Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) for trainees

Build the subject confidence of your trainee teachers

Boost your trainees knowledge before or alongside their Initial Teacher Training (ITT) with our 100% online courses.

Enquire about SKE for trainees
TI webpage images- Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE)

What is SKE for trainees?

Our 100% online, tutor-supported, SKE courses are designed to help prospective trainee teachers develop their understanding of their subject within the context of teaching it in a classroom. Courses are available in biology, chemistry, computing, English, French, geography, German, maths, primary maths, physics and Spanish.

Increase your trainees subject-specific knowledge

*Please note: DfE funding for Biology, English and Primary Mathematics will end 10 April.

  • Develop the subject knowledge and confidence of your shortage subject trainees before or alongside their ITT.

  • Recruit more shortage subject trainees.

  • Increase your recruitment of high quality trainees with non-specific subject degrees.

Teacher picking subject to learn

Provide trainees with flexible, online training

  • Our SKE courses are delivered online enabling trainees to fit learning around their personal and work lives.

  • Trainees receive regular reports and feedback, and online support from subject specialist pathway tutors, which can be blended with any training you deliver.

  • You’ll receive checkpoint reports every four weeks outlining your trainee's progress and providing suggestions of areas for improvement, and a final detailed report once they finish their course.

Teacher on laptop with books

Different courses for different needs

  • Courses range from 8-28 weeks depending on the subject and level of your trainee's existing subject knowledge. Shorter courses can also be taken part-time.

  • Courses start monthly until January and then fortnightly, giving you and your trainees more choice and flexibility.

Teachers holding different topic cards

Get full funding from the DfE

  • The Department for Education (DfE) will provide full funding for an SKE course as long as you add a condition to your trainee's offer stating that the SKE course will enable the trainee to access their training programme.

  • Additional bursaries are also available for trainees with a 2:2 degree or higher.

Please note: The DfE make decisions on funding and there are implications when an SKE overlaps with ITT training.

Teachers adding coins to a jar

Increase the subject knowledge of your in-service teachers

We also provide SKE courses for teachers who have already qualified. These are designed slightly differently to fit around a full timetable.

Discover SKE for Teachers

Thoughts from our schools

  • Outstanding teachers have to have excellent subject knowledge for teaching, so enabling trainees to have access to the SKE courses at an early stage provides them with a really strong foundation to build on.

    Stuart Russell, Course director
    Kent and Medway Training

Enquire about SKE for trainees

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