What is the GTP?

Hey there! Welcome to my GTP blog.
There's loads and loads of info out there about PGCE's but precious little about what it's really like to do the GTP so I thought I'd have a go at blogging my experiences to help others.
Aren't I nice?
So, the GTP...what is it?
The Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) is a teacher training programme for..er..graduates. It's a learn on the job type thing where you are employed by a school as an unqualified teacher and trained by the school and the training provider (the Designated Recommending Body(DRB)).
You can train to go into Primary or Secondary schools. Primary places are hard to get into (that's what I'm doing) and so are non priority Secondary subjects.
Secondary priority subjects change yearly and by region.
You are paid to train (around about £14k PA) so it's a great way in for those of us with families and mortages etc.
Unlike the PGCE or SCITT routes there's no golden handshakes at the end, but then there's no course fees or student loans either.
It's also extremely intensive (so I'm told since I haven't started yet) and definitely hands on.
What better way to learn a 'hands on' kind of job than to actually do it?
Generally to get on the GTP you need to have experience in schools since you will hit the school running, so to speak, and within a few short weeks (or days, or hours, god help me) will be planning and taking whole lessons by yourself. So, it's handy to be a Teaching Assistant (TA) before hand.
Me? I'm a bookseller. Hmmm. Okay, so I was a TA for a couple of months five years ago but that was ages ago. Most DRB's expect you to have at least 2 weeks work experience in schools recently in order for them to invite you to interview. More about pre-requisites in the next blog...