PGCE with QTS (Postgraduate Certificate in Education with Qualified Teacher Status)

Overview

A PGCE with QTS is an Initial Teacher Training course, which upon successful completion certifies trainees to teach in state-maintained schools in England. Some independent schools now also prefer their teachers to have the qualification.

Our course is offered at primary level (5-11 and 7-11 age ranges) and in a range of subjects at secondary level (11-16, 11-18, 14-19 age ranges).

Our nationally-available PGCE with QTS course gives you the chance to train to teach in a location in England to suit you. The majority of the course is taught online, giving you the opportunity to interact with course tutors and fellow students, across mobile, desktop and tablet. You can undertake your training in a school near you, which has been approved by us. The course includes a two-day conference with us each term. If we are unable to hold these in-person, then we will deliver the seminars online.

A large number of schools across the country have currently partnered with us to host trainee teachers on placements*. Alternatively, you may have found your own school (either to employ you or to host you on placement), and we will work with them to progress your application. You can start the course in September, January or April, and you can study the course on a full-time or part-time basis.

We are different to some other providers of Initial Teacher Training, as you are not required to attend weekly lectures or long blocks of time in person on our campus. Online study will include webinars, tutorials, interactive course materials and 1-1 discussions.

The course is written and led by us, so you can be assured that your training is of the quality expected from a university. However, we believe that teacher training is best done in schools, under the supervision of first-rate teachers. We work closely with your school mentor to ensure that you receive all the support you need. You will also have your own personal university tutor, who helps you along the way.

Course information

Study a PGCE with QTS nationwide – online and in schools – primary & secondary.

Our course is designed to be accessible to trainee teachers across England, because it is not subject to regular attendance on our campus. Instead, the course is delivered and directed online and you will be based in a school near your preferred location, either as a student on placement* or as a salaried employee. The course includes a termly two-day conference at the university. If we are unable to hold these in-person, then we will deliver the seminars online.

The flexibility of the course means you can start in September, January or April, and you can study the course on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) basis.

Our aim is for you to have high expectations of every child and your own professional practice. You should aspire to be experts in the craft of the classroom and adapt your teaching to different contexts to enable all children to learn with you.

Career prospects

Our PGCE with QTS is a teacher training course, which upon successful completion certifies trainees to teach in state-maintained schools in England. Many independent schools now also prefer their teachers to have the qualification.

Prior experience in teaching or in schools is not a pre-requisite of acceptance onto the course. We will conduct an interview on our Whittlebury Park campus in-person or online to determine your suitability for the PGCE with QTS. To apply to the course, all trainees must: have achieved a standard equivalent to a Grade-4 (C grade) GCSE in English and Mathematics. For those training to teach pupils aged 3-11, a Grade-4 (C grade) in a Science subject is also required; hold a UK undergraduate degree or equivalent; take part in a rigorous selection process to assess their suitability to train to teach. This involves an application form, pre-interview tasks for subject knowledge, English and Maths, and an interview. Students must have undergone suitable background checks with regard to the Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance, including an enhanced DBS check. The National School of Education and Teaching funds the DBS check for tuition-fee paying students. The DBS is paid for by the school for students on the employed route.