Teachers can now be trained in just ten weeks following the launch of a new flexible course by the University of Warwick.

Excluding the school placement elements, the course can take up to two years, depending on the applicants’ circumstances.

Launched by the Institute of Education, the first trainees will be taken on in September.

The course will initially cover the following secondary subjects: economics and business studies, English and drama, mathematics, modern foreign languages, religious education, and science.

University spokesman Peter Dunn said the course offers a range of advantages.

He said it allows trainees to continue with work or family care while they study, and also attracts the training salary of £6,000.

He added:

“The new programme will particularly appeal to mature students who would like to the opportunity to train to be a teacher whilst fulfilling work or family commitments.

“Warwick already attracts a large amount of mature teacher trainees, 40 per cent are aged 25 or over.”

School placements would take place in one of more than 300 schools that Warwick's Institute of Education has strong partnerships with across the region, from Wolverhampton to Northampton, Banbury and Leicester.

Potential students for the course would need the same qualifications as for a standard PGCE: GCSE grade C or better in Mathematics and English, and a good honours degree which is at least 50 per cent relevant in content to the subject applicants wish to teach.

The Local Education Authority normally pay course fees and the students would receive the training salary of £6,000 in two payments, £3,000 at the start of the course and £3,000 at the end.

Once teachers are in employment, shortage subjects also attract a bonus of £4000.

The university's Institute of Education will be mounting a special open day to explain the background to this course, along with all their other teacher training programmes, on Tuesday 23rd January from 9.30am to 4pm.