QTS: the journey
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| For those of you interested in obtaining QTS, I've now completed the first couple steps:
STEP 1: NARIC
You fill out an application (can do it on line) and pay something like 40 pounds. Then send copies of all your transcripts and ceritficates INCLUDING your high school transcripts and diploma. Naric then sends you back as piece of paper saying that a US Masters is equivalent to a UK Masters, a US Bachelors is equivalent to a UK,...etc. Hang on to the transcripts and certificates as you'll need them yet again in this process.
STEP 2: Get enrolled with a OTT/QTS provider
Check with someone in your school about this. They probably have a provider or providers that they generally work with. The school will probably pay for this part of the process as well. You will have to fill out an application and submit copies of all transcripts and certificates again.
If you haven't already been taking notes on your focus during mentoring sessions, start doing that now. Those may provide "proof" of meeting certain QTS standards later in the process.
You will also probably be called in for an "interview" with the provider. This is really just an opportunity for the provider to check the real copies of your transcripts and certificates. You'll need your passport with work permit and a copy of birth certificate or other form of ID. Not to difficult really...only problem I had was with my multiple majors in Uni and with the fact that my high school was 1)a copy taken from a microfiche original and 2)had quarter grades and exam grades listed as well as the final semester averages (I had earned a D on one of the 2 Calculus exams so they wondered if I had earned the required GCSE maths equivalent...took a lot of explaining.) ;-)
STEP 3: SKILLS TESTS
The provider will give you a number so that you can register to actually take the skills tests. There are 3 tests: Maths, literacy, and ICT.
I have now taken and passed maths. Suggestion, do take the time to do the practice tests provided at the site as the "mental maths" stuff is...well, mental is good term for it. The actual maths is easy: reading charts and graphs, calculating percentages, converting fractions to decimals (and vice versa), finding volume, ...etc. The hard part is doing those simple calculation under a time constraint while some female voice talks at you through the headphones. Practice will help you block the voice and concentrate.
I'm scheduled to take the other two tests in December...couldn't find any sooner available time I'm afraid. This must be a busy time of year for this sort of thing.
I'm meeting with the evaluator from my providing institution this coming Friday to discuss expectations and set up dates and times to be observed. She's going to look at my mentor journal from last year and this year and go through what's in my QTS binder so far (things like copies of marked student work, communications with parents, participation in professional development opportunities, reports completed and turned in, copies from the mark book, copies of lesson plans,...etc). I'll let you know more as it comes.
Meli |
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Skills tests (continued)
I was able to get a testing time for the Literacy test on SAT 3 Nov. I didn't have time to revise for it at all, but it was incredibly easy...even with my dyslexia (and I am not taking one of the modified versions as I didn't want the hassle of sending back to the States for proof...etc). There are practice tests available which may be worth a look before you go, but on the whole no worries.
Met with the assessor (actually the tutor who monitors how I'm progressing for the University) on Friday. PLEASE NOTE: These people get paid a bulk amount for your registration into the programme AND THEN they get more money FOR EACH VISIT they make. I didn't realize that. I just thought it might be important for you to know that whether the school is paying for all this or you are paying for all of this. My mentor sat with me the Friday before break to go through my binder to make sure everything was in order, and now I understand why. Despite this, the tutor declared that since I can't receive a final assessment visit until after I'd passed all 3 of the Skill tests, we should use the time wisely by scheduling at least one more visit. The cost of the programme is coming out of the department budget, so my peers were not impressed. Just thought you should go in forewarned. |
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| QTS is useless for most people. Its not even worth a bother until after a year or two. |
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I'm glad your independently wealthy, but actually most of us aren't and could use the pay increase that comes with gaining QTS. I'm in line to jump two levels on the pay scale as soon as I finish QTS in early January...and guess what, its dead easy to do.
Cheers |
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I'm surprised you worked on the unqualified scale for so long.
Really, you can't get QTS unless you work here. But if you work here unqualified, the pay is so low that there is no point to coming here just for work |
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