Design Strategy - Teaching Routes

6A2, 6B2 - Undertaking research into the different available routes into teaching, seeing which would be best for me.

There are two routes into teaching. One is based at a university; the other is to train on the job. The first route means you get a qualification and then get a job. The second route means you get a job and then get a qualification. Independent schools are interested in academically strong undergraduates and graduates with a good degree relevant to the subject they will teach. 

If you want to work in the independent sector you can apply for a teaching job without teaching qualifications and, having got the job, then get trained in your school. Most graduate trainees want to gain a teaching qualification that has currency across sectors and countries. Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) gained while working in the independent or state maintained sector is transferable between sectors. 

There are a number of recognised routes to gain Qualified Teacher Status, amongst them the most common are:

• School Direct training on the job
• higher education institution based or distance learning courses
• Most Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) will also give QTS but not all, so do check
• QTS allows you to teach in schools across the sectors. If you want to do this and take a PGCE course, the course must also give you QTS.

Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) Year

Once you have gained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you become a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT). You will continue your training as an NQT for a year. Most schools in the independent sector and all schools in the state sector expect you to pass this NQT Induction year to be a fully qualified teacher.