Primary school teacher : Entry requirements

Unless your first degree is a Bachelor of Education (BEd) or BA/BSc with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), it is essential to gain QTS (or, in Scotland, a teaching qualification (TQ)) in order to teach in the maintained/local authority sector. Independent schools are permitted to employ teachers without QTS/TQ, but in practice this is uncommon. QTS/TQ may be gained through one of the following routes:

• a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), or in Scotland a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) - available at many universities and colleges of higher education;
• a Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) (England and Wales only) - an employment-based scheme for which you usually need considerable professional or classroom experience. In most cases, candidates will only be accepted if they have found a school willing to offer them employment;
• the School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme (England and Wales only), offered by consortia of schools;
• the Registered Teacher Programme (RTP) offers some candidates who do not have a degree, but who have successfully completed two years of higher education, the opportunity of employment-based learning. This is an intensive two-year programme combining classroom work and the completion of a degree. There are relatively few places available and trainees are usually already working in the school in which they intend to train.

Most course providers require a good honours degree for PGCE entry. Primary teacher training is open to graduates in all subjects, but a degree in a curriculum subject area, e.g. English, science, or mathematics, increases your chances. Some disciplines, e.g. sociology, media studies and psychology, are scrutinised for relevance to the curriculum and your pre-university education may be taken into account. Most applications for PGCE/PGDE courses are made through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR)  in the autumn before you wish to commence training. In Northern Ireland, you should apply directly to the course providers. Competition for places is high and early application is advised.

The Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (OTTP) is available for teachers who have qualified in other countries and wish to teach in the UK. Contact the UK NARIC (National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom) to find out whether your qualifications are equivalent to a UK degree.

Classroom experience is essential for entry to all training routes. Arrange to visit schools to observe and talk to teachers. Become familiar with the primary curriculum. Ask if you can help a teacher with non-teaching duties on a regular basis. Try to do this over an extended period, rather than just before you apply for a PGCE. A post as a teaching assistant could give you valuable experience. Visit open days and try to attend a taster course. Ask your careers service or check with the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA)  whether your institution runs the Student Associates Scheme , which provides opportunities to work in a school in exchange for a bursary. Get experience of working with children in other ways too, e.g. summer play schemes, summer camps, Brownies, Sunday schools, supplementary and mother-tongue schools, etc.

Candidates will need to show evidence of:

• excellent communication and interpersonal abilities;
• good organisational and time-management skills;
• energy, enthusiasm, stamina, patience, dedication and self-discipline;
• initiative, leadership and supervisory skills and teamworking abilities;
• imagination, creativity and a sense of humour;
• good judgement and an analytical mind;
• satisfactory health record and criminal record check through the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) .

Extra skills, e.g. music, art, IT, drama, sport, community and modern languages, can be advantageous.

To teach in Scotland, you also need to be registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) .

Full details of routes into Initial Teacher Training (ITT), PGCE courses, taster courses, fees and the financial incentives can be found at teacher training, applying for a PGCE and getting a teaching job and on the training pages of the TDA website. For training in Wales see Teacher Training & Education in Wales ; in Scotland, see Teach in Scotland ; and in Northern Ireland, see the Department of Education for Northern Ireland (DENI) .

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.