Geography ITT Scholarships Steve Brace Head of Education

Geography ITT Scholarships Steve Brace Head of Education & Outdoor Learning Dr Eleanor Coulber Project Coordinator: Geography Scholarships e. coulber@rgs. org 2019

Geography ITT Scholarships www. rgs. org/scholarships We are delighted to be working with the Department for Education to run the Society's Geography Teacher Training Scholarship programme for geographers starting their teacher training in the autumn of 2019. These prestigious Scholarships provide outstanding trainees with significant financial and professional support. This includes £ 28, 000 tax-free funding and a wide range of additional benefits including: training events, access to materials and resources, Fellowship of the Society, membership of the Geographical Association, networking opportunities and other support to complement teacher training.

The Challenge: Rising Numbers GCSE and A-Level Examination Entries 1996 -2018 (England, Northern Ireland & Wales) 330, 000 45, 000 310, 000 40, 000 290, 000 230, 000 A-Level Entries 35, 000 250, 000 210, 000 190, 000 25, 000 170, 000 GCSE Entries 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2009 Year 2010 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 20, 000 1997 150, 000 1996 GCSE Entries 270, 000 A Level Entries

The Challenge: Teacher Recruitment 1, 531 places needed for the 2018/19 (TSM) In 2010/11 there were <500 places https: //assets. publishing. service. gov. uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/663141/SFR 68_2017_Text. pdf

¢ ~1500 trainees needed pa ¢ 7, 000 UK geog graduates pa ¢ If recruitment was just from 3 rd years we’d need 1: 5 graduates to become teachers …

RGS-IBG Geography ITT Scholarship programme 2016 -17 & 2017 -18 cycles completed ¢ In 2018 Df. E ran an open grant application process for the 2019 -2021 contract & awarded a three year programme to the Society ¢ Focus remains on following : ¢ Helping raise status of teaching & ITT entries l Scholarships awarded to ~10% of ITT cohort l

Requirements Strong academic record in geography (or related): First or 2: 1 ¢ Demonstrable commitment to geography and geography teaching ¢ Eligibility for student finance and an eligible course ¢ ¢ Candidates typically ‘fail’ on their subject knowledge

2019 Applications 72 applications to date: ~30% ahead of same date last year (2017 - 277, 2018 – 330 totals) ¢ 785 ‘enquiries’ (2017 – 1366, 2018 – 1982 totals) ¢

2019 Awards 21 Awards, from 2 assessment days ¢ Key messages for prospective applicants: ¢ HE or school based … it doesn’t matter l Scholarships are still available ~125 to award l Scholarships are criteria based … it’s not the ‘Geography Apprentice’ l (& read the information we send before the assessment day!) l

Scholar characteristics ¢ ~55% Russell Group 45% other uni ¢ ~60% HE ITT 40% SD or SCITT ¢ ~90% White British/Irish 10% BME

Who are the Scholars? “Creating the ‘spark’ moment is when they choose to continue their geography into GCSE and A level or even university. It’s nice to think that when they do, they’ll remember their geography lessons with ‘Dr Allan’. ” Mark Allan “I decided to teach because it makes you see the world in a different way as well as giving you the skills to do a variety of things. ” Tulsi Pankhania

Wider impacts ¢ Opportunity for positive engagement with HE colleagues & others the value of teaching and the recruitment challenge l ¢ Additional CPD for Scholars e. g. meteorology, GIS and fieldwork Geography Ambassador programme provides ‘taster’ for prospective geog teachers ~15% of Scholars have been Ambassadors

Reinforcing: subject specialist identity

Thank you to: Providers and others who’ve encouraged applications ¢ Providers who are currently training Scholars ¢ Anyone who has shared information about the scheme & please continue to do so ¢ All of you who are encouraging applications for this year’s cycle www. rgs. org/scholarships ¢