- Study mode
- Full-time
- Study level
- Postgraduate
- Teaching qualifications
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
- Student loans
- No
- Application method
- Direct to school
- Classroom experience preferred
- Yes
- Fees and funding
- Fees payable
- Postgraduate duration
- 1 month to 3 months
If you're a graduate currently working as an unqualified teacher in England, you could achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) via the Assessment Only route.
- If you have a degree and substantial experience of working in a school, early years, or further education setting, this option allows you to gain QTS without undergoing an initial teacher training programme.
- Typically a 12-week programme, a number of universities, colleges, school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT), and School Direct training providers in England offer Assessment Only.
- The Assessment Only route does not lead to a PGCE qualification. You don’t need a PGCE qualification to teach in England, although you may find it useful later on if, for example, you want to teach in another country, or go on to complete a master's degree. If gaining a PGCE is important to you, consider alternative school-led postgraduate teacher training programmes such as School Direct, or SCITT.
Applications and entry requirements
You must have achieved the following minimum requirements to be eligible to apply for Assessment Only programmes:
- You'll need to hold an undergraduate degree awarded by a UK higher education provider, or a recognised equivalent qualification.
- You’ll need to have achieved a standard equivalent to grade C/4, or above, in the GCSE examinations in English and mathematics.
- If you intend to train to teach pupils aged three to 11 (early years and primary), you must also have achieved a standard equivalent to a grade C/4, or above, in a GCSE science subject examination.
- You’ll need to show that you meet the Teachers’ Standards for your chosen teaching specialism, and have taught across two key stages in two schools.
- You must also meet some non-academic requirements, including a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, declaration of criminal convictions, and have completed a Fitness to Work assessment.
Applications to Assessment Only programmes are made directly to accredited providers. Check the provider’s website for specific course information, tuitions fees, and entry requirements.