Teacher Training in the UK.

If you want to train as a teacher, United Kingdom institutions provide high-quality

initial teacher training for all phases of education (early years, primary, secondary and
post-compulsory education) at either undergraduate or postgraduate levels.
ROUTES INTO TEACHING
In England and Wales to become a teacher you will need QTS (Qualified Teacher
Status) this ensures that you have achieved a suitable skill level to become a teacher.
To gain QTS you will need to complete a programme of ITT (Initial Teacher
Training) this will involve at least 18 weeks practical experience in a school
environment.
In Scotland, you need a university degree which includes the Teaching Qualification
of the General Teaching Council (GTC) for Scotland.
In Northern Ireland, you need a university or college degree or certificate which
includes the teacher competences and core criteria for eligibility to teach conferred by
the Department of Education (Northern Ireland).
There are a range of courses available depending on your qualifications and previous
experience. ITT can be performed through a number of options.

In England and Wales:

• an undergraduate course of study which combines a first degree with QTS: Bachelor
of Arts (BA) with QTS, Bachelor of Science (BSc) with QTS, or Bachelor of Education
(BEd). The courses normally take 3-4 years full time and the BEd is a popular route for
those interested in primary teaching.

• a postgraduate programme: the Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) is a

popular route, providing a further year of college/university study.

• the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) employment route: working in a school as

an unqualified teacher and being trained and assessed for QTS as you work.

• School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT): designed and delivered by groups

of neighbouring schools and colleges. This allows graduates to complete almost all of
their training in a school environment.

• Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (England only): for people already trained as
teachers in their own country and already working (or about to take up appointment) as
an unqualified teacher in a school in England. If you qualified as a teacher overseas, and
outside the European Economic Area (EEA), you may be eligible to work in England as
a temporary, unqualified teacher for up to four years while you achieve qualified teacher
status (QTS).
 In Scotland:
• undergraduate route (for primary school teaching): Bachelor of Education (BEd)
• postgraduate route: Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in either
primary or secondary education.

In Northern Ireland:
Initial teacher training for primary and secondary education at undergraduate or
postgraduate levels is provided by four universities or university colleges: Stranmillis
University College, St Mary’s University College, Queen’s University and the
University of Ulster.

 Tasks.

1. Say true or false:

a) United Kingdom institutions provide high-quality initial teacher training for

all phases of education.
b) To gain QTS you will need to complete a programme of GTC.
c) BEd is a popular route for those interested in primary and secondary teaching.
d) The Postgraduate Certificate of Education provides a year of
college/university study.
e) If you qualified as a teacher overseas, you may be eligible to work in England
as a qualified teacher.

2. Fill in the gaps:

a) In England and Wales to become a teacher you will need QTS (____________
Teacher ___________) this ensures that you have achieved a suitable _______
level to become a teacher.
b) In Scotland, you need a university _________which includes the Teaching
_____________ of the __________Teaching ___________(GTC) for
Scotland.
c) The _______________ Certificate of Education (PGCE) is a
popular___________, providing a further year of college/university study.
d) If you qualified as a teacher______________, and outside the European
_____________Area (EEA), you may be ____________to work in England as
a temporary, ___________ teacher for up to four years while you achieve
qualified teacher status (QTS).
e) The postgraduate ________ in Scotland is ____________ Graduate
____________ in Education (PGDE) in either primary or secondary
education.
3. Give the definition of words:
to ensure - _________________________________________
a skill level - _______________________________________
an experience - ______________________________________
a route - ___________________________________________
overseas - __________________________________________
a certificate - _________________________________________

4. Match the words in two columns to make word-combinations:

a skill training
a school teaching
an university programme
a primary environment
a postgraduate degree
a teacher level

5. Answer the following questions:

a) What are the routes into teaching in England and Wales?
b) What are the requirements to gain QTS?
c) What programs can help to perform ITT in England and Wales?
d) What routes into teaching are in Scotland?
e) How many teacher training universities and colleges are there in Northern
Ireland?