If you want to teach in England's state schools, you will usually need qualified teacher status, known as QTS. QTS is the professional licence that says you are trained and ready to teach. The good news is that there are several different ways to earn it, so you can pick the route that fits your life, your budget and the way you like to learn.
Some routes are based mainly at a university. Others put you in a school from day one. Some let you earn a salary while you train. This guide walks through the main options in plain English so you can work out which one suits you.
What you need before you start
Whichever route you choose, there are a few things almost every teacher training programme will ask for.
- A degree, usually a bachelor's degree in any subject if you want to teach primary, or a degree related to your subject if you want to teach secondary
- GCSEs at grade 4 (an old grade C) or above in English and maths, and also science if you want to teach primary
- To pass a check on your suitability to work with children, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, known as an enhanced DBS
- To show you have the personal qualities and communication skills teaching needs
If you do not have a degree yet, do not worry. There is a route below designed for people in exactly that position. And if you are missing a particular GCSE, some providers accept an equivalence test instead, so it is always worth asking.
Undergraduate routes: training while you get your degree
If you have not been to university yet, you can train to teach as part of your first degree. You study for a bachelor's degree and work towards QTS at the same time, usually over three or four years.
This often takes the form of a degree such as a Bachelor of Education, or a degree in your subject combined with QTS. It is a popular choice for people who already know they want to teach, especially in primary schools. You finish with both a degree and the qualification you need to start teaching.
Postgraduate routes: training after a degree
Most people who become teachers already have a degree and train afterwards. There are several postgraduate routes, and this is where the choice really opens up.
University-led training
Here a university runs your training, and you spend time both at the university and on placements in schools. Many of these courses lead to a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, known as a PGCE, alongside QTS. A PGCE is a respected qualification recognised in many other countries, which is useful if you might teach abroad one day.
This route suits people who like a clear structure, the support of a university tutor, and time to study the theory behind good teaching as well as practising it in the classroom.
School-led training
School-led routes put the school at the centre of your training. You learn mostly by being in a school, working alongside experienced teachers and gradually taking on classes of your own. A group of schools and a training provider design the course together. Many school-led routes also offer a PGCE.
This route appeals to people who learn best by doing and want to be in front of pupils as soon as possible.
Teaching apprenticeships
A postgraduate teaching apprenticeship lets you train while employed by a school. You are paid a salary, you spend most of your time teaching and learning on the job, and you study towards QTS at the same time. Because you are an employee, you do not pay tuition fees.
This is a strong option if you need an income while you train and you are confident learning in a busy school setting.
If you do not have a degree
You usually need a degree to gain QTS, but there is a route for people who do not have one yet. An undergraduate teaching apprenticeship lets you work in a school as a paid apprentice while you study for a degree and QTS together. It takes longer than a postgraduate route, but you earn as you learn and you do not need a degree to begin.
Places on these apprenticeships can be limited and competitive, so it is worth keeping an eye on adverts and applying early when you find one.
Paying for your training and getting support
Training to teach has a cost, but there is help available, and it changes from year to year.
- Some routes, especially apprenticeships, pay you a salary so you do not pay tuition fees
- For fee-paying routes, you may be able to take out a student loan to cover the fees and your living costs
- Bursaries and scholarships are often offered to attract people into subjects that are short of teachers, such as maths, physics, chemistry and computing
The exact amounts and which subjects qualify change each year, so always check the current figures rather than relying on what a friend was offered a few years ago. The official Get Into Teaching service at https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk is the best place to see what is on offer now.
How to choose the right route
With so many options, it helps to think about what matters most to you.
- Do you need to earn while you train? Look closely at apprenticeships and salaried routes.
- Do you learn best by doing, or do you want more time to study the theory? School-led routes lean towards the first, university-led towards the second.
- Do you want a PGCE as well as QTS? Check whether the course offers one, especially if you might teach overseas.
- Do you already have a degree, or do you need to gain one? This decides whether you take a postgraduate or undergraduate route.
There is no single best route. The right one is the one that fits your circumstances and the way you like to work.
Applying and what comes next
For most postgraduate routes you apply through a national application service, and you can usually apply to more than one provider. Take care over your personal statement, where you explain why you want to teach and what you would bring to the classroom. Spending some time in a school beforehand, even as a volunteer, gives you something real to write about and shows you understand the job.
Once you have QTS, newly qualified teachers in England go through a period of extra support and training in their first couple of years, with a mentor to help you find your feet. After that, your career can take many directions, from leading a subject to pastoral roles to senior leadership.
A note before you decide
This article gives a general overview to help you understand your options. It is not formal careers advice, and the details of routes, funding and entry requirements change, so always check the current information from the official Get Into Teaching service and from individual training providers before you apply.
When you are ready to find a job, you can browse current teaching and school roles on GovJobs. To apply for a specific post, follow the link to the school's own advert or to the listing on the DfE Teaching Vacancies service at https://teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk.
