Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) Conversion Course – Secondary

The QTS Conversion Course is available to teachers who are currently employed in maintained or independent schools in England, who have already completed the University of Buckingham’s Independent School PGCE within the past two years. This course is the accreditation that enables teachers to teach in state-maintained and special schools in England.

The Secondary QTS Conversion Course is a 37-week school-based course during which time you will work under the guidance of a school mentor and receive weekly tutorials to review your progress and to set targets. Trainees on the QTS conversion complete 15 Professional Learning Activities over the duration of the programme, meet with their mentor 15 times and have 15 lesson observations. You will also be assigned a University tutor who will visit twice during the course of the year to assess your progress against the Teaching Standards and Core Content Framework and guide your development.

You are expected to undertake a teaching placement in a second school which must be a non-selective state-maintained secondary school. The duration of this teaching placement is determined upon interview but is likely to be for three weeks.

For entry onto QTS conversion course, you will be expected to have the following:

• UK degree (2.2 or above)*
• GCSE in English, Maths at grade C/4 or above*
• You must be employed as a teacher in a secondary independent or state school and be teaching your subject for a minimum of twelve hours across two consecutive Key Stages.

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

In addition, you must:

• Demonstrate competence in literacy and numeracy.
• Attend an interview.
• Provide a reference from your headteacher supporting your application to undertake a PGCE.
• Obtain the commitment from your school to release you for the second school placement and to provide a suitable mentor.
• Provide a satisfactory criminal record check and show the physical and mental fitness to teach.

Applicants must also pay a £275 non-refundable Registration Fee.

Fees are invoiced in three instalments commencing once accepted onto the programme at the beginning of the course.

Please use the ‘Apply’ button at the bottom of this page; or contact The Faculty of Education on +44 (0)1280 820222 or email: education@buckingham.ac.uk.

Before we can accept you, you will need to supply:

• copy of your degree certificate
• copy of your English, Maths and Science GCSE (or equivalent) certificates
• copy of passport photo page (and visa/work permit where necessary)
• head and shoulder style photo for your University identity card

Closing date for applications: 17 July 2022 (September 2022 entry)