How is the Scottish curriculum seen by ISs
How is the Scottish curriculum seen by ISs
I am about to pursue teacher training in either England or Scotland. Ideally I want to live in Scotland and eventually make the jump to the international circuit after a few years. However, I don't know how ISs view teachers from the Scottish curriculum compared with that of the English curriculum. Any thoughts?
Response
IE generally views a credential (registration) from Scotland the same as the rest of the UK. Where your going to find any variation is with BSs that have a preference of one over the other, but in those instances its less about the curriculum and more about the EPP/ITT program and what background your field work comes from. I know leadership at BSs who wouldnt hire a Scottish IT to save their jobs, and I know some Scottish leadership who think English ITs are "soft", but those are more about their personalities than any significant differences in capability or training deficiencies.
From a technical perspective the Scottish credential is much easier to gain the English credential (QTS) than it is for the English credential to transfer to the Scottish credential.
From a technical perspective the Scottish credential is much easier to gain the English credential (QTS) than it is for the English credential to transfer to the Scottish credential.
Re: How is the Scottish curriculum seen by ISs
Generally speaking, the British schools don't have a problem with a Scottish PGDE instead of a PGCE - you will occasionally find that some are a bit snotty about experience teaching Highers rather than A Level or IB, but I've only come across that once (and it made up my mind that, whatever the outcome of the interview, I wasn't going to that school.) TBH, the differences - especially at English KS3 / Scottish BGE levels - are not that great, and if you get experience teaching Advanced Higher on top of Higher than that will also help. The Curriculum for Excellence planning and aims are not a million miles away from IB either. There are actually around 8 or 9 Scottish teachers at my school.
As for the actual credential, it is a bit more difficult to get than the English one. First, you have to complete the PGDE - and, for secondary, there must be a clear link between your undergraduate degree and the subject you are training for. No History graduates teaching Maths in Scotland - or even English, for that matter. Having completed that, you will be what is called "provisionally registered" with GTC Scotland, and you then have to go through a probation year. As you live outside of Scotland, you won't qualify for the automatic probation year, so you will have to complete it by what's called the "alternative route" - you would complete this through a variety of supply or temporary contracts, until you build up the required number of hours teaching. Once you've done that, then you become fully registered and can apply for jobs in Scottish schools.
Psyguy is right about transferring from England to Scotland (or any other jurisdiction to Scotland, for that matter.) If you get your qualification in England, then it's likely that you will still have to do the probation period in Scotland regardless of how long you have been teaching. Also, if your degree doesn't link to your subject (if you're that History graduate teaching English, for example) then you will only be able to register in History and not English. If you need exact clarification, speak to GTC Scotland (www.gtcs.org.uk) - they will tell you exactly what you need to do.
As for the actual credential, it is a bit more difficult to get than the English one. First, you have to complete the PGDE - and, for secondary, there must be a clear link between your undergraduate degree and the subject you are training for. No History graduates teaching Maths in Scotland - or even English, for that matter. Having completed that, you will be what is called "provisionally registered" with GTC Scotland, and you then have to go through a probation year. As you live outside of Scotland, you won't qualify for the automatic probation year, so you will have to complete it by what's called the "alternative route" - you would complete this through a variety of supply or temporary contracts, until you build up the required number of hours teaching. Once you've done that, then you become fully registered and can apply for jobs in Scottish schools.
Psyguy is right about transferring from England to Scotland (or any other jurisdiction to Scotland, for that matter.) If you get your qualification in England, then it's likely that you will still have to do the probation period in Scotland regardless of how long you have been teaching. Also, if your degree doesn't link to your subject (if you're that History graduate teaching English, for example) then you will only be able to register in History and not English. If you need exact clarification, speak to GTC Scotland (www.gtcs.org.uk) - they will tell you exactly what you need to do.
Re: How is the Scottish curriculum seen by ISs
Another thought - try applying to schools which already have Scottish teachers. The SMT there will at least have an understanding of the Scottish system. Some schools have teachers' biographies online (or at least their experience) so that might help.
Discussion
All of the western SLL curriculum are highly congruent
To add, Scotland doesnt have routes like AO, SCD, or OTT, etc.., you have to do the work in Scotland, and if your going to have to do the work, you may as well start in Scotland and than obtain QTS in England, which is MUCH easier.
To add, Scotland doesnt have routes like AO, SCD, or OTT, etc.., you have to do the work in Scotland, and if your going to have to do the work, you may as well start in Scotland and than obtain QTS in England, which is MUCH easier.
Re: How is the Scottish curriculum seen by ISs
You can complete your Scottish probation period outside of Scotland - the GTCS website says:
"Teaching service in other parts of the UK or beyond may be acceptable provided the teaching service is relevant to your teaching qualification and reports are submitted to us on interim and final report forms."
However, you would fall into the problem of the teaching experience needed for international schools (in that you wouldn't have any.)
I did my probation for my second subject in Egypt - at the time, GTCS told me that as long as I was teaching a curriculum similar in pedagogy and content to the Scottish curriculum, that would be fine. I did it through teaching KS3 and IGCSE, although IB would also be OK too. Not sure about the American curriculum though - I suspect they may not accept that.
"Teaching service in other parts of the UK or beyond may be acceptable provided the teaching service is relevant to your teaching qualification and reports are submitted to us on interim and final report forms."
However, you would fall into the problem of the teaching experience needed for international schools (in that you wouldn't have any.)
I did my probation for my second subject in Egypt - at the time, GTCS told me that as long as I was teaching a curriculum similar in pedagogy and content to the Scottish curriculum, that would be fine. I did it through teaching KS3 and IGCSE, although IB would also be OK too. Not sure about the American curriculum though - I suspect they may not accept that.
Discussion
GTCS wont accept a US NC, and by similar curriculum they really want an inspected BS. What they dont want is some Asian IS that has IGCSE exams but their curriculum is local.
Re: How is the Scottish curriculum seen by ISs
Psyguy - no, they aren't looking for an inspected BS (mine wasn't.) They are more concerned about the content and teaching style rather than anything else - the process is pretty hands off. Having already qualified in Scotland before moving abroad my situation is slightly different, in that they could fairly presume that I can do the teaching bit, but I still needed to meet the same requirement as any probationer in Scotland.
Like I said, they were happy enough with IGCSE and IB Diploma, and given that the IB was once of the key curricula which the Scottish Government looked at when devising Curriculum for Excellence there is enough of a crossover that they would probably accept IB MYP too (there isn't a requirement in Scotland for probationers to teach exam level classes.)
Like I said, they were happy enough with IGCSE and IB Diploma, and given that the IB was once of the key curricula which the Scottish Government looked at when devising Curriculum for Excellence there is enough of a crossover that they would probably accept IB MYP too (there isn't a requirement in Scotland for probationers to teach exam level classes.)
Reply
@expatscot
Yes they are, or they are now to be more accurate. Thats not to say they wont accept IGCSE or DIP or MYP or really any level, but they are looking now more critically at the experience of those IE experiences that arent at inspected ISs.
Yes they are, or they are now to be more accurate. Thats not to say they wont accept IGCSE or DIP or MYP or really any level, but they are looking now more critically at the experience of those IE experiences that arent at inspected ISs.