Apply to join the physics ITT for engineers pilot
How the pilot will work
The Department for Education (DfE) would like to work with a small cohort of accredited ITT providers to design and pilot a physics ITT course for engineering graduates starting from September 2022. Providers will be supported by DfE with grant funding of up to £19,999 each.
Throughout the pilot, DfE intends to work closely with the pilot providers to deliver a training programme which meets:
the needs of candidates and providers
quality standards set by ITT providers and DfE
The aim of this pilot is to assess whether wider roll-out of a bespoke physics teacher training course for engineers is feasible going forwards.
Action
Date
Open provider application process
Wednesday 16 February 2022
Close provider application process
5pm, Friday 4 March 2022
Providers informed of application outcomes
By Tuesday 8 March 2022
Grant payment made to providers
From week commencing 7 March 2022
Providers add courses to Find post-graduate teacher training
April 2022
Providers begin to recruit candidates
Spring/Summer 2022
Providers to start pilot courses
From September 2022
Eligibility
To join the pilot, you must already be accredited by DfE to deliver ITT leading to qualified teacher status (QTS).
You must also already be delivering physics ITT courses and have experience in training a range of graduates to teach physics, whether from an engineering or other degree background.
We need to ensure that the quality of the pilot is of a high standard to maximise its success. We will only accept applications from accredited providers who have an Ofsted inspection rating of 1 (outstanding) or 2 (good) for their secondary QTS provision.
We are unable to accept applications from recently accredited ITT providers who have not been inspected.
Apply to the join the pilot
Read this guidance in full.
Download and complete the Application form for the physics ITT for engineers pilot (MS Word Document, 62 KB).
Return the form by email to [email protected] using the subject line ‘Physics ITT for engineers pilot application’ by 5pm on Friday 4 March.
Approvals process
Successful providers will be expected to make best efforts to recruit at least 10 candidates each for the pilot.
Your application needs to demonstrate that you have:
a successful ITT offer and are currently accredited to deliver ITT
sufficient capacity to design and deliver a high quality physics for engineers programme in a limited time period (that is, in time to recruit candidates for courses beginning from September 2022)
an established physics teacher training programme
Application marking scheme
Any part of your answer which exceeds the word limit for a particular question will not be considered.
Each section will be scored out of 5. Question 2 is double weighted, this means we will double the score for this question, for example, if we score you 3 we will double that to 6.
If you score 2 or less on any question, your submission will automatically be removed from the process and will not be considered for the physics for engineers pilot scheme.
The total score available is 30.
Application criteria
We’ll score your application using these application criteria.
Assessment
Marks
Criteria
Excellent
5 (pass)
A comprehensive response that answers the question in full, addresses the key points and provides evidence to demonstrate that the ITT provider has the knowledge, experience, capability, resources and capacity to meet or exceed the requirement. Demonstrates an excellent understanding and high level of confidence with no concerns or omissions identified.
Good
4 (pass)
A good response that answers the question, addresses the key points and provides evidence to demonstrate that the ITT provider has the knowledge, experience, capability, resources and capacity to meet the requirement. Demonstrates a good understanding and level of confidence. The response may include some minor concerns or omissions but are not considered to present a risk or have an impact on service delivery.
Minor Omissions
3 (pass)
The response answers the question but may not have fully addressed the key points or provided enough evidence to fully demonstrate that the ITT provider has the knowledge, experience, capability, resources or capacity to meet the requirement. Demonstrates a satisfactory understanding and level of confidence. The response may include some concerns or omissions that are considered to present an element of risk or may have an impact on service delivery, but can be reasonably managed or resolved.
Major Omissions
2 (fail)
The response does not answer the question in full and fails to address all the key points or provide relevant evidence to demonstrate that the ITT provider has the knowledge, experience, capability, resources or capacity to meet the requirement. Demonstrates a lack of understanding or confidence. The response includes concerns or omissions that are considered to present a risk or would have an impact on service delivery that would require significant intervention to manage or resolve.
Unacceptable
1 (fail)
The response fails to answer the question, does not address the key points or provide evidence to demonstrate that the ITT provider has the required knowledge, experience, capability, resources or capacity and the requirement is unlikely to be met. Demonstrates a lack of understanding or confidence. The response includes significant concerns or omissions that are considered to represent an unacceptable level of risk and/or would have a detrimental impact on service delivery.
No Answer Provided
0 (fail)
No answer provided.
Deliverables
Over the course of the pilot providers must:
create a physics teacher training pilot programme for engineering graduates incorporating the Core Content Framework (CCF) which meets the ITT criteria and allows trainees to meet the Teachers’ Standards
secure at least 10 trainees each onto the pilot, in addition to your regular physics trainees
produce a vision or mission statement for your pilot programme
ensure trainees can feed back on the programme and share this information on successes and challenges with DfE
award QTS to all trainees who have met the Teachers’ Standards at the end of the course, and submit data accordingly to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)
Support from DfE
DfE will support successful pilot providers throughout the pilot period and will:
provide grant funding for successful applicants of up to £19,999 per provider
appoint a relationship manager for each pilot provider to ensure that providers have a named individual from the pilot programme team to discuss general queries and any concerns
set up a channel for easy communication between all parties, for example, Microsoft Teams or Slack
survey pilot providers, trainees, mentors and schools on the delivery of physics for engineers pilot throughout the pilot year to learn and monitor progress in preparation for any wider roll-out
DfE will host a start-up meeting for the pilot shortly after we notify the successful providers.
Security of data
DfE expects you to treat and protect personal data in the same way as your ITT data in line with UK GDPR requirements. You will need to provide a copy of your security plan if requested. It is agreed that statutory and other constraints on the exchange of information will be fully respected, including the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and the Human Rights Act 1998, and any successor or amended legislation to the same.
Monthly reporting requirements
Pilot providers will be expected to supply monthly reports on the following performance indicators.
Key performance indicators (KPIs)
Key performance indicator
Requirement
Design and create course content and methods of delivery
Course content incorporating the CCF which allows trainees to meet the Teachers’ Standards to be shared with DfE, along with a plan for how the qualification will be delivered. We ask that this is completed before the pilot begins with monthly reporting on course(s) development provided on request.
Number of trainees
To make best efforts to recruit at least 10 candidates
Active engagement in the feedback loop with trainees
Regular feedback from trainees (for example through monthly surveys and termly focus groups), the results of which are fed back to DfE by the 15th of the following month. DfE should also be invited to one focus group per pilot provider in the pilot year. Additionally, DfE expects providers to put a route in place for trainees to feedback regularly on an ad hoc basis through a dedicated email address, so trainees know how to contact DfE and feedback directly.
Other data requirements:
development of course content and methods of delivery
the number of expressions of interest from potential candidates
the number of applications
the number of candidates interviewed
the number of candidates placed on a reserved list if numbers exceed 30
the total number of candidates offered an alternative course
Further information may also be requested.
If you cannot commit to the above KPIs and supply of management information as stated, do not submit a request to be considered for approval as a pilot provider.
Next steps
By submitting an application, providers commit to:
meeting the deadlines set out in our timeline
making best efforts to recruit at least 10 trainees
adhering to our Terms and conditions (PDF, 80.1 KB, 1 page)
All submissions must be signed off by the individual in your organisation who has overall responsibility for your ITT provision.
We are aiming to announce the successful providers in early March 2022. We’ll then ask participating providers to sign an agreement covering mutual expectations.
Grant funding of up to £19,999 is available for each pilot provider.
Withdrawal of pilot provider approval
Approved physics with engineers ITT pilot providers must comply with the ITT criteria and supporting information.
In all but the most serious cases of non-compliance, DfE will give pilot providers the opportunity to address the problem before we start the formal process of withdrawal of ITT accreditation.
For help with any aspect of the pilot application process, or if you have questions, concerns or feedback, email [email protected].
Responses