Apprenticeship

The OTT SCITT Apprenticeship Route to QTS offers an excellent opportunity for experienced school colleagues to earn their Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) while continuing to work in their employing school setting. This full-time, apprenticeship training programme is designed to develop teaching skills through a blend of in-school experience and structured curriculum learning  (off-the- job training). While training on the PGTA route, you will combine teaching in your employing school with training sessions with the SCITT. You are paid a salary throughout and your course fee is paid via the apprenticeship levy, so there is no cost to individual applicants on this route.

This 12-15-month programme 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. 

Please note that, 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

• Start Date: Monday 30th June 2025
• QTS Completion: Wednesday 1st July 2026
• Final Apprenticeship End-Point Assessment (EPA): 1st July-8th October 2026

The SCITT apprenticeship program includes structured developmental phases designed to support your journey to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and 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 their classroom in September. You will complete a series of supportive and interactive online modules over August to ensure that you are well prepared for the year ahead.

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 July 1, 2026, and is followed by the End Point Assessment (EPA) between July and October to complete the apprenticeship requirements.

As part of the apprenticeship award, you will benefit from our Ofsted rated “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 on 2nd February 2026, followed by a five-week contrasting second placement, starting Thursday 12th February until 20th March. This placement, arranged by your employing school, will offer a distinct teaching environment to broaden experience. The ITAP period and second placement is a total of 6 weeks spent away from the employing school. 

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 to track your progress toward QTS. This includes lesson observations, professional discussions, and documented feedback. Following the QTS award, you will complete the final End-Point Assessment (EPA), which involves an observed lesson and interview with external assessors for the apprenticeship award.

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. Applications will open in mid-December.

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. The SCITT will be unable to accept applications from candidates who are not supported by an employing school. Schools should contact [email protected] to discuss supporting apprenticeship applicants. 

• Apprentice Salary: Minimum pay of UQ1 on the Unqualified Teacher Pay Scale, beginning 30th June 2025 for a minimum of 12 months.
• Training Costs: £9,000 covered by the apprenticeship levy, requested by employing schools. 
• Apprentices are not eligible for student loans, bursaries or student finance support.

If you’re passionate about teaching, ready to commit to a structured and supportive training programme, and eager to develop your classroom expertise, the OTT SCITT Apprenticeship Programme offers an exceptional path to achieving your teaching qualifications. Contact us for more information by emailing [email protected].