QTS Assessment only (QTS)

Before entering on to the Assessment Only route course, you must:

• Be currently employed in the UK as an unqualified teacher working within the age range and teaching the subject(s) applicable to the phase you wish to qualify for.
• Have worked in your current school for at least six months.
• Have at least two years' recent teaching experience in the phase/ subject you wish to qualify for.
• Be able to demonstrate through evidence that you meet the Department for Education's Teachers’ Standards to a high standard.
• Have the active support of your current employer for your application.
• Be a graduate holding an undergraduate degree (2.2 or above) of a United Kingdom higher education institution or equivalent.
• Have GCSE Maths, English Language or Literature (for primary and secondary) and Science (for primary) at Grade C/Grade 4 or above (or equivalent).
• Have successfully completed the Occupational Health Clearance and a satisfactory Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check made by your employer.
• Be able to evidence your successful teaching experience in two schools (see below for more detail on the second school teaching experience that you will need).
• Be able to evidence your successful teaching across both key stages within the range in which you want to be assessed (e.g. KS3 and KS4 for secondary; KS1 and KS2 for primary).

If English is not your first language you require an IELTS overall score of 6.0 with no element below 5.5 for most standard undergraduate and postgraduate courses. For more information on English language requirements for this course, please click here to visit our dedicated IELTS web page.

You will be required to evidence your right to reside and work in the United Kingdom.

Second school experience

The second school experience must have taken place prior your application to the Assessment Only route. In this short guide the term 'second school' refers to the school UK that is not your current employing school.

• You must have evidence of recent, successful teaching in at least two schools (this can include Early years settings or Further Education Colleges where appropriate).
• You must have undertaken your second school experience in a school that provides a contrast to the current employing school in some way, including key stages taught where appropriate.
• The second school must have experienced and trained mentors. Ideally we would expect that the school would already be working in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University.

You must have completed your second school experience in a single block of at least six weeks in length. This is in order to enable you to demonstrate:

1. Breadth and variety of experience in either some or all of: teaching children and young people from different backgrounds, across the ability range and in their chosen age ranges, as well as gaining experience of different approaches to teaching and learning and to school organisation and management.
2. The second school experience must add to the evidence that the candidate has met all the standards for QTS for their chosen age range(s).

You must provide evidence that you have planned, taught and assessed pupil progress in the second school in either:

• Your specialist subject (secondary) across your chosen age range (usually 11-19)

or

• the full primary curriculum within your chosen age range (e.g. 5-11)

Required evidence

If you are invited to interview you will be required to bring this evidence with you to the interview:

• details of the second school
• name of school
• name of contact
• dates of teaching/employment
• summary of teaching experience there
• most recent timetable from the second school
• reference/testimonial from the second school.

At least six lesson observations across the age range(s) requested for the Assessment Only route

• for secondary – within the subject that the candidate wishes to be assessed in
• for primary – across the range of the primary curriculum subjects
• examples of lesson plans and resources whilst teaching in the second school
• examples of assessment of pupils and evidence of the pupil progress for the class(es) taught
• a reflection on the different pastoral systems, school policies, school settings, and use of school data between the second school and employing school
• an ‘Impact Statement’ that describes the impact of the Second School experience on the candidate’s practice in their current employing school.

Secondary subjects available

• Art and Design
• English
• Geography
• History
• Mathematics
• Modern Foreign Languages
• Music
• Physical Education
• Religious Education
• Science

You will be required to evidence your right to reside and work in the United Kingdom.

Frequently asked questions

Assessment Only is only for those unqualified teachers who are already meeting the Teachers’ Standards. It is not a training route.

Why should I be interested in gaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)?

Gaining QTS will give you parity with other qualified teachers across the country. It will enable you to teach in any school in the country whether an independent school or a maintained state school. It will also allow you to teach at any level.

How much experience of teaching should I have?

Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) is requiring at least two years of recent teaching experience as an unqualified teacher, at least 6 months of which must be in your current employing school. If you do not have this experience you should apply for a training route to QTS, such as

PGCE or School Direct. You must already be meeting the Teachers’ Standards at a good or high level. You must be able to demonstrate considerable experience as a teacher in either the primary phase or secondary phase and have fulfilled the whole range of a teacher’s duties.

What is the timescale for gaining QTS?

The amount of time that you will need to spend on the pathway will depend on your experience, what evidence you already have and your own commitment. Some people move to final assessment very quickly, others take longer depending on personal circumstances but most people can expect to gain QTS within 6 -12 weeks after registration. Twelve weeks is the maximum time allowed on the pathway.

What qualifications do I need?

You must hold a degree and have GCSE (or equivalent) in Maths and English at grade C/grade 4 or above, and Science (if a primary teacher).

For secondary, in order for us to be confident that you have sufficient subject knowledge to enable you to meet the Teachers’ Standards, CCCU would also expect your qualifications and other supporting evidence to reflect suitable expertise in your specialist subject.

Are there any other entry requirements?

You must have taught in two schools and your teaching in both schools must be across both key stages within the age range in which you wish to qualify: 3-11 (primary), or 11-19 (secondary). Also see point 15 below.

What if I can’t find my original GCSE certificates or do not have the relevant GCSEs?

If you have lost your certificates you can apply to the Examining Board for new copies. Make sure you do this straightaway as it can take some time and there will be a fee to pay.

What if my qualifications are from overseas?

You must have original copies of your certificates and a NARIC certificate to show that they are equivalent to the required qualifications in England.

What if I qualified as a teacher in Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States of America (USA)?

You may be recognised as a qualified teacher and can apply for QTS in England without undertaking an additional route to QTS. You will still be required to satisfy any UK Visas and Immigration requirements that may apply to you for the purposes of entering or remaining in the UK to work as a teacher. Visit the GOV.UK website for further details.

What if I am recognised as a qualified teacher in an EEA member state?

Visit the GOV.UK website for details.

What if I have QTLS status?

If you have QTLS status you should currently be recognised as a qualified teacher in schools in England. You may not necessarily need QTS. Visit the GOV.UK website for further details, and see updates to the guidance on QTLS provided on the Society for Education and Training website.

Are there any assessed assignments to be written?

QTS is gained by providing evidence that you have met all of the Teachers’ Standards. Evidence is gained mainly from the day to day work you do as a teacher and from the written reflections showing how you have met, and are continuing to meet the Teachers’ Standards.

How much evidence do I need to present for Final Assessment?

You will be asked to compile three bundles of evidence (Pupil Progress Bundles) relating to three separate classes that you have taught to demonstrate that you have met the Teachers’ Standards. It is expected normally that this evidence will cover both schools in which you have taught and also both key stages in which you have worked. You will also be asked to demonstrate competence in the classroom at a very high level. You will also need to complete a Record of Pathway. This will be explained if you are successful at interview.

Can I use previous teaching materials as evidence?

You will already have evidence that you are currently meeting the Teachers’ Standards in your teaching and your day-to-day role as a teacher. Any evidence which you wish to present should be fairly recent. The University will advise you on this.

How often will I be observed by CCCU?

Your CCCU tutor will observe you teaching as part of their assessment procedures at the Initial Visit, the Intermediate Visit and at Final Assessment.

Will I have to do a second school experience?

It is a statutory requirement that you should have taught in at least two schools. This is to ensure that you have gained sufficient breadth and variety of experience. One of these schools should normally be a mainstream National Curriculum School. If you have not taught in two schools you must do this before submitting an Application Form. It must be a minimum of six weeks in a block. Further guidance is on the website.

Is there a cost?

Yes. The current cost is £4,000. Attendance at interview by your school mentor or AO coordinator will be taken as agreement by your employer to pay these fees. Some schools ask candidates to make a contribution to these fees

I think I meet all the requirements for Assessment Only. What should I do next?

Make sure you have read all the essential information and requirements on the website. If you think you fulfil the criteria, you should complete an Application Form and your school should complete a Required Information Form and send them to the Admissions Department. These documents are on the website.

I don’t meet the requirements. Can you advise me further?

Other options for you at Canterbury Christ Church are explained on our website. Other useful information can be found on the Department for Education’s Get into Teaching website.

I am working as a Teaching Assistant and Cover Supervisor. Is this route appropriate to me?

No, all applicants must be employed as unqualified teachers and must have full responsibility for planning, teaching and assessing pupils’ work. If you wish to qualify as a teacher, a taught programme such as PGCE or School-Based QTS is more likely to be appropriate to you.

I work in a Special School. Can I apply?

Yes, many such teachers have qualified through the AO route and we welcome applications from teachers in Special Schools but see the note below about the need to be teaching an age-appropriate curriculum.

I work in a Further Education or Sixth Form College. Is this route appropriate to me?

No, this qualification is for those working within the primary or secondary age phases. You should look to make an application for QTLS via the Society for Education and Training, however, please be advised that the criteria are schedules to change in October 2024. If you have previously worked in a post-16 institution in a relevant subject area, and are now employed in a school setting with , you may be able to use evidence of your teaching in that institution as your 'second school experience'.