1. What is QTS?
QTS is a status, granted to teachers who have demonstrated that they have met the required professional standards to be able to teach in maintained schools, non-maintained special schools or pupil referral units in England. Without QTS a teacher cannot register with the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) and, therefore, cannot be employed as a qualified teacher in state schools. The TRA is the awarding body for QTS.
2. How is QTS awarded?
Trainee teachers undertake a training course that has been accredited by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA). The TRA awards QTS when it is informed by an accredited teacher training provider that a trainee has met all the standards for QTS. The TRA will then process the result and issue the teacher with a QTS certificate or, in some cases, a letter confirming that the teacher holds QTS.
Note: Teacher Reference Numbers (TRNs) are issued to trainee teachers during their training. A TRN is not proof that a person holds QTS.
Teachers who qualified in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are entitled to request that the GTCE recognises their qualifications and awards them QTS in England without further training.
3. Is a PGCE or BEd qualification the same as QTS?
No. The academic award, such as a PGCE or teaching degree, is separate and a trainee may meet the academic requirements but still fail to meet the standards laid down for QTS. The skills tests are one of these standards and trainees will not be awarded QTS until they have passed them. Also the academic award may be aimed at the post-16 sector. Qualifications for the post-16 sector do not lead to the award of QTS.
4. QTS and the skills tests
The standards for QTS require that a trainee teacher passes the relevant skills tests before QTS can be awarded. Those who were awarded QTS between 1 May 2001 and 20 April 2002 were required to pass the numeracy and literacy skills tests. Those who completed initial teacher training on 1 May 2002 and later are required to have passed the numeracy, literacy and ICT skills tests.
*Different arrangements apply for trainees who completed their training prior to May 2002 and these are outlined below:
A teacher cannot begin induction until they have been awarded QTS. Any period of induction undertaken before QTS is awarded is invalid.
From 1 September 2008, those who have completed initial teacher training but have not been awarded QTS because they have not passed all of the skills tests cannot be lawfully employed as teachers. They could teach as an instructor providing the instructor requirements set out in paragraph 7 are satisfied. If they pass the skills tests at a later date and are awarded QTS, they can teach lawfully as qualified teachers.
5. Induction
Once QTS has been awarded, the teacher becomes an NQT and is required to begin the induction period. Until they have successfully completed this they remain an NQT. If they fail their induction, they are barred from working as a qualified teacher, although their QTS award is not removed. Appropriate bodies (LAs and the ISC) inform the GTCE of induction results and the GTCE issues induction certificates to successful teachers.
6. Who does the law allow to teach?
From 1 September 2008 the following people can do 'specified work' (the way that the law describes usual teaching activity) in maintained schools or non-maintained special schools in England:
All new FE teachers appointed after1 September 2007 (and many existing FE teachers) will now be following the new FE QTLS (Qualified Teacher: Learning and Skills) qualifications pathway. Lifelong Learning UK is currently working with TDA to assess and develop appropriate development modules to enable teachers holding QTLS status to teach in schools. Teachers in schools who hold QTS will similarly be required to undertake appropriate CPD to teach in FE. This will enable them to achieve the FE QTLS award. The FE sector is introducing a requirement that FE teachers must evidence their core skills. Further information is available on the following websites:
7. Instructors
Instructors are 'unqualified teachers' who the law allows to carry out the same duties as qualified teachers. Instructors can be employed:
This is by no means an exhaustive list but examples of instructors might include:
8. Overseas Trained Teachers (OTTs)
Overseas trained teachers (i.e. those who qualified as teachers in countries outside of the EEA and Switzerland) are allowed to work as unqualified teachers for a maximum of four years without the need to gain QTS. This four-year period begins on the first day that a teacher takes up their post in a maintained school or non-maintained special school and expires four calendar years later.
If an overseas trained teacher (OTT) wishes to be awarded QTS, they will need to have had the award made before their four year exemption period ends. Any enquiry that they have concerning QTS should be directed to the TDA on 0845 6000 991.
Note: Although OTTs are qualified in their own countries you will need to satisfy yourself that their competence and experience satisfies the needs of your school.
Full guidance on employing OTTs, including details of new Home Office arrangements which replace the work permit system November 2008, is available here.
9. Other teachers without QTS
Headteachers also can appoint other teachers without QTS to carry out specified work but only under the direction and supervision of a nominated qualified teacher. These are usually but not exclusively Teaching Assistants and Higher Level Teaching Assistants They must have skills, qualifications and experience relevant to the subject they teach. There is no limit to the length of time they can teach. However, overseas trained teachers without QTS after four years and people who completed initial teacher training but were not awarded QTS because they have not passed all of the skills tests are not allowed to teach under this category.
10. Safeguarding pupils and students
Finally, remember that all new staff must have suitable DBS checks. Details of what is required are given in guidance we issued in November 2006: Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education, and you can find it here. If you have enquires about these matters call the DfE on 0870 000 2288.
Beyond the exceptions given above, you should expect that anyone you plan to appoint does have QTS and the only way to be certain, regardless of any other qualifications they may offer you, is to check with the TRA.
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