards and other grants
Hardship awards are available where unforeseen difficulties arise that may prevent you from remaining on a course. Local authorities can provide small hardship grants and there is also extra help available for students with special circumstances. Additional financial help is available, including childcare grants and an allowance for any extra costs directly associated with a disability. For more information on financial support, visit Student Finance Wales.
The Welsh medium incentive supplement
Trainees taking secondary ITT postgraduate courses from September 2008 and training through the medium of Welsh may be eligible for the £1,500 Welsh medium incentive supplement (£1,800 for trainees taking science and mathematics courses). This is aimed at trainees who need extra support to raise confidence in their ability to teach effectively in Welsh.
Decisions on eligibility for the supplement are made by individual ITT providers involved in the scheme. You can get more information on which courses qualify for this supplement from the ITT providers.
Employment-based funding
Trainee teachers on the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) receive a salary from their school. This will be at least equal to the minimum point on the unqualified teacher pay scale, but your school may choose to pay you more.
In Wales, state-maintained schools supporting a trainee on the GTP are eligible to receive a grant of £14,400 towards the cost of the trainee's salary and an additional grant of £4,400 to cover training costs.
Training grants
Trainees on postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) ITT courses in Wales may qualify for a tax-free bursary known as a training grant. The value of the training grant depends on what subject you train to teach and when you start your course. The training grant is paid directly to you by your ITT provider in monthly instalments across the duration of your course.
Teaching grants in Wales
When you complete your ITT and induction year, you may also be eligible to receive a taxable teaching grant, similar to the golden hellos available in England.
For trainees starting PGCE courses in September 2008, the package of incentives available in Wales (including both teaching and training grants) is as follows:
- Trainees starting courses in maths and science can receive a training grant of £7,200 and a teaching grant of £5,000. Trainees in modern foreign languages (MFL), design and technology, information and communications technology (ICT), Welsh, music and religious education (RE) can receive a training grant of £7,200 and a teaching grant of £2,500.
- Trainees starting courses in art, geography, history, physical education (PE) and English (including drama) can receive a training grant of £4,200 but are not eligible to receive a teaching grant.
- Trainees starting primary postgraduate ITT courses after 1 September 2008, can receive a training grant of £2,200.
The package of incentives available for courses in Wales ensures that Welsh students will benefit from the same level of support – incentives combined with funding towards tuition fees – as students in England. If you normally live in Wales and are also studying there, you may be entitled to a tuition fee grant of £1,890 which does not have to be repaid. Visit the Student Finance Wales website to find out more.
