Our admission process aims to select individuals with outstanding potential and a passionate commitment to teaching, rather than those in possession of a particular set of academic qualifications. For instance, we would welcome a mature entrant whose degree was not a strong match if they possessed school-based or industrial experience closely related to the subject or phase in which they wished to train.
Nevertheless, there are academic standards required which all applicants must have achieved. In order to apply for Initial Teacher Training:
To apply to the West Midlands Consortium please use the DfE Apply system using our Provider code.
APPLY HERE
The DfE system will automatically forward your application to WMC and we will check you meet the standard academic requirements. We will ask you to provide additional information, including a scanned copy of your academic certificates and a recent passport style picture. Successful applicants will be invited to an interview, a group activity / taught lesson and delivery of a presentation.
Interviews will commonly take place at the Employing School or online. The interview panel will comprise of representatives from the West Midlands Consortium and a subject specialist / experienced member of staff from one of the Partner Schools.
Full details of each stage of selection, timings and venues will be communicated to candidates via email and DfE Apply.
Important note for School Based Training Applicants
Thomas Telford School, as Lead School for the Consortium, will receive all School Based Training applications. If you have a preference for a particular Partner School to which you would like your application directed, please state this in your application or in an email to the WMC Administrator. If you have no preference, your application will be sent to all Partner Schools wishing to host trainees in your subject.
If you have qualifications from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK European Network of Information Centres (UK ENIC) will be able to advise you on whether your qualifications are equivalent to the minimum requirements set out above and they may also provide certification where appropriate.
Although the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act often enables those with a conviction for criminal offences not to disclose them after a period of time, this does not apply to members or intending members of the teaching profession. Applicants must detail all convictions / cautions / reprimands or final warnings given by the police for any criminal offences. WMC reserves the right to withdrawal an offer should there be any instances of non-disclosure at the point of initial application.
When applying for Initial Teacher Training, you will be required to complete a personal statement. In your statement, you should explain why you wish to join the teaching profession and specifically why you wish to teach your chosen phase/subject. Include your aspirations and the qualities and skills you will bring into teaching. Try to explain why you want to study the course for which you are applying and include any relevant experience that you have of working in schools and/or with young people. If you mention your personal interests and hobbies, try to link these to the skills and experience required for the course.
The personal statement may be used as the basis for an interview so be prepared to answer questions in relation to this. You should make sure the statement is organised and literate, paying particular attention to your use of grammar, spelling and punctuation. Your statement must be written in English.