Apprenticeship

The OTT SCITT Apprenticeship Route to QTS offers an excellent opportunity for experienced applicants to complete teacher training to earn Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), while continuing to work in their employing school setting.

This one-year, full-time, apprenticeship is designed to develop teaching skills through a blend of in-school experience and structured curriculum learning  (off-the-job training). The PGTA route is ideal for confident individuals with significant classroom experience who are seeking to further their careers in teaching; for this route you must have the support of an employing school before you apply, and your school must have confirmed their support of your application with us. 

While training on the PGTA route, you will combine teaching in your employing school with training sessions with the SCITT. You are employed by your school as an unqualified teacher and will have your own teaching timetable, which will build over the course of the programme. You will paid a salary throughout, by your school, and the course fee is paid via the apprenticeship levy, so there is no cost to individual applicants on this route.

Due to the demands of managing a teaching timetable and the apprenticeship requirements alongside training, the PGTA is a QTS only course, so you are not able to complete the optional PGCE during your apprenticeship. However, QTS is the award that employers look for in qualified teachers and, if you are really keen on gaining the PGCE, there are a number of Universities who offer this as a standalone qualification, which you can complete independently at any stage in your teaching career.

Programme Overview

• Three Summer Induction Days: Wednesday 8 July – Friday 10 July 2026, with further induction support materials to complete independently and with your employing school
• Contract & Course Start Date: 1st September 2026, with the first full week of term in school to attend INSET and get started with the school year
• Second Placement: A contrasting school experience in the Spring term
• QTS Award Date: Wednesday 30 June 2027

The PGTA includes structured developmental phases designed to support both your journey to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), and to complete the apprenticeship requirements. Starting with an induction period in July, you will engage in school-based activities and two days of SCITT induction to prepare for September. You will complete a series of supportive and interactive online modules over August to ensure that you are well prepared for training programme.

Timetabling and phases

During the Early Phase (September to December), you will spend three days in your employing school and two days in SCITT-led curriculum learning sessions (off-the-job training), balancing observation, group work, and teaching. Each week, you will spend 11 hours in the classroom, this should include a maximum of 9 hours of sole responsibility teaching.

The Middle Phase (January to March) includes four school days weekly, increasing classroom responsibilities and a required second placement, while continuing  curriculum training on Wednesdays. Each week, you will spend 15 hours in the classroom, this should include a maximum of 13 hours of sole responsibility teaching per week.

In the Late Phase (April to July), you will spend 17 hours in the classroom. This should include a maximum of 16 hours of sole responsibility teaching per week (80% of a full teaching load). During this time you will  focus on developing you independence in preparation for the award of QTS.

QTS is awarded on 30 June 2027, at which point you will be eligible for main scale teachers’ pay. You will continue to be employed by your school until the end of the academic year and the majority of apprentices will move into a qualified teacher role in their employing school for their ECT years, while others may choose to seek employment in a new school due to, for example, relocation. 

As part of the apprenticeship award, you will benefit from our outstanding programme of professional development and will enjoy curriculum training sessions alongside Associate Teachers on the SCITT programme. This counts as the apprenticeship “off-the-job” training. This involves:

• Deepening understanding of effective pedagogy through exceptional and expertly delivered weekly curriculum and subject-based training on Wednesdays and selected Thursdays
• Combination of in-person sessions at our local hubs in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire and online sessions

Second Placement Experience 

To ensure a well-rounded training, all apprentices are required to complete a second placement. This will involve an eight day Intensive Training and Practice (ITAP) period of off-the-job training starting in February, followed by a five-week contrasting second placement, starting until the middle of March. This placement, arranged by your employing school, will offer a distinct teaching environment to broaden your experience. The ITAP period and second placement is a total of 6 weeks spent away from the employing school. If you are employed by a nursery school, special school or PRU, you will have an extended second placement to ensure that you have significant experience in a mainstream setting. 

Mentoring and Support 

Over the course of the programme, you will be allocated a dedicated School-based Mentor and a Senior Link who provide expert support, guidance, weekly observations and feedback. You will also benefit from having a SCITT appointed Lead Mentor, Visiting Tutor and Programme Leader to ensure you are supported at every stage throughout the programme. 

Assessment Process 

Apprentices will participate in regular developmental assessments (Progress Reviews) to track your progress toward QTS. This includes lesson observations, professional discussions, and documented feedback. 

The table below shows the PGTA courses we offer. If you click on the course name it will take you to the individual subject pages, which outline what it is like to train to teach in that subject.

To apply, you must check your eligibility against our person specification and submit an application through DfE Apply. 

The recruitment and selection process includes:

1. Stage 1: Online recruitment and selection day, including an interview, a teaching task, a group task, and a subject knowledge task. Please see our application page for more information about this process.
2. Stage 2: A formal observation of teaching by the employing headteacher, a skills scan, and an interview with SCITT representatives and the employing school’s headteacher.

All PGTA candidates must have prior agreement from their employing school, confirming their support for the apprentice’s commitment to the programme – please ensure that your Headteacher is in contact with us to confirm their support of your application. We will be unable to accept applications from candidates who are not supported by an employing school. 

• Apprentice Salary: Minimum pay of UQ1 on the Unqualified Teacher Pay Scale, for the full academic year
• Training Costs: £9,000 covered by the apprenticeship levy, requested by employing schools, so no cost to applicants or schools. 
• Apprentices are not eligible for student loans, bursaries or student finance support, but have no course costs to pay.