Student Teacher
PGCE Bursaries Campaign
Click here to find out more about the National Campaign for fair financial support for all teachers in training.
What the NASUWT offers to student members
Putting teachers first is the philosophy that has made the NASUWT the largest teachers' union in the UK. Today's students are the teachers of tomorrow. The NASUWT is the leader in the provision of services for Initial Teacher Training (ITT) students.
Embarking upon a teaching career can be both rewarding and daunting. The professional satisfaction to be gained from a successful teaching career can be enormous. The legal and professional responsibilities are immense.
The NASUWT supports student teachers in partnership with the National Union of Students to provide a comprehensive package of representation both whilst studying and on teacher training placements.
To enhance this legal and professional cover the NASUWT offers our student members an additional range of valuable services. The NASUWT prides itself on the service offered throughout teaching practice but especially to final year students and newly qualified teachers in finding their first teaching post and providing vital information to help them through their first year of teaching.
Student teachers can find out more about the NASUWT by accessing the online student guide.
The NASUWT Preparing for your First Teaching Post seminars
The NASUWT also provides our annual 'Preparing for your First Teacher Post' seminars across the UK throughout August every year. These seminars are open to any student member of the NASUWT in the year of qualification that converts their membership to FREE full newly qualified teacher (NQT) membership before attending one of the seminars. You can find out more about the seminars on the New Teacher page.
The First Appointments Lecture Tour
Every year the NASUWT sponsor the highly successful First Appointments Lecture Tour delivered by Barry Hancock, a former deputy head teacher and Education Consultant, Head of Teacher Recruitment, Appointment and Retention, at Redbridge Local Authority.
This video is embedded from the NASUWT's YouTube channel. You may have difficulty viewing it if you have filters blocking the site.
The lecture takes place at over 60 teacher training institutions across the UK and it provides training teachers in their final year expert guidance on finding their first teaching post. The lecture takes students through the process from the letter of application through to the interview and beyond. The lecture tour runs from September to April every year, if you are about to enter into the final year of your training make sure you ask your teacher training institution if they are holding an NASUWT sponsored First Appointments lecture and if they are not why not ask them if they would consider it? Comments on the lecture from some of our student members, include the lecture being a key factor that influenced them obtaining their first post as a newly qualified teacher.
How training teachers can join the NASUWT?
The NASUWT very much hopes that you will choose to enhance your teaching practice by taking up the offer of FREE NASUWT student membership. Student membership provides the peace of mind that you have joined a professional association which offers excellent legal and professional services.
Joining the NASUWT has never been easier, the most convenient way to join is on line at Join NASUWT. You can also make one hassle free telephone call to our to our Membership Team on 0121 457 6211. Alternatively you can download a student application form from the resources section on this page. Completed forms should be returned to; The NASUWT, Hillscourt Education Centre, Rose Hill, Rednal, Birmingham, B45 8RS.
How can training teachers get actively involved in the NASUWT?
The NASUWT is actively attempting to set up student committee/forums in all teacher training institutions whereby NASUWT student members can discuss issues that are important to them along with recognised NASUWT officials. Many NASUWT student members have got actively involved in the campaigns of the Union on their campuses. Some of the issues and events NASUWT student members have got involved in include helping to set up Love Music Hate Racism gigs on campus, working with Union officials generally on our anti racist strategy and also discussing work based issues with the NASUWT such as the mis use of technology in the classroom and cyberbullying of teachers. If you are interested in getting involved in any of the Unions campaigns for student teachers, or you are interested in finding out more about getting actively involved as a student contact and/or in a NASUWT student forum, download and complete a 'Getting Involved' card from the Resources section on this page. All completed 'Getting Involved' cards should be returned to;
The Recruitment Team, NASUWT, Hillscourt Education Centre, Rose Hill, Rednal, Birmingham, B45 8RS.
Alternatively you can let your National/Regional Centre know of your interest in getting actively involved with the NASUWT.
The NASUWT and the NUS
The NASUWT works closely with the National Union of Students (NUS) in order to support training teachers. There are a number of ways that the NASUWT and the NUS can provide advice and guidance to training teachers, including supporting student teachers who are facing difficulties on their workplace placements or in their academic studies.
The NASUWT has also recently sponsored the NUS research 'Meet the Parents' on the experiences of students with children in further and higher education. Commenting on the report Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT has stated: "This report and the underlying research sets out a clear picture of the challenges facing student parents. NUS should be congratulated for taking the lead on this issue and for undertaking the first UK - wide research on the experiences of this large and growing group of students. The report should provide a real stimulus to government, universities and colleges alike to work together to address the barriers to student parents entering and succeeding in tertiary education and help make lifelong learning a reality". To find out more about this NASUWT sponsored research and to access your copy of the report visit the NUS website at www.nus.org.uk (new window).
Tax advice for students
Tax can be tricky which is why HMRC has launched a new resource to help students with tax issues. The Student Tax Advice (new window) site and calculator have been created by HMRC and the NUS to help.
Resources
NASUWT Campaigns
