We are currently closed for applications except for Maths, Physics, MFL and ICT.
The Assessment Based Option to QTS is intended for experienced teachers who have been teaching for some time but do not have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Candidates are required to have the full support of the Headteacher of the school in which they are employed. It is not possible to consider your application if you are employed in a PRU.
All candidates wishing to be considered for this option must fulfill the following criteria as a minimum:
- Hold a degree, for secondary the degree needs to relate to the area of the curriculum you are teaching
- GCSE English and Maths (+ science for Primary) grade C or above, or equivalent qualification. Please note Adult Numeracy and Literacy level two qualifications are not accepted as containing the breadth of knowledge as a GCSE
There is an expectation that in order to qualify, teachers shall also have experience of teaching:
- across two consecutive key stages (for secondary Candidates)
- across two consecutive age ranges (for primary Candidates)
- classes which are not customarily fewer than twenty learners
- learners from diverse backgrounds
- learners across the whole ability range
If you have experience of teaching Key Stage 5 at FE we will take this into account but you must be employed in a secondary school with the ability to teach a subatantial amount of Key stage 4 in order for your application to be considered.
Overseas Trained Teachers
UK NARIC
Overseas Trained Teachers are eligible for the assessment based option, as long as they meet the above criteria and have already had your qualifications checked by UK NARIC (www.naric.org.uk). Applications will not be considered without NARIC certificates verifying your degree and GCSE equivalents.
If you are from overseas and are looking to come to the UK to study then you, and the education establishment, will need to know whether your qualifications are recognised in the UK.
To enable you to make this comparison more efficiently and accurately, please contact UK NARIC.
UK NARIC can provide you with a ‘statement of comparability’ that is designed to assist you when applying for courses in the UK.
The comparability statement will enable admitting institutions to make informed decisions about the suitability of your qualification(s) for the course for which you are applying.
For more information about UK NARIC please visit www.naric.org.uk or call +44 (0)871 330 7033.
The four-year rule for overseas trained teachers (OTTs) states that you can teach for up to four years before you have to be awarded QTS. The four years starts from the first day that you teach in a mainstream school in England, and includes any time out of service. If you are approaching the end of your 4 years please be advised we have limited number of places and we may be full by the time your application is seen. Please indicate clearly on your application the first date of teaching in England. If you are past your 4 years you will only be able to work in the Independent Sector.
Please note that through the Assessment Based Option Route overseas trained teachers can only be assessed against the QTS standards.
Further Information
The Assessment Based Option route is distinctive from other routes: it is not initial teacher training, nor is it a graduate training programme. At the same time, candidates following this route have some training needs and these must be met within the schools that employ them. There is a legal requirement that candidates must be provided with training opportunities regardless of which QTS route they follow.
Candidates are recommended for QTS on the basis of a portfolio of evidence which should demonstrate that they have met the professional standards for QTS (TDA 2007), published by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA - www.tda.gov.uk). All candidates are required to provide documentary evidence of their competence in teaching across two age phases at primary or two consecutive key stages at secondary. For further details please visit the TDA link below.
http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/thetrainingprocess/typesofcourse/qts.aspx?keywords=Assessment+Only
Following the submission of the portfolio there is an assessment visit to the candidate at his/her school to verify the information contained in the portfolio of evidence and to observe the candidate teach. The assessment visit normally lasts for the whole of one school day. In primary schools, the lessons are likely to be with the same class but for candidates teaching in secondary schools, there should be the opportunity for the assessor to observe lessons from two key stages.
Although applicants must be educated to degree level, the award of QTS following assessment does not carry the award of PGCE. Assessment Based Option candidates are not eligible for the "golden handshakes".
Fees are normally covered by the TDA.
For further information or an application pack please email qtsassessmentonly@glos.ac.uk or telephone Yvonne Metcalfe on 01242 714852.
Please note we are currently dealing with a high volume of enquiries and applications. We will endeavour to respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.