Do you have considerable experience working in education but still need to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)? We offer a flexible, convenient pathway to help you realise your ambitions and progress your teaching career.
Our Assessment Only Route to QTS could be ideal if you are:
- Working as an unqualified teacher – paid or unpaid in a primary or secondary setting
- A cover supervisor, Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) or supply teacher
- An experienced Further Education lecturer now working in a school and keen to gain QTS
- An overseas trained teacher who does not automatically qualify for QTS or who did not gain QTS within the four-year limit
- The Assessment Only Route is open to colleagues in Independent Schools, Academies, Special Schools, PRUs
Formalise your teaching skills and open up your career prospects. If you are an experienced teacher with a degree, this route is your chance to demonstrate that you already meet all the standards for QTS – without the need for further training.
A fast-track route to qualification
The Assessment Only Route enables you to become formally qualified within a short space of time while you continue to teach. It takes up to 12 weeks of assessment to secure QTS and you can start on any of the start dates shown below.
You are required to demonstrate that you are a reflective practitioner who has met the Teachers’ Standards and can apply your skills, knowledge and understanding effectively in a wide range of school settings. In addition, you need to show that you can relate theory to practice and to evaluate critically the fundamental aims and values of education. You will be required to demonstrate competency towards the Teachers’ Standards prior to applying for the course. Candidates and schools need to complete an Assessment Against the Teacher’s Standards (AATS) form and candidates also need to complete an evidence towards the Teachers’ Standards folder on their electronic portfolio. Candidates will need to contact the central AO team AO@derby.ac.uk to be put in touch with an assessor who will arrange an advisory meeting to talk through all relevant documentation and evidence to ensure a full application is made.
In-school assessments
As part of your route to QTS, you will be assessed while you are teaching by staff from both your school and the University.
During the assessment period, your supporting school will need to ensure that you have sufficient opportunity to develop, and demonstrate the Teachers' Standards. You will need to comply with the Department for Education (DfE) requirements, including a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and meeting ‘Fitness to Teach’ regulations, plus any other relevant current legislation relating to the Teaching Profession.
You should normally be teaching in a school normally within 50-mile radius of the University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby Campus. Please contact the College Student Centre team AO@derby.ac.uk should you wish to check whether your working location is within range.
Support and inspiration
We have a rich heritage in training and assessing successful, confident and forward-thinking teachers. Your University assessor will come from our highly competent, experienced team and will work alongside your school-appointed mentor to offer you personalised support at every stage of the Assessment Only Route.
We offer potential candidates and their school advice and guidance prior to application and strongly recommend that we make an advisory visit to meet you in your school prior to the application process.
The maximum period for the Assessment Only Route is 12 weeks.
The Assessment Only Route is not suitable for candidates who require training in order to develop and demonstrate Teachers’ Standards. Candidates who require training are advised to consider the Level 6 Teacher Apprenticeship with QTS, PGCE Primary, PGCE Primary (School Direct) or PGCE Secondary (School Direct) routes.
Supporting schools need to provide candidates with sufficient opportunity to further prove and evidence how they are meeting the Teachers’ Standards during the 12 weeks of assessment.
Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.
Although there is no formal training linked to the Assessment Only Route, it is expected that you will continue to develop professionally as a teacher and further develop your subject knowledge and teaching skills during the assessment period. You will have a school-appointed, professional mentor in school who will meet with you on a regular basis and also co-ordinate regular lesson observations with formative and constructive feedback.
How you are assessed
During the assessment period you will need to:
- Be observed successfully teaching by your sponsoring school, as well as by University staff. Your teaching must have been regularly assessed as ‘meeting requirements’
- Produce a portfolio of evidence measured against the Teachers’ Standards
- Provide a variety of high-quality evidence to demonstrate that you have consistently and competently met the Teachers’ Standards across two or more consecutive age ranges, and also evidence of having taught in two schools
- Undertake a subject knowledge assessment and a final viva voce (oral examination)
You will need to:
- Hold an undergraduate degree and evidence with official certificate
- Hold GCSE grade 4 or above in Mathematics and English Language or equivalent and evidence with official certification or official statement of results from the awarding body. Information on replacement certificates can be found on the UK Gov website
- For primary teaching, you will also need GCSE grade 4 or above in a Science subject. Please note that Key Skills qualifications, Equivalence Tests and OCR Level 2 Adult Literacy and Numeracy are not acceptable alternatives
- Be working in a role (paid or unpaid), which has provided sufficient opportunities to demonstrate that you have the ability and expertise to fulfil the role of a teacher. Your sponsoring school needs to have a proven track record in Initial Teacher Training
- Have been observed teaching by the sponsoring school and have had your teaching assessed as at least ‘meeting requirements’
- Be able to demonstrate that you 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 two years
- Provide evidence of an enchanced DBS check
Entry to this course is very competitive and the selection process is detailed below.
Completion of an online application with supporting documentation including:
- CV
- A detailed personal statement showing your teaching experience across two settings and over a minimum of two years that has led you up to applying for the assessment only route
- Maths and English GCSE (must be certificates) (Secondary) verification of certificates
- Maths, English and Science GCSE (must be certificates) (Primary) verification of certificates
- Degree Certificate
- A relevant reference for the route you have applied for. The reference section is contained within the Assessment Against the Teachers’ Standards (AATS)
- Assessment Against the Teachers’ Standards (AATS) (must be signed and agreed by assessor prior to application)
- Submission of an initial electronic portfolio of evidence against the Teachers' Standards
You'll then attend formal interview.
Fees are based on the location from the University of Derby, DE22 1GB:
- Up to 50 miles - £2300
- 51-74 miles - £2300 + £60 extra per visit
- 75-100 miles - £2300 + £120 extra per visit
- 100+ Please contact AO@derby.ac.uk to discuss
Application deadlines and course start dates
Places on the Assessment Only Route to QTS are subject to meeting the entry requirements, successfully passing interview and availability of a place on a given intake date.
The application deadline for January 2023 has now passed. The next application deadlines are:
| Application deadline |
Course start date |
| 4 February 2023 |
17 April 2023 |
With Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you will be able to advance in one of the most satisfying and important careers of all. The qualification opens doors to greater responsibilities, more senior roles and progression up the pay scale.
You could also consider taking your skills and knowledge to the next level. Our MA Education is an excellent option, especially if you have your sights set on more senior roles such as middle and senior leadership roles.
“The Assessment Only Route was the perfect route for me to gain my qualification. From the very start, I felt well supported by the University. I found the course to be really flexible in terms of timings of observation and interviews. This was invaluable to me because of my role in school. My assessor offered me excellent advice and resources to support the development of my teaching practice and my school-based mentor was involved at every stage of the process.”
Karen Hayes
If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.
Contact us Contact us Please see 'How to apply' for start date information.
Please note: Our courses are refreshed and updated on a regular basis. If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.