LFirst, note that there is nowhere on the web domain where the UK government ever mentioned to grant automatic employment to teachers in February.
I think their intention is crystal clear.
[Lemme brag 😜]
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘒 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘱. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴, 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 - 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰 - 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦..
[/End of brag]
Hence, we shouldn't confuse applying for a QTS as the same with applying for a UK teaching job.
It doesn't happen automatically as many may be presuming.
What they said was the newly enlisted nations will now be granted eligibility to apply for a UK teaching credential which will in turn afford them - plus afford them with the privilege and ease to qualify as teachers for the UK classrooms.
This therefore mean that after screening your credentials; and peradventure earning the QTS, you'll still have to;
1️⃣ Prepare a strong CV together with an SOP which highlight your teaching experience and qualifications.
2️⃣ Job-hunt for teaching openings maybe with the DfE via their website (if you desire to work in government schools) or you roll with credible recruitment agencies that specialize in teaching jobs (especially if you desire to work with the private schools).
Before now, what some immigrants do is they first find their way to the UK, then seek attachment with private schools as unskilled(ie. supply) teachers.
While they remain with these schools, and after staying a couple of years as attaché, they then begin to file for the QTS in order to stabilize their standing in the teaching profession.
Essentially, this talked-about credential puts applicants at advantage if the goal is to work with the UK public schools.
However, having said all these, several testimonies have been heard about people who do not have the QTS and still able to teach with good private schools.
So you can confirm that it is not only here that we have such narrative as stated in that last paragraph.
Take for instance here in Nigeria, a lot of people are in our classrooms today claiming to be 'teachers' yet have no substantial professional backup.
If the government of today should launch a recruitment campaign, how many of our 'teachers' do you think would scale through the gauges credential-wise?
Also, if we're to talk about why a credential will be so much reverend, then I can point you to so many highly rated schools today in Nigeria which run on the British curriculum such that many teachers can't work with without having the IGCSE credential.
Taking myself as a case study, I had transitioned my teaching career from the supposed small schools to top ones within 2003-2013 without having the necessary qualifications to be in a classroom - yet I was awarded 'best teacher' at several intervals within this period at those schools.
It was the possibility of lofty teaching career that triggered the encouragement to further through acquisition of certificate programmes.
Now, getting yourself set for the diaspora opportunity ahead will definitely plug you into some rigours. There are a few constraints an intending international applicant might face along the line; I'll touch a few that come to mind.
The essence of talking about them is to help us have firsthand knowledge so as to start addressing them before the application window opens.
See, there will be layers of issues when the application process starts proper. While some would be running about for passports, some would be after transcripts and others would be at the general hospital for medicals and some on police report.
The documentations will be one of the biggest exercise ever for most of the first timers in the traveling scenes.
Although, these aren't meant to be something of concern since the QTS can be applied for at any point in time.
So, if for say you won't be meeting up for February based on whatever reasons, you can still reapply if the first attempt does not scale through inasmuch as the window is still opened.
I'm sure the TRA will let us know the conditions and requirements in due time - meanwhile, let us still keep speculating until 1st of February.
Nevertheless, even though as at this time, majority of what we have are based on research, we can still infer valid points from how the UK have been running this credential thing over the years.
You know the QTS is not a newly introduced credential?
The QTS was introduced in the United Kingdom in the late 1990s as part of the education reforms known as the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998.
It was this act that made it a requirement for all teachers in government maintained schools to hold QTS in order to be able to teach in those schools.
Therefore, this was how the QTS became the own icing on their cake for a teaching career in the UK.
If you like, have a CGPA of 5.0 (first class upper), without that thing they call QTS, you can never be regarded as a serious teacher.
So, this has become a sure route for potential immigrant teachers who might be interested in coming to the UK for teaching career through the motivation of the QTS they may have acquired.
But then, you might be pondering on why the UK would need teachers when according to
Statista (a respected online news house) reported in their 7/12/2022 publication that as at 2021/22 there were over 636,799 full-time equivalent teachers working in the United Kingdom.
Well, there are several narratives and tons of conspiracy theories and speculations surrounding the UK teacher trend.
Some reports said the UK is greatly losing teachers to the UAE - an Arab nation which has now become a choice destination and greener pasture for immigrants.
These camp speculates that the incessant taxes together with incommensurate workspace palliatives are the main factors aggravating the teachers' surge towards the Middle East.
Funnily, it is not like to see any of the newly listed countries coming close to what the UK does for their teachers in terms of pay and other incentives.
So, it feels like a calculated attempt by the UK to woo those third nation teachers' into a supposed 'better life'.
As a proof, a quick google search on "How much does a Qts earn in the UK?" reveals interesting results;
✔️Averagely, QTS earns £37,448 (ie. ₦20,109,576 yearly); and £19.20 (₦10,310.4) per hour.
✔️Entry level positions start at £31,200 (₦16,754,400 yearly)
✔️Most experienced QTS make up to £52,062 (₦27,957,294 yearly).
(NB: Exchange @₦537/GBP by abokifx online BDC as at 28-Dec-2022).
Overall, the process of applying for QTS as an international teacher can be complex and time-consuming, and it is important for applicants to carefully review the requirements and plan ahead in order to ensure that they are able to meet all of the necessary criteria.
Find below a few things you should start addressing while the days approach;
1️⃣Educational qualifications: International teachers must hold a degree or equivalent qualification in relevant subject. This qualification must be recognized by the UK National Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) and TRA as being equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree.
2️⃣You must have (in addition to item 1) completed a teaching qualification recognized by the Department for Education (DfE) in the country where you obtained it (a PGDE if your degree is not in education). This qualification must be recognized by UK NARIC as being equivalent to a full-time Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in the UK.
3️⃣Teaching experience: International teachers must have at least two years of teaching experience, preferably within the past five years. This experience must have been gained in a country where English is the primary language of instruction and must have been completed in a school that is recognized as being of a high standard. This may require reference or covering letters from previous or present employers.
4️⃣English language proficiency: International teachers must be able to speak, read, and write English to a high standard. They may be required to take a test to demonstrate their proficiency in the language (ie. Literacy and Numeracy).
5️⃣Criminal record check: International teachers must be able to provide a criminal record check or equivalent documentation from their home country to demonstrate that they do not have any criminal convictions from any of the home country's law enforcement agencies.
6️⃣Health: International teachers must be in good physical and mental health and be able to provide evidence of this if required from a government run hospital.
7️⃣Right to work: International teachers must have the right to work in the UK and be able to provide evidence of this.
As for the TRCN, according to UK NARIC's website, it recognises the credential as a valid and reputable one; so the credential is projected to earn holders some points for the QTS application process.
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