Assessment Only Route to Qualified Teacher Status
Why choose this course?
Assessment Only (AO) provides a route for those with considerable experience of working in schools or colleges to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
The AO route is designed for experienced unqualified teachers, instructors or cover-supervisors. It is also available for experienced FE lecturers who are now working in school and wish to gain QTS. Overseas trained teachers who did not gain QTS within the 4 year limit are also eligible to apply.
Fact file
Start date:
Course length:
Campus: Trainees will be based in School
About this course
Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate that they are a reflective practitioner who has met the Teachers’ Standards and are able to apply their skills, knowledge and understanding effectively and flexibly in a wide range of school settings. In addition they will have clearly demonstrated their ability to relate theory to practice and to critically evaluate the fundamental aims and values of education.
What you will cover
The maximum period for the AO route is 12 weeks. The AO route is not suitable for candidates who require training in order to meet the Teachers’ Standards. Candidates who require training are advised to consider the PGCE or School Direct routes.
Supporting schools need to provide candidates with sufficient opportunity to meet the Teachers’ Standards during the 12 weeks of assessment.
Entry requirements
You will need to:
- hold a good Honours Degree (preferably 2.1 classification). For Secondary AO we would expect that at least 50% of the degree is in the subject being taught.
- hold GCSE grade C or above in Mathematics and English. For Primary teaching, candidates also need GCSE grade C or above in Science. Please note that Key Skills qualifications, Equivalence Tests and OCR Level 2 Adult Literacy and Numeracy are not acceptable alternatives.
- have passed the QTS Skills Tests in Numeracy and Literacy (tests can be taken after an application has been submitted).
- be working as an unqualified teacher (paid or unpaid). The school needs to have a proven track record in Initial Teacher Training and must not be in Special Measures nor be subject to a Notice to Improve.
- have been observed teaching by the sponsoring school and have their teaching graded as ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’.
- be able to demonstrate that they have experience teaching in two or more schools/colleges, including the school you are currently working at. The experience should be relevant and recent (within the last 5 years) and across two consecutive age phases. The minimum teaching time requirement across the two or more schools is 2 years.
- provide evidence of an Enhanced CRB Check.
Fees and finance
£1,850
How you will learn
Although there is no formal training on this programme, it is expected that candidates will continue to develop professionally as a teacher and in particular further develop their subject knowledge and teaching skills during the assessment period.
Assessment is made via the production of a portfolio of evidence measured against the Teachers’ Standards, the observation of successful teaching by school and University staff, a subject knowledge assessment and a final viva.
All candidates will need to provide a variety of high quality evidence to demonstrate that they have met the Teachers’ Standards across two or more consecutive age ranges, and also evidence of having taught in two schools.
Careers and employability
By choosing teaching as a career, you'll have chosen an important and satisfying profession as well as a challenging and rewarding journey through life. When you successfully complete this course, you'll gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), so you'll be well placed to progress onto employment as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) at secondary or primary school level.