Qualified Teacher Status
Encyclopedia
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is required in England and Wales
to become, and continue being, a teacher
of children in the state
and special education
sectors. Similar statuses exist in the rest of the United Kingdom
(Scotland
and Northern Ireland
), but under different names.
and some form of teacher training is compulsory for new QTS recipients. The most common way to achieve QTS is for those who already have a degree to undertake a postgraduate teacher training course, such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education
(PGCE), Professional Certificate in Education
or employment-based training, such as the Graduate Teacher Programme
(GTP). There are also some undergraduate degree qualifications, such as the Bachelor of Education
, that lead to the award of a first degree and QTS. In England
only, candidates must also pass the QTS Skills Tests
. All candidates must have GCSEs at grade C or above (or demonstrate an equivalent standard) in English, Mathematics and, for primary trainees only, Science 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. The age ranges are the following:
The General Teaching Council for England
and General Teaching Council for Wales maintain all registrations, as well as issuing QTS certificates (a task previously undertaken by the Department for Education and Skills).
QTS is technically recognised only in the country it was awarded (England
or Wales
), but teachers can normally apply for QTS in the other country 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, while not accepting the GTP). Teachers trained outside England and Wales
must also apply to be awarded QTS if they wish to teach in England and Wales
.
After having been awarded QTS teachers must normally still pass an induction period
(previously called 'probation') – normally their first year of teaching. Those 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). Such teachers are often known as a Newly Qualified Teacher
or NQT.
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 one needs to go through the recognition process.
One's land or origin may well have an office whose purpose is translation and confirmation/recognition of qualifications. Again, one should, if uncertain, seek advice by ringing the General Teaching Council
to see if such confirmation is required.
holders and the most-common way to train to become a teacher. It is based at and coordinated by a university
or other higher education
institution, though students spend a large proportion of the course on teaching practice at placement schools. The PGCE carries credits towards a master's degree
.
course that includes QTS. This enables a candidate to gain their QTS while they study for their degree, with teaching practise 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.
or Northern Ireland
. However, similarly in England
and Wales
, all teachers in Scotland
and Northern Ireland
are required to register with either the General Teaching Council for Scotland
or the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland; the General Teaching Councils will consider only graduate
s with a teaching qualification
s (such as the PGCE or PGDE
) for registration.
In Scotland
, a one-year probation period (equivalent to induction in England
and Wales
) must be completed.
Those holding English or Welsh QTS (or an equivalent from another country) must apply for registration with the relevant General Teaching Council. Each case is considered individually; even those with English or Welsh QTS are not guaranteed to be allowed to teach in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
to become, and continue being, a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
of children in the state
Public education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
and special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
sectors. Similar statuses exist in the rest of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
), but under different names.
Gaining QTS
An undergraduate degreeUndergraduate degree
An undergraduate degree is a colloquial term for an academic degree taken by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. It is usually offered at an institution of higher education, such as a university...
and some form of teacher training is compulsory for new QTS recipients. The most common way to achieve QTS is for those who already have a degree to undertake a postgraduate teacher training course, such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a one-year course in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for undergraduate degree holders that allows them to train to be a teacher....
(PGCE), Professional Certificate in Education
Professional Certificate in Education
The Professional Graduate Certificate in Education is a course in England and Wales for undergraduate degree holders that allows them to train to be a teacher. It is very similar to the Postgraduate Certificate in Education and enables candidates to gain their Qualified Teacher Status , but does...
or employment-based training, such as the Graduate Teacher Programme
Graduate Teacher Programme
The Graduate Teacher Programme is a programme in England and Wales for graduates who want to gain Qualified Teacher Status while working...
(GTP). There are also some undergraduate degree qualifications, such as the Bachelor of Education
Bachelor of Education
A Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:...
, that lead to the award of a first degree and QTS. In England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
only, candidates must also pass the QTS Skills Tests
QTS Skills Tests
The QTS Skills Tests are three computer-based tests in literacy, numeracy, and ICT, which must be passed by anyone attempting to gain Qualified Teacher Status in England in addition to successfully completing a teacher training course, such as a PGCE, a BEd, a BA or the GTP.-Booking and...
. All candidates must have GCSEs at grade C or above (or demonstrate an equivalent standard) in English, Mathematics and, for primary trainees only, Science 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. The age ranges are the following:
- Ages 3–5 (Foundation stage)
- Ages 5–7 (School years 1-2)
- Ages 7–9 (School years 3-4)
- Ages 9–11 (School years 5-6)
- Ages 11–14 (School years 7-9)
- Ages 14–16 (School years 10-11)
- Ages 16–19 (School years 12-13)
The General Teaching Council for England
General Teaching Council for England
The General Teaching Council for England is the professional body for teaching in England. The GTC was established by the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 which set two aims:...
and General Teaching Council for Wales maintain all registrations, as well as issuing QTS certificates (a task previously undertaken by the Department for Education and Skills).
QTS is technically recognised only in the country it was awarded (England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
or Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
), but teachers can normally apply for QTS in the other country 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, while not accepting the GTP). Teachers trained outside England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
must also apply to be awarded QTS if they wish to teach in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
.
After having been awarded QTS teachers must normally still pass an induction period
Induction (teachers)
Induction is used to refer to a period during which a Newly Qualified Teacher in England or Wales is both supported and assessed to ensure that regulatory standards are met.-Background:...
(previously called 'probation') – normally their first year of teaching. Those 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). Such teachers are often known as a Newly Qualified Teacher
Newly Qualified Teacher
Newly Qualified Teacher is a label attached to teachers in the United Kingdom who have been qualified for less than 12 months.-Origins:The term began to be used in the mid-1990s following the removal of the requirement for teachers to serve a probationary period in 1991 under the Education ...
or NQT.
Not all European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
qualifications have been officially recognised yet, so one should confirm with one's education establishment as to whether one's qualifications are acceptable, or one needs to go through the recognition process.
One's land or origin may well have an office whose purpose is translation and confirmation/recognition of qualifications. Again, one should, if uncertain, seek advice by ringing the General Teaching Council
General Teaching Council
There are 4 General Teaching Councils within the United Kingdom:* General Teaching Council for England* General Teaching Council for Scotland* *...
to see if such confirmation is required.
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
The PGCE is one-year course for existing undergraduate degreeUndergraduate degree
An undergraduate degree is a colloquial term for an academic degree taken by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. It is usually offered at an institution of higher education, such as a university...
holders and the most-common way to train to become a teacher. It is based at and coordinated by a university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
or other higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
institution, though students spend a large proportion of the course on teaching practice at placement schools. The PGCE carries credits towards a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
.
Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (ProfGCE)
The ProfGCE is a course very similar to a PGCE, but it does not carry master's credits.School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT)
A SCITT programme enables graduates to undertake their training within in a school environment, leading to QTS. Some SCITT programmes also award a PGCE qualification. It is available in England only.Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP)
The GTP enables candidates to gain QTS while they are employed as an unqualified teacher in a school.Undergraduate QTS routes
Students can take a three or four-year undergraduate degreeUndergraduate degree
An undergraduate degree is a colloquial term for an academic degree taken by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. It is usually offered at an institution of higher education, such as a university...
course that includes QTS. This enables a candidate to gain their QTS while they study for their degree, with teaching practise being undertaken over the course of the whole programme. These are usually Bachelor of Education
Bachelor of Education
A Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:...
(BEd) degrees, though some are Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(BA) and Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
(BSc) degrees.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
QTS as such does not exist in ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
or Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. However, similarly in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, all teachers in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
are required to register with either the General Teaching Council for Scotland
General Teaching Council for Scotland
The General Teaching Council for Scotland is a Scottish public body. It is the professional regulatory body for teachers in Scotland....
or the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland; the General Teaching Councils will consider only graduate
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
s with a teaching qualification
Teaching qualification
A teaching qualification or teacher qualification is one of a number of academic and professional degrees that enables a person to become a registered teacher in primary or secondary school...
s (such as the PGCE or PGDE
Professional Graduate Diploma in Education
The Professional Graduate Diploma in Education is a one-year course in Scotland for undergraduate degree holders that allows them to train to be a teacher....
) for registration.
In Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, a one-year probation period (equivalent to induction in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
) must be completed.
Those holding English or Welsh QTS (or an equivalent from another country) must apply for registration with the relevant General Teaching Council. Each case is considered individually; even those with English or Welsh QTS are not guaranteed to be allowed to teach in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
See also
- Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS)Qualified Teacher Learning and SkillsIn September 2007 the UK Government introduced reforms to the training and qualifications of all teachers, tutors, trainers, lecturers and instructors working in the post-compulsory education and training sector .A key element of these reforms is the introduction of a new status of Qualified...
- Early Years Professional StatusEarly Years Professional StatusEarly Years Professional Status is a professional status for practitioners at the Early Years Foundation Stage , which is intended to be broadly equivalent to Qualified Teacher Status...