There are various options when it comes to training to be a teacher with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), including:
Some graduates choose to gain experience as a teaching assistant before undertaking their initial teacher training.
Additional training is necessary if you want to teach a subject you don't have a degree in. Three month courses in language and six month courses in maths and science are available called subject knowledge enhancement courses.
All applicants for teacher training courses must sit and pass professional skills tests in numeracy and literacy before beginning training.
Sussex has a number of postgraduate teacher training options. Through the Sussex Consortium of Teacher Education and Research it has a partnership with over 200 schools to help select, train and assess future teachers.
You could take a PGCE at primary or secondary level, or an Early Years Education MA with Early Years teacher status. There are also two routes that allow you to apply to schools directly, through the Sussex School Choice PGCE or the Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship.
If you want to train as a teacher in England, you can get free 1-2-1 advice from a Teacher Training Adviser.
They can advise you on:
A postgraduate certificate of education taught in a university, with substantial school experience via placements. This is a common way for degree-level students to qualify for teaching. You can choose primary or secondary education routes.
The Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship (PGTA) scheme offers graduates the opportunity to train on the job while receiving the salary of a non-qualified teacher. These are only available in England. On successful completion, apprentice teachers will be awarded Qualified Teacher Status.
The School Direct (salaried) programme is similar, in that you are also employed by a school while you train. Some School Direct (salaried) course providers may choose to change to Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship programmes.
A teaching and leadership graduate scheme that aims to place exceptional talent in challenging schools. The scheme involves studying for a 2-year PGDE with Qualified Teaching Status (QTS) plus additional training in education leadership. There is the optional possibility of taking on a Master's in Education/Leadership after your PGDE.
Applications are made directly to Teach First via their website.
There are training pathways for people who want to work with pre-school children. A £7,000 grant to cover course fees is available to UK/EU students, plus bursaries for subsistence costs depending on your degree classification.
A teaching qualification taught in partnership between a school and a university. Trainees are taught by experienced teachers in the classroom at the school where you are a trainee. You still need to pay fees for this route, but will be eligible for applicable Government bursaries.
Researchers in Schools recruits PhD graduates to work as teachers in non-selective state schools through a tailored initial teacher training programme.
To train as a further education teacher you need to have a higher education qualification in the subject you want to teach, or to have considerable practical experience in the area.
Many jobs require applicants to have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) although some merely require the willingness to obtain the qualification while working. When you start working, you will be expected to work towards a further qualification with Standards Verification UK.
Between £3,000 and £30,000 of funding is available to help teachers train. How much you can get depends on your degree topic and results
A student loan reimbursement scheme is available in selected local authorities for languages, biology, chemistry, physics and computing teachers.
