Course description
Do you have considerable experience working in education but still need to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)? We offer a flexible, convenient pathway to help you realise your ambitions and progress your teaching career.
Our Assessment Only Route to QTS could be ideal if you are:
- Working as an unqualified teacher – paid or unpaid
- A cover supervisor, Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) or supply teacher
- An experienced Further Education lecturer now working in a school and keen to gain QTS
- An overseas trained teacher who does not automatically qualify for QTS or who did not gain QTS within the four-year limit
- The Assessment Only Route is open to colleagues in Independent Schools, Academies, Special Schools, PRUs
- Living and working within the United Kingdom.
Don’t let the lack of QTS restrict your career prospects. If you’re an experienced teacher with a degree, this route is your chance to demonstrate that you already meet all the standards for QTS – without the need for further training.
A fast-track route to qualification
The Assessment Only Route enables you to become formally qualified within a short space of time while you continue to teach. It takes 12 weeks of assessment to secure QTS.
You are required to demonstrate that you are a reflective practitioner who has met the Teachers’ Standards and can apply your skills, knowledge and understanding effectively in a wide range of school settings. In addition, you need to show that you can relate theory to practice and to evaluate critically the fundamental aims and values of education.
What you will study
The maximum period for the Assessment Only Route is 12 weeks.
The Assessment Only Route is not suitable for candidates who require training in order to meet the Teachers’ Standards. Candidates who require training are advised to consider the PGCE Primary, and Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship routes.
Supporting schools need to provide candidates with sufficient opportunity to meet the Teachers’ Standards during the 12 weeks of assessment.
In-school assessments
As part of your route to QTS, you will be assessed while you are teaching by staff from both your school and SCIL.
During the assessment period, your supporting school will need to ensure that you have sufficient opportunity to meet the Teachers’ Standards. You will need to comply with a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and meet ‘Fitness to Teach’ regulations, plus any other relevant current legislation relating to the Teaching Profession.
How you will learn
There is no formal training linked to the Assessment Only Route, it is expected that you will continue to develop professionally as a teacher and, in particular, further develop your subject knowledge and teaching skills during the assessment period. You will be expected to have a professional tutor in school who will meet with you on a regular basis and also co-ordinate regular lesson observations and constructive feedback.
How you are assessed
Assessment is made via the production of a portfolio of evidence measured against the Teachers’ Standards, the observation of successful teaching by school and SCIL staff, a subject knowledge assessment and a final viva voce. You will have been observed teaching by your host school and your teaching must have been regularly assessed as ‘meeting standards’.
You will need to provide a variety of high quality evidence to demonstrate that you have met the Teachers’ Standards across two or more key stages, and also evidence of having taught in two schools.
Entry requirements
You will need to:
- You will need to have a full degree
- GCSE grade c/4 in Maths, English and Science
- Be working in a role (paid or unpaid), which has provided sufficient opportunities to demonstrate that you have the ability and expertise to fulfil the role of a teacher.
- Have been observed teaching by the host school and have your teaching assessed as ‘meeting standards’
- Be able to demonstrate that you have experience teaching in two or more schools including the school you are currently working at. The experience should be relevant and recent (within the last 5 years) and across two key stages. The minimum teaching time requirement across the two or more schools is two years
- Provide evidence of a current DBS check.
Entry to this course is very competitive and the selection process includes:
- Completion of an application form with a supporting statement from your school
- Submission of an initial portfolio of evidence against the Teachers’ Standards
- A formal interview.
How to apply
Please send your completed application form (including Section 8 – Declaration and Partnership Agreement – signed by you and your headteacher) with your GCSE and degree evidence via email to: SCIL@somerset.gov.uk
Confirmation of receipt will be within 3-5 days, your application will then be processed within 2 weeks with start dates in either September, January or after Easter.
The assessment fee for the AO Route to QTS is as below, this can be paid either by the candidate or their host school, or a combination of both:
- September 2025 to March 2026 – £3250
- April 2026 to March 2027 – £3300
Visits outside of the South-West will incur additional travel costs.
The fee will be invoiced once the candidate has been accepted onto the AO course and has been given their start date.
Please note that if a candidate withdraws at a late stage in the application process, after SCIL has incurred costs, there will be an administrative fee of £250.00 to be paid by the candidate and/or the host school.
To apply complete the following forms:
1.Guide for Candidate and Host School