Assessment Only (AO) Route to Qualified Teacher Status – Secondary

Qualified Teacher Status is the United Kingdom’s professional accreditation for teaching. It is often required by schools in the UK.  The University of Buckingham is one of the leading providers of QTS.

The Assessment Only Route is a fast-track route (maximum 12 weeks) to gain Qualified Teacher Status for teachers with two or more years’ teaching experience.

Applications are welcome from teachers, who do not hold Qualified Teacher Status, currently teaching in a school in the UK or abroad, providing they meet the necessary criteria. Schools may be state-maintained or independent.   International schools abroad must be following the English national curriculum.

Course content

Assessment Only candidates may apply for a September, January or April start date.

The AO Route consists of three Assessment Processes. The first is an assessment of the candidate’s application, which may include a request to supply additional information. Once a candidate is accepted onto the route, they will undergo two assessment days in their school. The Initial Assessment Day will judge whether the candidate is likely to meet all of the QTS Teachers’ Standards within a maximum 12 week period without any further training. The Final Assessment Day will take place within 12 weeks from the Initial Assessment and will determine whether the candidate meets all of the Teachers’ Standards.

In order to assess many of the criteria for the award of QTS, during the initial assessment day the Tutor will interview the candidate, hold meetings with the candidate’s line manager, mentor and the school’s professional tutor, conduct at least 3 lesson observations and will scrutinize the candidate’s planning, marking, report writing and professional development. The candidate will also be required to produce a Teaching & Learning File (TLF). This serves as a portfolio of evidence in support of the candidate’s application for passing the Teachers’ Standards. The file is used by the candidate to showcase evidence over time in meeting the Teachers’ Standards.

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

• A first degree from a UK University or equivalent.
• GCSE in English and Maths at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent).
• You must be employed in a school.

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 may be able to assist in organising a placement school.)
• Demonstrate that you meet all of the Teaching Standards across the age-range of assessment, as stipulated by the Department of Education.
• 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
• Demonstrate competence in basic literacy and numeracy.
• 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 the course, 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.

How to apply

Please use the ‘Apply’ button (above) or contact The School of Education on +44 (0)1280 820222 or email education@buckingham.ac.uk.

To apply you will need to supply:

• copy of degree certificate
• copy of English and Maths GCSE certificates
• copy of passport photo page (and visa/work permit where necessary)

Terms and conditions for prospective students

When you are offered a place at the University you will be notified of the terms and conditions between the University and students on our courses of study. When you accept an offer of a place on the course at the University a legal contract is formed between you and the University on the basis of the terms and conditions outlined in your offer letter. Your offer letter and the terms and conditions contain important information which you should read carefully before accepting any offer. Read the admissions terms and conditions > >

International trainees will also be expected to cover any visa, flight, accommodation, travel and sustenance costs incurred whilst the University tutor visits.

All staff at COBIS member schools get a 5% discount on course fees. To ensure discount is applied please select COBIS from the partnership box on your application form.

As there is no requirement to attend residentials at the University of Buckingham whilst on this course accommodation is not provided.