Guidance

National Teaching Service: for teachers and middle leaders

How to become a National Teaching Service teacher or middle leader.

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For the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) training and development opportunities, please take a look at the NCTL homepage.

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The application round is closed.

Overview

The National Teaching Service will recruit and match high-performing teachers and middle leaders to schools that are struggling to attract, recruit and retain high quality teachers.

The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) is looking for 100 teachers and middle leaders from across the country who want to use their experience to make a difference. The National Teaching Service will start in September 2016 with a pilot in Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and parts of Cheshire. Teachers who don’t live in these areas and are interested in joining the National Teaching Service can be supported through relocation or a contribution towards an extended commute.

There are vacancies in Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Bolton, Bradford, Bury, Calderdale, Halton, Kirklees, Knowsley, Lancashire, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Sefton, St Helens, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wakefield, Warrington, Wigan and Wirral.

This information is for teachers and middle leaders. If your school is looking for support from the National Teaching Service, please read the National Teaching Service: for schools information.

What’s involved

As a National Teaching Service teacher you’ll:

  • be matched to a school needing support or an underperforming school as part of an intervention agreed by the north west regional schools commissioner
  • be permanently employed by the school you’re matched with
  • work with your school’s senior leadership team to raise the standards of teachers and teaching
  • be part of a larger network of exceptional teachers and leaders
  • mentor and coach other teachers and help influence the wider leadership of the school
  • develop your skills to improve your opportunities for promotion
  • have access to high-quality support and training to help you progress your career
  • carry out a research or impact project to help with your development and contribute to the development of your school

Your involvement with the National Teaching Service will last for up to 3 years. After 3 years you’ll have a number of choices for what you do next. You may want to:

  • remain in your current post
  • look for employment elsewhere
  • reapply for another post through the National Teaching Service

Whatever you choose to do, we’ll be able to offer you help and advice.

Benefits

You’ll have a range of high quality support in place to help you progress your development and career.

You’ll have:

  • access to professional development opportunities including High Potential Middle Leaders Programme for Primary Leaders or the National Professional Qualification for Middle and Senior Leadership
  • coaching and mentoring support from the schools senior leadership team
  • continued professional development from a local teaching school alliance and local system leaders
  • the support and opportunity to share best practice with other National Teaching Service teachers
  • dedicated time to carry out your research or impact project
  • a relocation or subsistence package for relocation, temporary accommodation or commuting costs

Funding

We offer up to £10,000 to help towards the costs of relocating to the North West. If you’re unable to relocate we’ll offer you up to £7,500 for temporary relocation (to cover travel and rental set up costs) or up to £2,000 per annum for an extended commute.

Please see our National Teaching Service relocation policy (PDF, 77.8 KB, 4 pages) for further information.

Eligibility criteria

Teachers and middle leaders from anywhere in the country can apply.

To participate in the National Teaching Service you’ll need to:

  • have been in a teaching post for a minimum of 3 years
  • demonstrate how your teaching has positively improved outcomes and attainment for pupils
  • demonstrate your ability to challenge and work with others to motivate and inspire colleagues to raise standards

Dates

Activity Date
Application round closed Monday 23 May 2016 at 9am
Application assessment by an NLE or LLE by 27 May 2016
Interviews 30 May to 24 June 2016
Match you to a school June/July 2016
Meet with your school July/August 2016
Job offer no later than mid August 2016
Accept job offer no later than last week of August 2016
Resign from your current job 31 August 2016
Start at your new school January 2017

Application assessments

We’ll adhere to an open and fair assessment process.

National leaders of education (NLEs) and local leaders of education (LLEs) will be responsible for assessing applications.

Interview

If your application is successful you will be invited to an interview. We’ll provide details and requirements prior to your interview. A panel of NLEs and LLEs will interview you against the agreed National Teaching Service eligibility criteria.

Where appropriate, assessment moderation will be held to ensure fair decisions have been made across applications and interviews.

Reference

Your referee’s evidence is important and it will be used to verify and add to the evidence you provide. If your application is successful and you’re asked to an interview, we’ll request a reference from your referees as part of the job offer. We would expect this reference to be from both your line manager and headteacher.

Matching

During the application process you’ll be asked which area you’d prefer to work in and we’ll work with you to see how this fits with eligible schools. If we can’t match you to a school in a specific area we’ll put you on a waiting list. Once a vacancy in your preferred area has been identified we’ll let you know.

Your completed application will be shared with participating schools during the matching period. This will enable us to match your skills and experience to the needs of the school. The school you’re matched with may wish to interview you.

The school will be responsible for paying your salary, which will be based on the national pay scales. You’ll have the opportunity to agree your salary with the school you’re matched to.

Updates to this page

Published 29 January 2016
Last updated 13 May 2016 + show all updates
  1. The closing date has been extended by 1 week.

  2. New link to videos about the National Teaching Service.

  3. Register for a National Teaching Service event.

  4. Further information about the National Teaching Service and application round now open.

  5. First published.

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