If you have a degree and significant classroom experience, you may be eligible to gain QTS within twelve weeks through this route.

Entry requirements

To be eligible to achieve QTS via the Assessment Only route you must:

• Be employed in a school in a teaching role, with a timetable consisting of a minimum of 50% of an experienced teacher’s timetable.
• Hold GCSEs at level 4/grade C or above in English language and maths, plus science if you want to teach in primary.
• Hold a degree from a UK higher education institution or equivalent qualification. If your degree was completed outside of the UK you will need to provide an ENIC statement to demonstrate the comparability of your qualification.
• Have undertaken at least two years of teaching experience that includes evidence of whole class teaching with sole responsibility for planning, marking, assessing, and reporting on pupils’ work.
• For the primary phase you need to be teaching the full curriculum including the core subjects of maths, literacy – phonics and science as well as a range of foundation subjects such as geography, history, art and music.
• Provide evidence of having taught in at least two schools.
• Provide evidence that you meet the Teachers’ Standards across a minimum of two consecutive age ranges for your chosen teaching phase and specialism.
• Demonstrate the required fundamental skills in maths and English as defined by the Department for Education.
• Once enrolled on this route you will need to provide a detailed written justification and evidence from prior experience that demonstrates you meet the Department for Education’s Teachers’ Standards without the need for further training.

How does it work?

1. Submit an eligibility check form, which will be assessed by GITEP SCITT course leaders. This must include details of your teaching experience and be accompanied by evidence of your qualifications.
2. Submit an application form. This must include further details of your past and current teaching experience and references from two schools.
3. Attend an online interview with GITEP course leaders.
4. We will then arrange three face-to-face visits in your school to perform lesson observations and review your portfolio of evidence to evaluate whether you meet the English Teachers’ Standards before recommending you for QTS assessment.
5. Everything will be reviewed through GITEP SCITT internal moderation processes and a QTS panel. The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) will award QTS based on the final recommendation from these processes.

This process, from Steps 3-5 above, must be concluded within twelve weeks during term time.

How much does it cost?

• The fees for this route are £3000, paid to GITEP SCITT by your school or by you. Fees may be more for schools outside of Gloucestershire.
• Application forms must be accompanied by a non-refundable payment of £25 (there is no cost payable for the eligibility check).
• If it is concluded by GITEP SCITT that evidence presented at the pre-assessment meeting does not demonstrate meeting the Teachers’ Standards, you will have the opportunity to present further evidence for review for review at visits 2 and 3. You may  choose to withdraw from the process at any stage, but you will be liable for relevant fees as detailed in the fee schedule.
• If you require support from GITEP SCITT with meeting the eligibility criterion of experience in two schools (see below) there will be an additional cost of £500.

Eligibility for the Assessment Only Route if you have not taught in 2 schools

You will need to have:

• A second school experience of at least 6 weeks
• Teaching 50-80% of a full timetable
• Full responsibility, eg: planning, teaching and marking, for at least one class.
• Confirmation from the second school that you have met the Teacher’s Standards

This must be completed before you apply for the Assessment Only route. GITEP SCITT may be able to support you with this.