Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg
By Meurig Jones
Headteacher Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd and Professional Advisor, Education Directorate, Welsh Government
For us as leaders of schools in Wales, it’s welcoming to see changes to the grant funding available for schools supporting Salaried PGCE student teachers from academic year 2025/26. These changes will now enable more of our schools to access this funding and in some cases at a higher rate.
What is the Salaried PGCE and how could it benefit my school?
The Salaried PGCE is Welsh Government’s employment based initial teacher education (ITE) programme delivered by the Open University ITE Partnership. Salaried PGCE student teachers are employed by a school to carry out duties and learn to become a teacher with qualified teacher status while earning a salary. This option increases the opportunities for those seeking to join this rewarding profession of a teacher, in a more flexible way.
Welsh Government covers the full cost of a Salaried PGCE student teacher’s training and a contribution to employing schools towards their student teacher’s salary. As a school supporting a Salaried PGCE student teacher, we become part of the Open University ITE Partnership. There are many benefits to entering the Open University ITE partnership, as the support offered to a Salaried PGCE student teacher include:
- opportunities for your school to grow your own teachers – develop teachers who understand the needs and education of your learners, their community and could also benefit other schools in the wider community
- develop and diversify your teaching community by supporting aspiring teachers unable to access full-time ITE programmes
- financial incentives, dedicated training and exciting professional development for our school-based mentoring staff – supporting and developing your school further as a learning organisation.
Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy in North Wales have six student teachers on the Salaried PGCE this year. Headteacher Owain Gethin Davies says
“The salaried route scheme has enabled us to recruit the best teachers and build a workforce for the future, especially in key subjects such as Maths or Welsh.”
A teaching workforce made in Wales | GOV.WALES
What’s changed to the grant funding criteria?
From academic year 2025/26 primary schools can now access the salary contribution grant when they support and employ a Salaried PGCE student teacher.
Secondary and all age schools across a wider range of language categories (e.g. T2, C2, T3) can access the higher rate of the salary contribution grant, which is 100%, when they support and employ a Welsh medium Salaried PGCE student teacher, along with those wishing to teach Welsh in English medium secondary education settings.
Please visit the Open University’s website if you are:
- a school wishing to support a current member of non-teaching staff onto the Salaried PGCE
- interested in working with the Open University ITE Partnership to find a Salaried PGCE student teacher to work in your school
Guidance and information on the grant funding available for applicants and schools interested in supporting a Salaried PGCE student teacher is also available here https://www.gov.wales/salaried-postgraduate-certificate-education-pgce
How can my school get involved with supporting tomorrow’s teachers?
Why not become an ITE Partner School? Since 2019 ITE in Wales is delivered through partnerships of schools and universities. ITE Partner schools are fundamental to the development of the next generation of teachers. All ITE Partnerships in Wales need schools to design, refine and deliver ITE programmes. Therefore, if you are interested in finding out how your school can get involved, Wales’ ITE Partnerships will be pleased to hear from you:
- CaBan (Bangor University)
- Cardiff Partnership for Initial Teacher Education (Cardiff Met)
- Swansea University Schools’ Partnership
- The Open University ITE Partnership
- University of South Wales ITE Partnership
- Yr Athrofa: Professional Learning Partnership (APLP) (University of Wales Trinity St David, Carmarthen and Swansea)