Assessment Only (QTS) - PGCEi Alumni

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

Primary

• Bachelors degree with Honours at 2:2 or above, or equivalent level. Other first degrees will be considered particularly if you have additional qualifications and/ or relevant experience.
• You must have completed your PGCEi through the University of Warwick
• All candidates must have achieved at least a Grade C/Grade 4 in GCSE (or equivalent qualification) English, Science and Mathematics.
• We can accept 3rd party equivalency tests in place of GCSEs. The current providers that have been approved are EquivalencyTesting.comLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window and A Star EquivalencyLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window. 
  

  Secondary

• Bachelors degree with Honours at 2:2 or above, or equivalent level. Other first degrees will be considered particularly if you have additional qualifications and/ or relevant experience. You will be expected to have degree level knowledge of the subject you teach.
• You must have completed your PGCEi through the University of Warwick
• All candidates must have achieved at least a Grade C/Grade 4 in the GCSE examinations in English and mathematics (or equivalent qualification).
• We can accept 3rd party equivalency tests in place of GCSEs. The current providers that have been approved are EquivalencyTesting.comLink opens in a new window and A Star EquivalencyLink opens in a new window.

Certificate Attestation

You will not be able to proceed to enrolment unless we have received attested copies of all documentation that relates to a condition of that offer. This means that you will need to obtain the service of someone who can verify that they have witnessed your original documentation, by signing and dating a copy to confirm that they have seen the original.

We will accept the following to attestation services (please note you cannot obtain attestation services from someone who is personally known to you):

• A Solicitor or Notary
• One of our Overseas AgentsLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window : We have a number of UoW agents based overseas that may be located close to you. If you select this option, please do ensure that you confirm with us prior to obtaining this service so that we can confirm directly with the individual agent that you will be visiting them.
• A representative from your school, provided the school have made the required School Recommendation Submission.

Your current role

You must be working as an unqualified teacher (paid or unpaid) in one of the following settings:

• Mainstream school, Academy or Free School in the UK
• Independent or International School in the UK or abroad
• Pupil Referral Unit or Special School (Candidates who are working in a Pupil Referral Unit or Special School will need to provide evidence of significant mainstream school experience).

Your experience and teaching grade

• You will have completed your PGCEi with the University of Warwick and from that have evidence of working towards the Teachers’ Standards
• You will be able to demonstrate that you have recent experience teaching across consecutive age ranges in two or more schools/settings, including the school/setting you are currently working in. You will need to have at least 2 years of teaching experience in total.

Your school's support and/or sponsorship

You will need to provide two references. One from your current employer and one from a second school that you have completed a minimum 6 weeks teaching experience in. You must have the full support of (or be sponsored by) your employing school, as detailed below:

School recommendation

• An essential and significant part of the application form is a formal statement from your school or setting which provides details not only of your experience to date but also details of your potential to become an outstanding teacher.
• Please ask your current setting to complete the School Recommendation Submission.
• Please see the following templateLink opens in a new window that should be used by your previous (second) school setting.

Your school’s letter should be completed on the template found School Recommendation Submission.

Assessment Support

• Supporting/ sponsoring schools need to provide candidates with sufficient opportunity to meet the Teachers’ Standards during the 12 weeks of assessment. Schools are required to:
  • Establish a timetable that will enable you to demonstrate competence against the Teachers’ Standards. For secondary routes, the teaching timetable must provide the opportunity to work across two consecutive age phases.
  • Provide an experienced mentor to support you. The role of the mentor is to provide feedback on lesson observations, planning and assessment, plus professional support. It is a requirement that the supporting mentor is given time by the school to complete observations and conduct meetings.
  • Regularly assess your teaching against the Teachers’ Standards and provide the University with Assessment Point (AP) data by deadlines set.

Safeguarding checks

You will need a document form you school confirming the locally required safeguarding checks have been undertaken.

English requirements

Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, you will need a minimum score of 7.0 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Find out more about English requirements at Warwick.

IT Requirements

To ensure you have the appropriate computer requirements to enable you to study online, please check our computer specification guidance notes (PDF)Link opens in a new window.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

*The new grading system for those receiving their results for GCSE Maths and English was adopted in 2017. The grading system is now 9-1, with Grade 9 awarded to those students in the very top tier. Grade 4 is considered equivalent to the old Grade C.

Assessment

After you have applied for the course, we'll make an initial assessment, which will include an initial assessment virtual visit. This is to make sure that you're ready to take the full assessment with Warwick. Following your approval, you'll start the 12-week assessment programme.

Initial Assessment

1. Lesson Observation
You will record and upload a lesson to The University of Warwick's secure platform. The Assessor will review your lessons and discuss it with you.

2. Document Checking
Before your interview can proceed, you'll need to provide evidence that you meet the academic entry criteria. This will be by providing attested qualification certificates.

3. Formal Interview
We will discuss with you the evidence held from your PGCEi demonstrating that you have achieved the Teachers’ Standards set by the Department for Education. We'll make a recommendation on whether you are ready to start the QTS Assessment or if we need additional evidence before you proceed.

Mentor Observations

A mentor from your school will provide feedback on weekly lesson observations, they will also complete the Assessment Point Forms and return these to the University prior to each assessment tripartite.

Observations

You will be required to record and upload three lessons (including your initial observation) from the University Assessor (Teaching Fellow) to review. Virtual 'visits' or meetings will then be arranged to discuss the lessons.

Evidence

You will submit a final Portfolio of Evidence which is a record of your development as a teacher.

You'll gather evidence against each of the eight Teachers Standards. This will be assessed at the final assessment tripartite, where you'll demonstrate:

• Effective classroom management, showing sensitivity and responsiveness to the needs of pupils and an ability to promote learning
• An effective and confident approach to curriculum planning
• Knowledge, particularly in relation to the breadth of the National Curriculum and your subject area
• Able to use ICT effectively in your teaching and to promote student learning
• An accurate approach to assessment
• A professional commitment to setting high standards for yourself and your pupils
• Commitment to your own continued professional development (CPD)

Fees and Funding

Your career

Career progression may be through a specialist curriculum or pastoral role, or by moving into management. Teachers may become heads of Key Stages or coordinators of a cross-curricular area, such as special needs or careers education, as well as subject or professional mentors for trainee teachers on placement. Upon completing this programme you'll be recommended for qualified teacher status (QTS). Gaining QTS will enable you to work in a range of countries where QTS is required.

What do our students say?

My mentor was fantastic, she was very helpful and she offered lots of support if and when I needed it. I really found the mentor meetings helpful and this gave me time to really talk about my progress and think about areas of development.”

Anonymous
Assessment Only Alumni

This is a fast track teaching programme to gaining QTS. It worked well for me as I could work full time in my school and complete the programme
alongside my job. I was able to use and develop my experience and knowledge to support me in gaining QTS.”

Anonymous
Assessment Only Alumna