Skip to content

School Direct Teacher Training

​​​​​Gain hands-on teaching experience and be part of a school from day one.

As well as offering our Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) route, the university is proud to be working in close partnership with a number of local schools to deliver School Direct programmes for Primary PGCE students.

School Direct offers a great opportunity for schools to inform initial teacher training (ITT) and to recruit the best potential teachers into the sector. Host schools are fully involved in the selection of their students and work closely with the university to design the programme and monitor and evaluate the provision.

School Direct: Non-salaried

This route is open to all graduates with 2.2 (Hons) degree or above (or equivalent) and leads to both PGCE and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).The training programme is for one academic year full-time.

You will benefit from training provided by the host school and/or university staff, following an agreed syllabus which includes professional, pedagogical and subject development. This will prepare you for your teaching placements.

The programme is funded by tuition fees paid directly by the trainee, but you will be eligible for a standard support package which includes training bursaries, tuition fee loans and scholarships where applicable.

School Direct: Salaried

The salaried route is employment based and aimed at candidates looking for a career change. You will normally need a 2.1 (Hons) degree or above and three or more years career experience. For most primary applicants, this will have been gained since leaving university and would normally be in education, demonstrating ​a good understanding of learning and teaching in the primary years.

This route leads to qualified teacher status (QTS) and will normally be for ten months. You will be employed directly by the school and the​ programme will enable you to train and work in a paid teaching role. A highly competitive route, this option enables you to earn a salary as an unqualified teacher in your host school.