Assessment only route to qualified teacher status (QTS)

If you’re an experienced but unqualified teacher, you could get qualified with our assessment only route. We’ll guide and support you to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) within three months.

About the assessment only route

The assessment only route to QTS is for experienced teachers who already meet the required teachers’ standards for being qualified teachers and don’t need further training.

You need to have worked as a teacher for the equivalent of two years full-time across two consecutive key stages. You must currently be working in a UK school, but we can accept experience gained overseas.

Once we have confirmed eligibility, you will submit an initial portfolio of evidence and an associated commentary, demonstrating how you have met all of the teachers’ standards during your career. Your three-month assessment period can then start, tailored to you, allowing you to work with university tutors and in-school mentors to fill any gaps in expertise. You’ll also be supported to demonstrate your numeracy and literacy skills necessary for your teaching role.

Mentors and support

In accordance with the partnership agreement between the University of Sussex and your school, you will be supported by an in-school mentor alongside two university assessors. You will be regularly observed and meet with your school-based mentor weekly to ensure your portfolio develops appropriately and to identify any professional development targets. You will also be observed by two university tutors and receive developmental and advisory feedback.

We’ll support you throughout the programme, working with you, your mentor, and your school to make sure you secure the right evidence to demonstrate how you meet the teachers’ standards. We’ll also provide quality assurance through observations, reviewing evidence and a final professional dialogue.

Before you apply

Before you complete an expression of interest, make sure you read through the entry requirements and eligibility checker below.

If you have any questions you can email aoqts@sussex.ac.uk.

• Entry requirements

  You need to meet a number of entry requirements before you submit an expression of interest, including the following:

  • a GCSE in Maths and English Language (plus Science for Primary applicants) at Grade C/Grade 4 or above
  • a university bachelor’s degree (or overseas equivalent) or a Masters degree, demonstrating breadth and depth of academic engagement. If your degree subject does not match the subject you wish to teach, you need to demonstrate your subject knowledge through other means, such as considerable teaching experience at Key Stage 4 or school references
  • significant teaching experience (at least two years), in at least two different schools or colleges and across two consecutive Key Stages. This includes substantial experience of whole-class planning, teaching, assessment and reporting to parents
  • evidence of a strong standard of teaching. This would normally be provided in the form of two recent in-school observations
  • a reference recommending suitability for the assessment only route from the headteacher of your current school, as well as a reference from a previous school
  • passing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and criminal records check
  • a 'Fitness to Work' assessment at your school.
  • a portfolio of evidence demonstrating how you meet each of the teachers’ standards (including commentary and supporting evidence). We can support you to fill any gaps that may become apparent at this stage
  • evidence that you have the appropriate intellectual and academic capabilities, as well as personal qualities, attitudes, ethics and values
  • the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in standard English
  • a sufficient level of numeracy to perform your duties as a teacher
  • the active support of a school willing to provide an appropriate assessed placement environment and mentor support.
• Eligibility checker

  Use this eligibility checker to ensure you meet the entry requirements and are eligible for the assessment only route to QTS. If you answer yes to all of the statements, or can complete the alternative steps provided, then you can start completing your expression of interest.

  Requirements will vary depending on if you are an early years, primary, middle or secondary teacher.

  Academic requirements

  Eligibility statement	Alternative step if answer to eligibility statement is ‘no’
  I have achieved a standard equivalent to a grade C in the GCSE examinations in English and Mathematics.	Take an equivalency test or complete the relevant GCSE.
  Primary/Early Years only: I have achieved a standard equivalent to a grade C in a Science subject.	Complete a science GCSE.
  I have a degree, awarded by a United Kingdom higher education institution (or by an institution recognised as comparable by UK ENIC ) or I have a masters degree demonstrating breadth and depth of academic engagement.
  Secondary/Middle only: At least 50% of my degree subject matches the subject I am currently teaching.	Provide the course tutor with details of your degree and A-level qualifications. The course tutor will determine whether or not your subject knowledge is adequate for this route. Please also explain how else you may have developed your subject knowledge. The course tutor can provide you with a subject knowledge audit.
  I can provide verified evidence that my standard of written and oral English is at a strong standard and appropriate to work in an English mainstream school. My current school would be happy to state that I communicate professionally and effectively with parents, pupils and colleagues.	Undertake training to improve your English and reapply when your standard of written and oral English is at the required level. Ask the school to verify that you have demonstrated a strong standard of written and oral English in your work.
  I am prepared to take a Maths test during the course. This will be based on class data and focus on percentages, fractions, tables, charts and interpreting data.	We are able to provide you links to resources that may support your preparation for this test. If you are initially unsuccessful, you will receive feedback and will be able to retake the test.

  Personal/professional requirements

  Eligibility statement	Alternative step if answer to eligibility statement is ‘no’
  I will be able to provide appropriate identity documents plus original academic certificates at interview.	Obtain replacements from either the exam board or university.
  My school will be able to confirm through a reference that I have the appropriate qualities, attitudes, ethics and values required by teachers.
  My school will be able to confirm that they have conducted health, DBS and criminal records checks.
  I have attended child protection training: Safeguarding and Prevent.	Undertake training and then apply.

  Teaching experience

  Eligibility statement	Alternative step if answer to eligibility statement is ‘no’
  I have substantial teaching experience – e.g. I have been responsible for planning and delivering sequences of lessons to whole classes and for assessing student progress for the equivalent of at least two years full time.	Apply once you have sufficient experience.
  I can demonstrate teaching ability across two consecutive key stages.	Apply once you have substantial teaching experience over the full age range.
  I can teach across the ability range, and I can adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils.	Ask you school to provide additional and consistent opportunities to teach pupils with SEND, EAL and from diverse backgrounds.
  Primary only: I have already taught in at least two schools. I have already taught the full range of National Curriculum subjects across the full age range that I wish to be assessed in for a minimum of two years.	Ask your school to arrange a teacher exchange for six weeks with a partner school. Ask your head to adjust your timetable. Once you become thoroughly familiar with teaching and assessing all NC subjects for the full age range then you may apply.
  Secondary/Middle only: I have already taught in at least two schools and am familiar with the English National Curriculum and GCSEs.	Ask your school to arrange a teacher exchange for six weeks with a partner school offering appropriate age phases and diverse experience.

  Teaching experience

  Supporting evidence	Alternative step if answer to eligibility statement is ‘no’
  I will be able to provide a portfolio of evidence demonstrating how I meet the teachers’ standards required for qualified teacher status. This will include copies of lesson observations by senior staff.	Seek help from your school’s professional tutor. Ask your year leader or members of the school management team to observe you.
  My head teacher plus my line manager will be willing to verify that I meet the standards for qualified teacher status.

  Assessment period

  Supporting evidence	Alternative step if answer to eligibility statement is ‘no’
  Secondary/Middle only: I will be teaching in 2 consecutive key stages during the 3-month assessment process.	Ask your school to adjust your timetable.
  Primary only: I will be teaching a representative selection of National Curriculum literacy, numeracy and science during the 3-month assessment process.
  My school will support my application, provide a mentor to guide me through the process, allow university-based curriculum tutors to observe me teach and, if necessary, help me to strengthen my portfolio of evidence.	Contact us at aoqts@sussex.ac.uk to discuss how we can provide support for mentors.

  Application

  Supporting evidence	Alternative step if answer to eligibility statement is ‘no’
  I have the financial resources to pay for my assessment only route/My school will pay for my Assessment Only Route.	Discuss your options with your school.

Fees

The assessment only route to QTS costs £2,999 and is payable following a successful application and interview. 

There is a fee of £500 admin fee payable if you are not successful following your interview. This amount will be discounted from any future successful application.

How to apply

You must be in a current teaching role in a UK school when you apply, or be able to secure your own placement in a suitable school setting during the three-month assessment period. 

You should read through the entry requirements and eligibility checker above before completing an expression of interest. 

After submitting your expression of interest

After you’ve submitted your expression of interest, we’ll review your details to see if you meet the requirements for the assessment only route. If successful, we’ll send you a full application form to complete. This will include writing a personal statement and obtaining references. We’ll advise you as to what to include and how the process will work. If unsuccessful at this stage, we’ll let you know any outstanding steps to meet the eligibility criteria.

If your full application is successful, we will observe and interview you at your school. Our representative will need to co-observe with your proposed mentor and we’ll clarify any outstanding points arising from your application. You’ll be asked about your teaching experience and will need to prepare an initial portfolio of evidence showing how you meet all the teachers’ standards. We’ll send you further details in advance of any interview.

Following a successful interview, we’ll work with you to agree your development targets, support you during the three-month assessment phase and carry out a final review at the end of the programme. Full details will be provided after the interview phase.

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