Creating Value In Schools
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People who don't have a degree but would like to train as a teacher in England can now pursue a Teacher Degree Apprenticeship (TDA), which allows them to earn a salary while working in a school and gaining both a bachelor's degree and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). It is very cost effective for schools although it will be some time before there is a wider range of courses on offer.
As you will be aware, recent reports reveal that unfilled teacher vacancies have reached record levels, with teacher leaving rates remaining high since before the pandemic. The government has missed its recruitment target for over a decade and knows it must recruit at least 6,500 new teachers to address shortages. But where do they come from? Immediate action is critical to ensure continued quality education and school leaders can help by identifying suitable people, directing them to the TDA and supporting their application.
Teacher Degree Apprenticeships (TDAs) are a new route into teaching that combine work in a school with a degree and QTS. They are becoming available for both primary and secondary teacher training. The big advantage of a TDA is that the trainee will not only earn a salary while training, but they will also not be expected to pay tuition fees while completing a degree. For an example, see that offered by Xavier Teach South-East.
The TDA is a 4-year, full-time course that facilitates non-graduates to train as a teacher with an accredited teacher training provider. They will spend some time every week studying toward a degree with a university, with the rest of their time working in school.
Your school may already have links with an accredited ITT provider, however, even if they offer the one-year Graduate Teacher Apprenticeship, only some of those with university links will be able to deliver the TDA. The funded programme is gradually being rolled out via the DfE Funding Pilot.
Some providers will be able to find a training placement school, while others will expect the applicant to find a school themselves. School leaders can help here, through their personal networks. As with any school-based QTS training, trainees spend some time in another, contrasting, school. This is usually arranged by the provider and is referred to as the Second School Placement.
Courses for the Teacher Degree Apprenticeship are now available on Find Teacher Training and will be added throughout the year, up until September 2025, with training due to start in autumn 2025. Later programmes will follow. As it is the providers who add the courses to this site, interested parties are advised to check weekly.
Unqualified teachers must be paid on the unqualified teachers' pay range, although once their degree is obtained, schools have discretion to pay them on main pay scale. The scale for unqualified teachers currently starts at £21,171 while London Fringe starts at £23,140, Outer London at £25,758 and Inner London at £27,252. For comparison, a qualified teacher starts on £31,650 outside London.
TDA courses are open for individuals to gain a degree and become a qualified teacher. This includes – but is not limited to – teaching assistants, school leavers or people looking to change careers.
To be eligible, applicants must be:
Applicants need GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths (and a science if they want to teach primary). The number of A levels or equivalent qualifications required will be set by individual universities.
The Scottish National 5 (N5) qualifications are equivalent to GCSE with grades A to C equivalent to GCSE grade 4. Scottish Highers are equivalent to A-Level.
Candidates who went to school abroad can check the equivalence of their qualifications via Ecctis. This is the agency responsible for managing the UK’s European Network of National Information Centres, which recognises global qualifications and skills under the wider European Lisbon Recognition Convention. Often the accredited training provider will arrange this.
Qualified Teacher Learning Skills (QTLS)
This is for those who might want to teach in further education or vocational settings. While QTLS is typically obtained through a degree, it can be achieved by obtaining the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET) or an equivalent qualification. Sometimes candidates can teach in further education without a prior teaching qualification or academic degree, with many providers offering funded teacher training on the job. More information on the DfE’s Teach in Further Education pages.
Early Years Initial Teacher Training
Just like all initial teacher training (ITT) courses, a trainee early years teacher will need Grade C/4 passes in English, maths and science GCSE. The EYITT is a full-time degree course, taking three or four years. By the end of the course, trainees have a degree in an early childhood-related subject and will have met the early years teacher standards (EYTS). They may qualify for a tuition fee loan available from Student Finance England.
