Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates

Please refer to the guidance from Public Health England regarding COVID-19, and the University of Exeter’s information and advice page for regularly updated information regarding COVID-19.

In these FAQs we offer some guidance regarding the implications of COVID-19 for ITE courses at the University of Exeter. If your question is specific to the PGCE and not a general health questions, and is not answered here, please contact your programme director. As you will be aware, this is a constantly changing situation and we will update this guidance as and when necessary. Please regularly check your emails.

ITE Frequently Asked Questions (24/3/20)

School closure will mean that I am away from my placement for more than ten days. Will I get a Cause for Concern letter if schools re-open and placements restart?

No, you will not automatically be issued with a Cause for Concern letter nor a Trainee Support Plan as a result of ten days or more absence from the course. The Minister for Education has announced that the minimum requirement for number of days in schools will be waived, so if you were on target to meet the standards at FRAP 3, there will be no need for a CfC should school placement begin again.

Now that schools have been closed until further notice, will I be able to achieve QTS this year?

We are awaiting guidance from the DfE about how QTS will be awarded as a result of school closures. We anticipate receiving this by the end of the week and will update all trainees as soon as we can.

Do I need to continue to update my FRAP 4?

We are awaiting guidance from the DfE about how QTS will be awarded as a result of school closures. We anticipate receiving this by the end of the week and will update all trainees as soon as we can. In the meantime, if you wish to add any evidence to your FRAP 4 that you have already collected it will be useful to inform your career entry profile regardless.

Will I continue to receive my bursary now that schools have been closed?

We are awaiting guidance from the DfE about how QTS will be awarded as a result of school closures. We anticipate receiving this by the end of the week and will update all trainees as soon as we can. However, the programme you are registered on will continue to run and we are committed to supporting your development and preparation for your NQT.

What will happen about PGCE bursaries?

Bursaries are paid by the DfE and we have no information about this at this time. As soon as we have guidance, we will share it.

How will I be supported to develop my teaching now that schools have been closed until further notice?

We will be providing online learning experiences for all trainees to engage with from next week in order to help you continue to develop as a teacher and prepare for your NQT. Depending on the timing of your Easter break, this material will be available for you to engage with from next week or after Easter depending on when the Easter school holidays fall in your area.

Can I volunteer to help in schools to look after key worker children?

Following the closure of schools last Friday, all trainees should be focusing on completing their assignment, the generic tasks set and the MOOC between now and the start of their Easter break and not volunteering in schools. Once we have guidance from the DfE about QTS, we will let all trainees know the situation regarding assisting in schools to support key workers.

I do not have a job yet and am concerned about job applications whilst schools are closed.

We are still receiving emails from organisations seeking teachers for September and will forward these to you as relevant. We will also be organising as part of the online course some support for online interviewing.