Postgraduate Teacher 
Apprenticeship

The Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship is an ideal training pathway for individuals who hold a degree in any subject and are looking to become a qualified teacher.

This programme is perfect for: 

• Support staff looking to progress into teaching
• Unqualified teachers looking to gain QTS

If you're not currently employed by a school, you must secure employment before starting the Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship.

To apply for this programme, you must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any subject with a minimum 2:2 classification*
• Have achieved at least grade 4 (C) in GCSE English and mathematics (or equivalent)
• If applying for primary or SEND specialism, have also achieved grade 4 (C) in a science subject
• Must have held residency in the UK for the last three years and have a valid visa for the entire duration of the programme
  
  

Adult Literacy/Numeracy, Key Skills and Functionals skills are not comparable to GCSEs as per DfE ITT Criteria.

Qualifications achieved outside of the United Kingdom (including Ireland) will need to be verified via UK ENIC through a comparability statement. 

Equivalency Tests for Initial Teacher Training

We’ve partnered with A Star Equivalency to help you meet the entry requirements for ITT — with exclusive discounts, free courses and even free tests for Best Practice Network applicants.

What You’ll Get

• £26 off any single test
• Free course access (worth £199) when you book all three tests + exams
• Free English or biology test for applicants who apply and accept an offer with BPN*
• Free maths Equivalency Test for all applicants

*Subject to eligibility and limited places.

What Are GCSE Equivalency Tests?

GCSE Equivalency Tests are for applicants who cannot evidence achieving a grade C/4 or above in GCSE English, maths or science. They provide an accepted alternative qualification for meeting the entry requirements of Initial Teacher Training programmes. 

Please note: an equivalency test result is not a GCSE qualification, but it fulfils the same entry requirement purpose.

You won’t need to pay any tuition fees as a student teacher. Your training is funded by your school, either through their Apprenticeship Levy or, if they don’t pay the Levy, with government co-investment.

Because your training is salaried, student finance and maintenance loans aren’t available on this route.

Instead, you’ll earn a minimum salary between £21,000 and £27,000 (or more depending on location or if you have relevant experience) on the unqualified teacher pay scale (UNQ1).

The programme is full-time (minimum of 30 hours a week) and runs over three terms. You will spend 4 days a week in the classroom and complete your practical training in 10 months + Apprenticeship Assessment.

During your training, you’ll gain hands-on experience in your current school and a contrasting placement arranged by Best Practice Network.

• Induction: Before the course begins, you’ll take part in an induction day to meet your peers and help you prepare for the classroom.

• Term 1: You’ll be based at your employing school. You’ll train in school four days a week and attend online or in-person training one day a week (usually Fridays).

• Term 2: You’ll be based in your employing school for half of term 2. You'll then complete a short contrasting placement in a different local school. This will be arranged by our placement coordinators to give you a broader classroom experience.

• Term 3: You’ll return to your employing school to consolidate your practice and prepare for the recommendation of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Our curriculum is designed to build your skills and confidence progressively, blending theory with practical classroom experience.

Our ITT Curriculum is broad, balanced, relevant and progressive. It has been carefully designed to enable student teachers to develop expertise in all areas of the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF) which will prepare them for a lifelong career as a teacher. 

The curriculum is built around three core areas, which are delivered through a mixture  of live webinars, in-school training and self-study:

Your training is built around three core areas:

• Behaviour Support & Classroom Management
• Curriculum Delivery
• Teacher Development

Core Training Days

You’ll attend core training days throughout your programme, delivered either online or face-to-face at a local training centre.

Intensive Training and Practice (ITAP) Weeks

You’ll also take part in four ITAP weeks which focus on developing your understanding of evidence-based theory and teaching practice. These weeks will give you the chance to see expert practice in action helping you embed new strategies into your own teaching.

At the end of your training, you should be able to confidently teach 80% of the class timetable.