iQTS

iQTS is a school-based initial teacher training (ITT) course specially designed for international schools.

With iQTS, you can train to teach wherever you are in the world and gain qualified teacher status (QTS) accredited by the UK Department for Education (DfE) without having to visit the UK.

Optionally, you can also add an international Postgraduate Certificate in Education (iPGCE) validated and awarded by the University of East London (UEL), our partner university.

Our iQTS course will help you to:

• Gain QTS, an accredited UK teaching qualification, while teaching in your international school
• Optionally, gain an iPGCE
• Understand effective teaching and learning through the DfE’s iQTS Initial Teacher Training Early Career Framework (ITTECF)
• Learn how to teach your chosen age group (primary or secondary) and specialist subject in an international context
• Develop research-based teaching and learning practice to use in the classroom
• Reflect critically on your teaching practice

You'll benefit from a supportive environment with expert guidance from your Tes Institute pathway tutor and in-school mentor, as well as access to a network of peers around the world to discuss and share your teaching practice.

iQTS leads to the award of qualified teacher status (QTS), which also qualifies you to teach in England if you wish.

You'll have access to our virtual platform Tes Learn where you can access high quality, evidence-based course materials, quizzes and research, making learning extremely flexible.

Primary iQTS

Our primary (age 5-11) iQTS course teaches all core and foundation subjects.

Secondary iQTS

We offer secondary (age 11-16) iQTS courses in key teaching subjects including: art and design, biology, chemistry, computing, drama, English, geography, history, maths, modern foreign languages (MFL) – French, Spanish and German, physical education (PE), physics.

Core areas of teaching

Our iQTS initial teacher training curriculum is structured to support your development in each of the core areas of teaching practice:

• Professional Behaviours
• Behaviour Management
• Subject Knowledge for Teaching
• Inclusive Practice
• Assessment
• Pedagogy – Teaching and Learning

Course assessment

Throughout the course you will receive formative feedback to help you develop your teaching. You will be working towards the iQTS Teachers' Standards and will be clear on your strengths and supported to develop your practice. You will build evidence of your knowledge and skills across the year and engage in professional practice conversations to discuss your progress in the core teaching areas.

At the end of the course, you will be assessed against the iQTS Teachers' Standards, the standards you will have been working towards. You’ll take part in a virtual meeting together with your school leader, mentor and pathway tutor where you’ll present your lesson plans and discuss your approach in the classroom.

You will also complete two assignments. If you are undertaking the iPGCE alongside iQTS, these will be academic assignments.

Successfully completing the final course assessment will lead you to being awarded iQTS, which is automatically recognised as QTS.

iQTS is a blended learning course. You’ll undertake a mix of in-school, online self-study and live remote training.

In-school teaching practice

A key part of the training is applying your learning to your teaching practice. You’ll have opportunities to observe expert colleagues and regularly discuss teaching and learning with them.

You’ll continue to teach in your school, with guidance, support and feedback from your in-school mentor. You’ll also have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in another setting.

In-school mentor

You’ll have weekly meetings with your in-school mentor who is there to support, guide and encourage you throughout the course. Your mentor will carry out weekly class observations and feedback with you.

Pathway tutor support

As well as your mentor, you’ll also meet regularly with a Tes Institute expert pathway tutor. Your pathway tutor 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 study

Throughout your course, you'll have the equivalent of one day per week for self-study online through our virtual platform, Tes Learn. You can choose when and how you fit this study into your schedule.

If you opt to undertake the iPGCE as well as iQTS, you'll benefit from access to UEL's e-library when completing the iPGCE assignments.

Live workshops

Every week, you’ll attend live virtual workshops delivered by our expert team. These are designed to support our delivery of the DfE iQTS Initial Teacher Training Early Career Framework (ITTECF) and help you meet the iQTS Teachers’ Standards by the end of the course.

By joining these workshops, you’ll be able to reflect on your in-school training, discuss your developing teaching practice and connect with a network of colleagues across the globe.

David Potts

David has been working in schools for 26 years and as a senior leader in the UK, Middle East and Asia since 2009. His leadership experience encompasses all areas of school operations and strategy, from pedagogy, pastoral care, assessment and curriculum to safeguarding, staffing, professional learning and quality assurance.

He has facilitated and mentored colleagues on the NPQ courses for 14 years and qualified as a BSO inspector in 2017. David believes passionately in the power of coaching to empower colleagues and students to embrace change and meet challenges, and he has used this approach to develop effective distributed leadership among his teams.

His experience of developing other colleagues as a headteacher has led him to his role as Head of Programme Delivery for iQTS with Tes Institute. He takes pride in helping to nurture the next generation of educators, wherever they are in the world. Read more.

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.

For learners

• Be employed in a school teaching in the medium of English at least 50% and up to 80% of a full-time teacher’s timetable 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).
  - If you have an equivalent overseas qualification, you will need to provide an ENIC statement to demonstrate the equivalency of the qualification.
  - If you haven’t achieved grade 4/C but are otherwise suitable, you may be able to take an equivalency test. We can provide this; read our equivalency tests information to find out more.
• Hold a Bachelor's degree from a UK higher education institution or equivalent qualification
• As you will be teaching and studying in English, you must show you meet the required standard in English language proficiency by having:
  - an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) average score of 6.5 or higher (with 6.0 or above in each component), or
  - completed a degree or higher-level qualification in the English language, for example, a bachelor’s degree studied in English
  Other English language qualifications may also be recognised. Please include all details on your application.
• Have the express agreement of your school to support you throughout the course, including the appointment of an in-school mentor. See details below.
• Possess the appropriate qualities, attitudes and values expected of a teacher. These are skills such as resilience, commitment, adaptability and communication.
• Show competency in fundamental skills in English and maths
• Provide all compliance documents and 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

For schools

A school leader will need to support you during the application process, including:

• Appointing an in-school mentor
• Signing your Confirmation of School Support Form (CSSF)
• Arranging for you to complete your pre-interview English and Maths assessments in test conditions and marking your tests
• Joining your interview with the iQTS team
• Verifying your compliance documents and safeguarding checks

On the course:

• Observing you at least once a term
• Joining your half-term pathway tutor virtual visits
• Overseeing you and your mentor

For mentors

You will need to nominate an in-school mentor approved by your school before starting the course.

Your mentor will need to:

• Be an experienced teacher in your school
• Undertake mentor training from Tes Institute, leading to the award of Tes MTed level 1 qualification and kitemark
• Meet with you on a weekly basis during your training
• Commit to supporting you during the course

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.

The course can be funded by yourself or your school.

Course application and start dates

Step 1: Apply online

You can apply for our iQTS course online. Make sure you have the following information ready to apply:

• Your education history, including GCSEs and university degree (or equivalent)
• Your current school employment details, including contact details for the senior leader who will be supporting your application

Step 2: Complete pre-interview tasks

Once your application passes our initial review, we will invite you to schedule a 60-min virtual interview with the iQTS team.

Before the interview, you will need to:

• Complete and return the Confirmation of School Support form (CSSF) signed by your headteacher
• Complete pre-interview tasks to assess your competency in English and Maths
• Arrange for a senior leader in your school to join the interview with you
• Arrange for the same senior leader to undertake a 30-min observation of you teaching either maths or English for Primary or your specialist subject for Secondary

Step 3: Attend interview

You and your senior leader will attend the 60-min virtual interview with the iQTS team. During the interview, we will:

• Discuss your teaching experience
• Discuss your pre-interview competency tasks
• Discuss how you taught the lesson that your senior leader observed
• Give you the opportunity to ask any questions

Step 4: Submit compliance documents

If you are accepted on the course after the interview, you will receive a conditional offer to join the iQTS course. This offer is subject to you submitting the required compliance documents.

You will need:

• Copies of your Bachelor’s degree certificate and GCSE Maths results (and Science for Primary) or equivalent
• Two copies of Photo ID (e.g. passport, driving license, identity card)
• If English is not your first language, an IELTS certificate or equivalent
• Your CV and two written references
• A certificate of good conduct (COGC) from the country you are in
• If you have lived or worked in the UK for at least 7 days, an International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC)

We recommend that you apply for the COGC (and ICPC if needed) as soon as possible to avoid any delays in providing your compliance documents.

Step 5: Enrol

After your compliance documents have been submitted and verified, you will receive a formal offer to join the iQTS course. We’ll send you details to join the Tes Learn platform, meet your pathway tutor and start your induction.

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