An undergraduate degree and successful completion of a teacher training programme is compulsory for QTS recommendation.[citation needed] One of the main routes to achieving QTS, for those already in possession of a degree, involves undertaking a postgraduate teacher training course, such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education [PGCE] or a School Direct programme. The Diploma in Education and Training [DET] leads to QTLS. There are also some undergraduate degree qualifications leading to QTS, such as the Bachelor of Education. In England only, candidates must also pass professional skills tests.[1] All candidates must have GCSEs at grade C or above in English and mathematics, and prospective primary teachers must also be in possession of [usually] a grade C in a science subject before embarking on teacher training.
All training which leads to qualified teacher status requires trainees to train across at least two key consecutive pupil age ranges, as defined in the Secretary of State's Requirements for Initial Teacher Training.[2] The age ranges are:
- Ages 35 [Early years foundation stage]
- Ages 57 [School years 1 and 2]
- Ages 79 [School years 3 and 4]
- Ages 911 [School years 5 and 6]
- Ages 1114 [School years 7 to 9]
- Ages 1416 [School years 10 and 11]
- Ages 1619 [School years 12 and 13]
The Teaching Regulation Agency in England[3] and General Teaching Council for Wales maintain all registrations, as well as issuing QTS certificates.
QTS is technically recognised only in the country it was awarded [England or Wales], but teachers can normally apply for QTS in other Home Countries relatively easily. QTS is also recognised by many other countries once the relevant paperwork has been completed, though many countries place a lot of importance on the route to QTS [such as requiring a PGCE, whilst not accepting the GTP]. Teachers trained outside England and Wales must also apply to be awarded QTS if they wish to teach in these countries.
After having been awarded QTS teachers must normally still pass an induction period [previously called 'probation'] normally their first year of teaching. Teachers who have gained QTS but have not yet completed the Induction period are known as NQTs. NQTs who fail the induction still retain their QTS, but cannot teach in state-run schools. The induction period normally lasts a year [three school terms].
Not all European Union qualifications have been officially recognised yet, so one should confirm with one's education establishment as to whether one's qualifications are acceptable, or whether one needs to go through the recognition process.
Routes to QTS or QTLSEdit
Many different qualifications and courses lead to QTS or QTLS:
The PGCE is a one-year course for existing degree holders, and the most common postgraduate route into teaching. It is based at and coordinated by a university or other higher education institution, though students spend a large proportion of the course working in placement schools. The PGCE carries credits towards a master's degree.
Diploma in Education and Training [DET]Edit
The DET is a Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training. It is a one-year 120 credit initial teacher training programme awarded by a university or an awarding body such as Learning Resource Network [LRN]. DET graduates are eligible to apply for QTLS from Society for Education and Training.[4]
School-Centred Initial Teacher Training [SCITT]Edit
A SCITT programme enables graduates to undertake their training within a school environment, leading to QTS. Some SCITT programmes also award a PGCE qualification. It is available in England only.
Graduate Teacher Programme [GTP]Edit
The GTP enables candidates to gain QTS while they are employed as an unqualified teacher in a school.
Both the graduate and registered teacher programmes [GTP and RTP] have been closed in England. The graduate teacher programme [GTP] has been replaced by the School Direct Training Programme [salaried].[5][unreliable source?]
Undergraduate QTS routesEdit
Students can take a three or four-year undergraduate degree course that includes QTS. This enables a candidate to gain their QTS while they study for their degree, with teaching practice being undertaken over the course of the whole programme. These are usually Bachelor of Education [BEd] degrees, though some are Bachelor of Arts [BA] and Bachelor of Science [BSc] degrees.