iQTS

We're delighted to have been selected by the Department for Education (DfE) to deliver the new iQTS. It enables you to train to teach anywhere in the world, without the need to visit the UK.

Our iQTS course is a school-centred initial teacher training (ITT) route leading to qualified teacher status (QTS), with the option to add an International Postgraduate Certificate in Education (iPGCE). The iPGCE is validated and awarded by the University of East London (UEL), our partner university. 

Our iQTS course will help you to:

• Gain QTS and an optional iPGCE
• Develop knowledge and understanding of your chosen phase and subject in an international context
• Develop practical teaching skills, ideas and activities to use in the classroom
• Gain knowledge of schools through working as a member of a school team
• Develop the ability to reflect critically and think on your feet
• Gain knowledge and develop effective skills of teaching and learning by following our curriculum which embeds the DfE’s ITT Core Content Framework and iQTS Teachers’ Standards

Our course will help you to gain research-informed, knowledge and understanding of teaching and learning in an international context, alongside opportunities to practice in the classroom and develop your teaching skills, coached by well-trained, expert colleagues.

To join our iQTS course you must:

• Be employed in a school in a teaching role by the time you start the course
• Have achieved a standard equivalent to GCSE grade 4/C in maths (and science if training to teach at primary level). Candidates with overseas qualifications should provide an ENIC statement to demonstrate the equivalency of their qualification. See the Get into Teaching website for guidance. Applicants who haven’t achieved grade 4/C but are otherwise suitable may be able to take an equivalency test - We can support you in completing your equivalency tests – to find out more, read our equivalency tests information.
• Hold a Bachelor's degree** from a UK higher education institution or equivalent qualification

• Show you meet the required standard in English language proficiency by having: 

– an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5 or higher, or

– completed some of your education in the English language, for example,- a degree studied in English

We accept the following English language tests for our iQTS applications:

Other English language qualifications may also be recognised. Please include all details on your application.

• Possess the appropriate qualities, attitudes and values expected of a teacher. These are skills such as resilience, commitment, adaptability, along with good communication skills
• Show competency in fundamental skills in English and maths before the award of QTS
• Satisfactorily complete all safeguarding checks before the start of training (and such checks must not identify you as being unsuited to working with children)
• Meet the Secretary of State’s requirements for health and physical capacity to teach

You must have access to a reliable computer and internet connection.

We encourage applications from candidates who may have additional needs or need adaptations. We will take positive measures to assist trainees, please do provide full details on the application.

Our iQTS course runs for a full academic year and is delivered through a mix of in-school experience and learning, and online study.

We offer a primary (age 5-11) iQTS course teaching all core and some foundation subjects and a secondary (age 11-16) iQTS course in key teaching subjects including: art and design, biology, chemistry, computing, drama, English, geography, history, maths, modern foreign languages (MFL) – French, Spanish and German, music, physical education (PE), physics, religious education (RE). A 14-19 iQTS course is available in business studies.

As a member of your school team you'll learn your skills from experienced professionals. You’ll gradually start to take lessons alongside training and, in time, take shared responsibility for pupils. You’ll also attend school professional studies and professional development training. As an employee of the school, you may be teaching your own classes from the start of the course.

Your in-school mentor and subject/phase-specific pathway tutor

You'll have weekly meetings with your experienced in-school mentor who will support you throughout your course. You'll also be appointed a Tes personal  pathway tutor who will provide you with regular feedback on your progress and coach and mentor you on subject knowledge and teaching skill development. They'll work with you to develop your teaching and support you with your online learning.

Online teaching courses

Throughout your course, you'll have the equivalent of one day per week for your online study and you'll participate in online learning via our innovative and interactive e-learning platform, Tes Learn, where you can access course materials, lessons and tutorials, making learning extremely flexible. If you opt to undertake the iPGCE as well as QTS you'll also benefit from access to UEL's e-library when completing the iPGCE assignments.

Face-to-face workshops

We'll deliver regular (weekly or fortnightly) face-to-face workshops as part of your iQTS course. These workshops will be delivered by our expert team and are designed to support our delivery of the DfE Core Content Framework for ITT and the iQTS Teachers’ Standards. They will support you to contextualise your training and discuss your developing practice, as well as providing you with a network of colleagues from across the globe.

iPGCE assignments

If you choose to undertake the optional iPGCE you’ll be required to complete a number of additional written assignments to the level specified by UEL.

Emma Cook

With over 25 years of experience in education, Emma has been a leader in various school settings, spanning both mainstream and specialist schools. Additionally, she has worked at the university level, lecturing on both PGCE and BA QTS programmes, specializing in SEND, professional studies, and primary English.

In her role as a director at Tes Institute, her focus is on delivering outstanding initial teacher training and apprenticeships in both mainstream and specialist settings. She was delighted to have led a successful bid to become a DfE-approved provider for iQTS, enabling Tes Institute to offer equitable training to teachers working across the globe.

Kate Lowe

A county leading Literacy specialist, a senior leader across multiple schools and co-ordinator of every primary subject, Kate has supported staff, mentored trainee teachers and ECTs as well as running INSET across schools. She has over 25 years of teaching experience from EYFS to Year 6, working in large London schools as well as rural village mixed-age classes. For the past six years she has worked on a variety of ITT programmes with Tes; and as a QTS assessor too. The new iQTS route is an exciting next step and adds to Tes’ portfolio of international programmes.

Our iQTS course costs £8,250 plus VAT (as applicable) with an additional cost of £1,200 plus VAT (as applicable) for the optional iPGCE.

You can pay in full at the start of your course, or pay termly or monthly to spread the payments across the length of your course.

The course can be funded by yourself or your school.

Our iQTS 2025 course dates. 

Tes Institute is a designated ITT provider, accredited by the Department for Education (DfE) to deliver initial teacher training (ITT). Tes Institute acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and is committed to fulfilling its duties to ensure safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and DfE requirements.

* Tes Institute accept GCSE equivalency tests from any UK university or our own Tes Institute GCSE equivalency tests in English, maths and science.

**  A Bachelor's degree comprises 300 HE credit points of which 60 must be at Level 6 of the QCF. Applicants with a foundation degree will need to supplement this qualification with at least 60 credits at Level 6 (HE level 3) in order to attain an equivalent single qualification.

*** IELTS/TOEFL/PTE Academic results are valid for two years.

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