Assessment Only Route to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) (Primary and Secondary)

Course Content

The AO Route to iQTS consists only of assessments and does not have any taught content. For how the assessments are carried out, please see the Delivery section.

Course Delivery

The AO Route to iQTS consists of three assessment processes:

• Eligibility assessment: the candidate's eligibility for the route is assessed by a qualified team at The University of Buckingham through an audit of the candidate's CV, timetable and teaching experience.
• Documentation assessment: the candidate will then have to complete key documentation that evidences how the candidate meets each of the teaching standards. The candidate will be required to produce a Teaching and Learning File (TLF) to showcase this. The TLF serves as a portfolio of evidence in support of them passing the course.
• Assessor visits: a University of Buckingham appointed assessor will make an initial visit to the candidates school. During this visit, the assessor will interview the candidate, meet the candidate's line manager, mentor and tutor, review the candidate's documentation and observe the candidate teaching 3 lessons. The assessor will then produce a report with detailed recommendations for the candidate. A second visit will be organised within 12 weeks, at which the assessor will review the candidate's implementation of their recommendations. The assessor will then make a recommendation for award of QTS.

Entry Requirements

For entry onto the Assessment Only Route, you will be expected to have the following:

• A university degree*
• GCSE in English, Maths at grade C/4 or above*
• GCSE in Science at grade C/4 or above* (Primary applicants only).
• You must be employed as an unqualified teacher in a school.

*If your degree/qualifications were not awarded by a UK university, you will need a statement of comparability from UK ENIC. Please refer to our guidance here. 

In addition, you must:

• Have two years' teaching experience in at least two contrasting schools, one of which may be your current school. (For candidates who have taught in only one school, a minimum three-week teaching placement in another school will be required prior to the start of the course. The University of Buckingham will provide you with advice regarding the nature of this placement).
• Demonstrate that you meet all of the Teaching Standards across the age-range of assessment, as stipulated by the UK Department of Education.
• You must have knowledge of at least four consecutive year groups, having taught in at least two, across two consecutive Key Stages.
• For the General Primary option, be teaching core subjects (English, maths and science) to full classes for at least 50% (approximately 12 hours per week) of a full school timetable in the assessed age range
• For the Primary specialism option (art, drama, music, PE or MFL) be teaching the core subjects (English, maths and science) for approximately 6 hours per week, and your subject specialism for the remaining 6 hours, in the assessed age range.
• For the Prep/Middle route, be teaching your subject specialism to Upper KS2-3 (years 5-8) for at least 50% (approximately 12 hours per week) of a full school timetable in the assessed age range.
• For the Secondary option, be teaching your subject to full classes for at least 50% (approximately 12 hours per week) of a full school timetable in the assessed age range.
• Have passed the literacy test before completing the course. The University will make these arrangements for you. We may be able to accept a previously completed literacy test, our admissions team will assess if this is possible.
• Show you have the health and physical capacity to teach.
• Satisfy criteria based on suitability and aptitude for teaching. This includes Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal records checks and children's barred list information. Candidates who have lived or worked outside the UK must undergo the same checks as all other staff in schools and colleges. In addition, further checks may be carried out. The Home Office has published guidance on criminal record checks for overseas applicants.

The employing school must be able to fully support a candidate through this route, enabling them to demonstrate all of the Teachers' Standards across the full age and ability range of training, and cannot have been graded as inadequate by Ofsted.

Fees

Tuition Fee: £4,000

Fees are invoiced for at the beginning of the course.

All fees are charged directly by the University of Buckingham, BISE will not add any additional charges for our services.

How To Apply

We will support you to complete your application before submitting it directly to the University of Buckingham.

If you are interested in this course or have any queries, click Ask a Question and our admissions team members will endeavour to reply to your enquiry within 24 hours. Alternatively, please write to us at:

[email protected]
[email protected] (Mainland China only)

Our admissions staff are based in Mainland China and Hong Kong and our hours of business are 10am to 7pm (GMT+8), Mon-Fri.

Deadlines

You can apply for AO QTS at any time during the year. Please get in touch to find out more.