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 to see which is the right option for you.
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 two main teaching qualifications to choose from:
- QTS - qualified teacher status
- PGCE - Postgraduate Certificate in Education
Which course is right for you?
Now you know which teacher qualifications exist, learn more about the different courses and routes into teaching available.
1. If you 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 you already have a degree but the subject is not specifically related to your chosen teaching subject, or it's been over five years since you studied for your degree, completing a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course is advisable.
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.
2. If you have just graduated and want to become a teacher
If you’ve just graduated from university and would like to become a teacher, an ITT course would be the best route into teaching for you. ITT is a school-centred route leading to qualified teacher status (QTS), with the option to add a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
At Tes, we work in partnership with the University of East London and a number of schools in Essex, Greater London and Kent to deliver our school-centred Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course.
Alternatively, teaching apprenticeships are also a great route into teaching that allows students to work as part of their school team whilst studying for QTS (leading to PGCE).
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.
Learn more about our Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship
3. If you're 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.
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.
Learn 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 1.5 terms.
Learn 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.