ITT funding for schools
There is funding available to schools who participate in initial teacher training activities.
Intensive Training and Practice placements (ITaPs)
ITT providers will receive funding to help with the costs of creating and delivering ITaPs. If your school hosts and/or delivers any part of an ITaP, this funding can be used to pay for that.
Mentors
Schools that offer ITT placements will need their mentors to complete 20 hours of mentor training with an accredited training provider (i.e., the ITT provider). This training will include content on the mentor role and skills, the ITT core content framework and its underpinning evidence, and the ITT curriculum.
Schools can claim for the actual hours of training undertaken by the mentor up to 20 hours, to help with the cost of the teacher being away from the classroom. This could include:
- Paying cover costs while the mentor is undertaking training.
- Paying cover costs if the mentor takes time off in lieu for training.
- Overtime payment to the mentor if they undertake training outside of normal working hours.
- Paying for costs arising from reducing a mentor's other responsibilities so that they have time to train.
You will be able to claim this funding at the end of the 2024-25 academic year.
How much is the funding?
For 2024-25 the DfE will fund £876 per mentor who successfully completes 20 hours of training and has at least one ITT trainee.
This funding is paid in arrears and is pro-rata: £876 for 20 hours is roughly £47 per hour; if a mentor completes 14 hours of training your school would get 14 x £47. Your school will only be paid for training completed, so if a mentor has prior learning that is taken into consideration you will not be funded for this.
Your school will be able to claim this funding at the end of the 2024-25 year directly from DfE.
Can a school claim funding for a mentor that is working with more than one ITT provider?
The maximum number of hours any one mentor can claim is 20 hours, no matter how many different providers they work with.
Will this funding continue after 2024-25?
Future funding for schools to engage in ITT has yet to be announced; this payment is only for 2024-25.
How do we have to spend the funding?
Your school (or trust) can determine how to use the funding, e.g. release time, paying mentors directly, adding to the whole school budget.