Applying for a placement

How do I apply for a Student teaching placement in London?
In order to apply for the Student Teaching programme you must meet the following requirements:

• Have a 2.75 GPA
• Submit an application, resume and letter of introduction
• Submit a written approval from home college or university
• Adhere to the assigned school's academic calendar
• Assume financial responsibility for airfare, accommodations, meals, local transportation and personal expenses
• Pay an administrative fee

For an application form please contact us.

How much does it cost?
The cost of a student teacher placement varies, depending on the length of a placement.   Please contact us for further information.

How do I secure a placement?
You do not need to secure your own placement; this is what Anglo American is there to do.   Once you have filled in your form and sent it to Anglo American, or to your university you will hear from us directly regarding your placement.  

What do I need to include on my CV/Résumé?
In the UK a résumé is called a CV.   It is slightly different to an American CV.   You should include all of the following;

• Personal details
• Personal objective (a short 2-3 line statement)
• Educational background (basic)
• Work History
• Relevant experience
• Extra curricular activities
• Computer skills
• References

If you want to see a sample CV then please ask us, and we would be happy to send you one.

What should I include on my personal statement?
Your personal statement is very important, and you should put a lot of though into it    You should include some of the following points:

• What you hope to achieve from your placement
• Why you want to do a placement in London
• How you feel any relevant experience you might have will assist you in your placement
• Computer skills that you have
• How the experience will assist you in later life
• Anything else you feel is relevant to your placement

What kind of placements can you arrange?
We can arrange a variety of placements, including the following;

• Kindergarten
• Primary (elementary) education
• Secondary (middle and high school) education
• Special needs
• Physical Education

About the Student teaching Programme as a whole

Do I have to be a US citizen to apply for the programme?
Not necessarily.   As long as you are able to meet the requirements for the programme and have the relevant visas then you are welcome to participate in the programme.  

Do I need a visa to come to the UK?
At this point in time visa rules are changing.   Please contact us for further information

Can I do a student teaching placement if I am an individual and not coming through my university?
Unfortunately due to security restrictions we are only able to accept students who have clearance from their University to participate in the programme.   If you are an individual, and wish to come on the programme then please speak to your study abroad office before applying in order to ascertain if they are willing to allow you to come on the programme.  

Will I get paid for my placement?
No, all of our placements are unpaid.

Is my travel covered to and from my Student Teacher placement?
Travel costs to and from your placement are your own responsibility.

Do I need to go through any security checks?
Yes, for any Student Teaching placement you need to have a recent (within the last year) security check.  

Do I need any kind of insurance?
Anglo American does not provide insurance for students, so you should take out your own insurance.   Many students have this anyway, through the university but please check with your Study Abroad Office.   They will be able to advise you.   A lot of universities recommend purchasing an ISIC (International Student ID) card purely because of the insurance that it offers to its holders.   This should not be used as an alternative to insurance though.  

When you have been accepted onto the Programme

What happens once I have been accepted on the Student Teacher programme?
Once you have been accepted on the programme we will contact you once we have found you a placement. Please be aware that often UK schools will not accept a student until about 6 weeks before arrival. This does not mean you will not be placed.   We guarantee to place all students. Once we have a placement for you we will contact you.  

When will I find out about my placement?
This depends. For example, you might send your application for Fall student teaching in, in June, but until the schools go back we will not receive a response from them as to whether they will be able to take a student or not. We will be in regular contact with you however, so that you know what progress we are making.  

Where will I be housed during my placement?
During your placement you will be housed in the Anglo American housing, unless otherwise agreed. More information about Anglo American accommodation can be found in the housing section

Will I be living with other student teachers?
Yes, most of our Student teachers live together in our housing. Sometimes however, individual students are placed in other apartments with American students on different academic programmes

How long does my Student Teacher placement last?
This depends on when your placement is. Some of them are 8 weeks, others a little longer. When you apply for the programme we will advise you of the dates.

Do I need to bring anything with me, such as teaching resources?
No, all resources will be provided for you by the school. However, it might be useful for you to bring something that is not obtainable over here, such as a book on American Culture, or something on Thanksgiving

Do I need to have an interview before my placement begins?
No, there is no interview required.

What kind of tasks will I be expected to undertake?
The tasks you will be required to undertake are very varied. You should presume that you will be undertaking the same tasks as you would be in your US placement.

Once you arrive in London

What happens when I arrive in London?
When you arrive in London you will normally make your way to a pre-arranged meeting point. During working hours we will then transport you to your housing. Outside of working hours you are expected to make your own way there. Full details on this will be provided to you a few weeks before arrival

What kind of orientation do I get when I arrive in London?
If you are part of a group you will have an orientation session to London. At your orientation session a number of different subjects will be covered. Normally we would have a Police Officer come and talk to you to advise you about safety in London, a representative from our Operations team will speak to you about housing, and living in London will also be covered. Our Student Teacher Supervisor will also come along, and provide you with all the documentation required for your placement.  

What happens on my first day?
On your first day you will be given maps and detailed directions to your school. You will normally begin at about 10.00am and will be introduced to the Head Teacher and your supervising member of staff. All the Head Teachers will have received information about your arrival beforehand, along with a copy of the letter that you sent with your applications. You should acquaint yourself with the building, and other members of staff as soon as possible. On your first day you would normally expect to finish around 12 noon.

Will I be expected to teach the class on my own?
Eventually you will be expected to teach the class as an individual. How long it takes you to do this is entirely up to you. You should wait until you are ready to do so. Initially your supporting teacher will ask you to work with smaller groups, and observe her methods of teaching. You will then be given the opportunity to sit down with your teacher and discuss a lesson plan. You will not normally be expected, or asked to, plan your own lesson as this is normally done a few months in advance in order to satisfy Government criteria. You will then be offered the chance to take a lesson and your teacher will be able to help you with any problems that you might have had/offer you feedback

How will I be assessed?
Assessment takes place via a mid-term assessment, and then another at the end of term. Throughout your placement Malcolm Dick, our Student Teacher Co-ordinator will be in regular contact with both you and the school, and will come in on occasions to observe you in the classroom. Some aspects of the assessment form may not be applicable to you. Please do not worry about this. Your teacher will be aware of the procedure that she/he should follow

What am I expected to wear at school?
In the majority of schools you will be expected to wear smart-causal wear. Previously students have been able to wear jeans and sneakers to their placements but you should check this at your individual school.  

What are my working hours?
You will be expected to be in school approximately 15 minutes before the children arrive. This varies from school to school but you should anticipate an arrival time of 8.30. You will then have a lunch break of 1 hour at about 12.00, and then continue until about 3.15. There may be after school activities that you wish to participate in but this is not compulsory. Staff meetings are normally held once a week. You may or may not be invited to attend.

Am I expected to keep a journal of my experiences?
Some universities require you to keep a journal of your experiences. Others do not. We recommend that you do this for your own reference

What should I do if I am off sick?
If you are off sick, in the first instance you should contact your school directly to inform them that you will not be in. You should then contact Emma Coelho so that she is able to get hold of you if there are any problems. She will also be able to offer any advice you might need on seeking medical assistance if necessary. Please do not expect Anglo American to call the school for you, the office does not open until 9.00am by which time your school will be wondering where you are.

How much contact will I have with Anglo Staff?
We hold a weekly meeting for all the student teachers, which you are asked to attend.   If you are living in apartments you will also have a weekly visit from a representative who will check to see if you have any problems.   All Anglo American Staff have email addresses which they check on a regular basis and they will stay in contact with you at all times.

How will I be observed?
During the first week of school you will be contacted, either by our Programmes Manager, or the Student Teaching Supervisor, just to check that things are going ok. You should also expect a visit in the first few weeks, just to check that things are going ok. This is not a formal assessment. You will have 2 formal assessments during your placement. One will be done by the Student Teacher Co-ordinator, and the other by your class teacher or supervisor. In addition to the formal observations you may have other visits from the Student Teacher Co-ordinator.  

How do I get to my placement?
London has an excellent public transport system. You will be provided with full directions on how to get to your placement

Will I have Internet access at school?
This is dependant on the school. Some Head Teachers are happy to allow you to use the facilities but you should not presume this automatically. We would advise that you broach the subject with your Supervising Teacher.

What kind of equipment will I expect to find in the classroom?
Nearly every primary school will have one computer per classroom. Some may also have a computer suite. I.T is an integral part of the National Curriculum and you may find that you are asked to work with a group on a Science Activity using the computer. You will also have access to a CD player in the classroom, or somewhere in the school. Very few schools will have PowerPoint facilities and it is rare for them to use Overhead Projectors in Primary Education. In Secondary Education you use OHPs for a number of different activities.  

What do I do if I have a problem?

Firstly, if you have any problems with your placement you should contact Anglo American.   Your contact there will then be able to speak to the relevant person.   Please do not panic.   Problems do occasionally occur but they are dealt with as soon as we are made aware of them.   If you don't say anything then we can't do anything so please do let us know, however small it might seem to you.   We are here to help you in any way that we can.  

What is the difference between private, public and state schools?
A State School is a non-fee paying school, which accepts pupils from every walk of life. Private Schools are schools where the parents pay a fee for their children to attend classes. They do not receive support from the Government and do not necessarily have to follow the National Curriculum. Public Schools are considered much more elite than Private Schools. Their fees are substantially higher and pupils are expected to sit various exams before they are allowed to enrol.  

Do I need to bring my own assessment forms?
No, we provide an assessment form

Do we have any mid-term/final meetings?
We do arrange a meeting both in the middle and at the end of the placement. We would ask that you attend the final meeting as a compulsory part of the programme. The mid-term is offered to all students, but if you are unable to attend then this will not be an issue.  

What happens after my placement?
After your placement we will provide you with a written summary of your internship placement, and the evaluation forms that your supervisor has completed. If you need anything else filled in then we are happy to do this.