The West London Partnership enables schools to employ graduate teachers who are not yet qualified and supports them through an individual training programme leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The programme may suit mature career changers who need to continue earning while they train. It would also suit those who have taught in the Further Education or Independent sectors without gaining QTS. For those people who have trained overseas as teachers and who wish to obtain QTS in the UK, separate arrangements exist and the GTP now offers a "fast track" route to qualification.

The West London Partnership is an EBITT (Employment based initial teacher training provider)and consists of three Higher Education Institutions(Kingston University, Roehampton University and St. Mary's University College) and eleven LAs (Brent*, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Surrey, Sutton and Wandsworth).

*Please note that Brent LA only works with us to train Secondary teachers via GTP and OTTP, and works with the London North Consortium for the Primary GTP .

The current priority secondary subjects are: design and technology, ICT, maths, MFL, science, music, 
religious education.

Other secondary subjects can be considred for non-priority subjects allocation.

The aim of the Partnership is to enable schools to take part in employment-based training by providing support, advice, training and quality assurance.
The Partnership has been allocated fully funded places by the TDA to train teachers via the GTP route within the eleven LAs covered by the WLP as follows:
2007/8 161
2008/9 157
2009/10 148
2010/11 142

What is the role of the Partnership?

The role of the Partnership is to act as an EBITT and offer schools a service that raises awareness of employment-based training programmes, demonstrates the benefits of the scheme and provides the support and structure needed to make schools confident to undertake the training of a teacher.

Schools need more teachers, especially in state schools, in shortage subjects and/or age phases. Many people would like to train as teachers but need to earn a living at the same time. The Partnership will allow both parties to benefit from the scheme.

The Partnership as an Employment Based Initial Teacher Training Provider

The Partnership (as an EBITT) will provide the following.

• A rigorous screening process to assess the suitability of candidates for the programme.
• Support and guidance for the initial needs assessment of the Graduate Teacher.
• Provision of tutors to draw up suitable training plans
• Administration of the training grant which is currently a maximum of £5,360 as of 2008/9 and delegation of school based monies to schools.
• Provision of high quality training, support and training materials
• Assistance in monitoring and assessing the Graduate Teacher's progress.
• Management of the final external assessment of the Graduate Teacher against the standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
• Recommendation of candidates to the GTC (General Teaching Council)for QTS.

• All the providers have extensive knowledge of schools and have a proven track record in initial teacher training.
• The Partnership has built a network of support and a range of opportunities for professional development including training, development and support for school mentors.
• Specialist tutors will be used to carry out the initial audit and complete the training plans.
• The providers will liase closely with LAs.
• Schools will be able to access the funded places allocated. The salary grant payments to schools to be used towards employment costs for suitable candidates will be increased as of September 2008 as follows:
  Inner London: £17,800 for a three term programme.
  Outer London: £16,800 for a three term programme.
  National rate: £14,200 for a three term ptogramme.
  One or two term programmes will attract the new rates pro-rata.
  
• The Partnership will maintain a database of schools, and model training programmes/support materials from exisiting partnerships.
• All aspects of the programme will be monitored and evaluated by the Steering Group in addition to the TDA.
• Schools will be able to seek advice regarding the legal responsibilities relating to the employment and conditions of service of the Graduate Teacher.
• It will provide schools with an opportunity to take control of their staffing needs.