Assessment Only (AO) Route to Qualified Teacher Status (Primary and Secondary)

For entry onto the Assessment Only Route, you will be expected to have the following:

• UK degree*
• GCSE in English, Maths at grade C/4 or above*
• GCSE in Science at grade C/4 or above* (Primary applicants only).
• You must be employed as an unqualified teacher in a school.

*For equivalent qualifications, contact education@buckingham.ac.uk to confirm that your qualification(s) meet the University entry requirements.

In addition, you must:

• Have two years’ teaching experience in at least two contrasting schools, one of which may be your current school. (For candidates who have taught in only one school, a minimum three-week teaching placement in another school will be required prior to the start of the course. The University of Buckingham will provide you with advice regarding the nature of this placement).
• Demonstrate that you meet all of the Teaching Standards across the age-range of assessment, as stipulated by the Department of Education.
• You must have knowledge of at least four consecutive year groups, having taught in at least two, across two consecutive Key Stages.
• For the General Primary option, be teaching core subjects (English, maths and science) to full classes for at least 50% (approximately 12 hours per week) of a full school timetable in the assessed age range
• For the Primary specialism option (art, drama, music, PE or MFL) be teaching the core subjects (English, maths and science) for approximately 6 hours per week, and your subject specialism for the remaining 6 hours, in the assessed age range.
• For the Prep/Middle route, be teaching your subject specialism to Upper KS2-3 (years 5-8) for at least 50% (approximately 12 hours per week) of a full school timetable in the assessed age range.
• For the Secondary option, be teaching your subject to full classes for at least 50% (approximately 12 hours per week) of a full school timetable in the assessed age range.
• Have passed the literacy test before completing the course. The University can make these arrangements for you, we may be able to accept your previously completed literacy test, contact education@buckingham.ac.uk to confirm that it meets the QTS requirements.
• Show you have the health and physical capacity to teach.
• Satisfy criteria based on suitability and aptitude for teaching. This includes Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal records checks and children’s barred list information. Candidates who have lived or worked outside the UK must undergo the same checks as all other staff in schools and colleges. In addition, further checks may be carried out. The Home Office has published guidance on criminal record checks for overseas applicants.

The employing school must be able to fully support a candidate through this route, enabling them to demonstrate all of the Teachers’ Standards across the full age and ability range of training, and cannot have been graded as inadequate by Ofsted.

The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI). If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.

Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and other ancillary charges. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.