Which Tes Institute course is right for you?
At Tes Institute, we offer a unique range of training courses to help you take the first step on your journey to becoming a qualified teacher. Our courses provide the very best of both in-school and online learning and have helped qualify over 3,000 teachers.
Now it's your turn!
Take a look at the different routes into teaching and range of course we provide to help you progress in your teaching journey.
First things first – do you have the right qualifications?
Regardless of the route you take into teaching, you'll need to make sure you have the right qualifications to become a teacher. There are some standard requirements, set by the DfE that you’ll have to meet in order to teach in a mainstream school in England. For example, you must have a degree and GCSE grade C/4 or equivalent in maths and English (science too if you want to teach at primary level).
There are three main teaching qualifications to choose from:
- QTS - qualified teacher status
- PGCE - Postgraduate Certificate in Education
- EYTS - early years teacher status
Find out more about the teaching qualifications.
Find the Tes Institute course that's right for you
To find out which of our courses is right for you, choose the option below that best describes your current career stage.
1. I want to change careers and become a teacher
If you're looking to change your career and become a teacher – you’re not alone! Plenty of people change careers and make the move into teaching. Before you take the plunge, there are a couple of things to consider.
Get some experience in the classroom
It would be useful to undertake some voluntary teaching experience before making your career switch. This will not only give you a better understanding of life in the classroom – and confirm that you do indeed want to become a teacher – it will also strengthen your application.
Consider how strong your subject knowledge is
If your degree subject is not specifically related to your chosen subject, or it's been over five years since you studied for your degree in your chosen initial teaching training (ITT) subject, it would be advisable to complete a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course. The Department for Education are currently funding 10 SKE subjects for eligible trainees.
If you're completing an SKE course while working in your current role, you may wish to consider one that offers the most flexibility to fit around your commitments, such as our online SKE programmes that are available in a range of subjects and length options.
Find out more about our Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) courses.
2. I've just graduated and want to become a teacher
If you’ve just graduated from university and would like to become a teacher then an ITT course would be the best route into teaching for you.
We work in partnership with a number of schools in Essex, Greater London and Kent to deliver our school-centred Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course. We also offer a Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship that enables you to train while you work as part of your school team with support from your school, your mentor and the Tes Institute team, anywhere in the country.
Both routes lead to QTS and an optional PGCE and are designed for high quality candidates who will be based in school, rather than in college or university, and given day release for theoretical study.
On our ITT course there are two training routes available, ITT employment based and ITT fee-funded.
Our Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship can be funded through the government’s apprenticeship service which means that if your school pays the apprenticeship levy your tuition fees can be paid for from their apprenticeship account. If you school doesn't pay the levy, the government will pay 95% of your fees, with your school contributing just 5%, which is £450.
Find out more about Initial Teacher Training
Find out more about our Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship
3. I'm a teaching assistant and want to gain QTS
Our Straight to Teaching course is ideal for those who are already working in a school as a teaching assistant, HLTA or unqualified teacher and are looking to gain QTS. Even though you’re already working in a school, gaining QTS can be both personally and financially rewarding!
Straight to Teaching provides you with a structured, personalised development programme that will prepare you to meet the Teachers’ Standards while you continue to work in your school. Once you're ready, we'll support you though QTS assessment via our Assessment Only route.
The length of your course will depend on your existing experience and can range from one to five terms. To be eligible, you must already be employed in a school that is willing to provide you with their full support, including an in-school mentor.
Find out more about Straight to Teaching
Assessment Only route
If you have a degree, significant teaching experience and can demonstrate that you already meet the English Teachers’ Standards, you could go straight to Assessment Only and gain QTS in just three months while you continue to work in your current school.
Find out more about Assessment Only
Further information
There are many routes and ways to become a teacher. Most people considering a teaching career will fall into one of the above categories; however, the Department for Education also has a numbers of useful pages.
If you have any questions or want to talk to us about your options just contact the Tes Institute team and we’ll be more than happy to help.