Doncaster Council

The Application Process

1st Stage:

Applicants must contact the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) Partnership to be sent an Initial Application Form. The Partnership's recruitment period runs from September- 1st December, with programmes starting at the beginning of the Autumn school term in September of the following year. 

Anyone contacting the Partnership outside of this recruitment 'window' will not be sent an application pack until the start of the subsequent recruitment period (i.e. September).

On the return of the fully completed Initial Application Form, which includes a short written task, the Partnership will then review all applications and 'longlist' applicants to progress through to the second stage in early January. Unfortunately due to the volume of applications, unsuccessful applicants are not given feedback at this stage.

2nd Stage:

Successful applicants through the 1st stage of the application process will be sent a 2nd Stage Applicant pack (in January) including a School Application Form and a list of potential Partnership training schools wishing to support Graduate trainees. Applicants should ONLY contact schools on the list provided who wish to support applicants in the relevant Key Stages (Primary) or in the relevant subject area (Secondary).

Once applicants have established a school which is prepared to employ them and support them as a trainee, the Partnership training school would then need to complete and return the applicant's School Application Form to the Doncaster GTP Partnership to show their support for the applicant.

Final Stage:

Once the School Application Form has been received, reviewed and found to be satisfactory, the Partnership will invite the applicant to attend an Interview & Assessment Centre. The assessments, a short written task, numerical test and interview with individuals from the Partnership and training schools, would take place March-April.

The Partnership Management Board will review all interviews and assessments and determine which applicants will receive one of the limited Training & Development Agency for Schools' (TDA) allocated places. Partnership training schools will be asked to confirm the offer of employment before the successful applicants are notified and places are allocated in time to start the following term (i.e. applicants notified during April/May would start in September).

Unsuccessful applicants would receive written feedback on their interview and assessment.

Further information about the Graduate Teacher Programme and other Employment Based Routes into teaching can be found on the TDA website: www.tda.gov.uk/ebr

Or email gtppartnership@doncaster.gov.uk for further details or an application pack.