Assessment Only Route to Qualified Teacher Status
The Assessment Only Route is for experienced, unqualified teachers who have taken full responsibility for teaching whole classes for a minimum of two years.
Course overview
If you have already spent at least two years working in a school as an unqualified teacher and want to gain Qualified Teacher Status our Assessment Only route could be the best option for you.
The Assessment Only route allows you to demonstrate that you already meet all of the Teachers' Standards for QTS.
What you need to know
Course start date
Ongoing
Location
Online Learning
Course length
Short Course
Apply
Typical offer
At least two years working in a school as an unqualified teacher
Fees
Course features
The Assessment Only Route is for experienced, unqualified teachers who have taken full responsibility for teaching whole classes for a minimum of two years. Before you apply you need to have:
- Worked in two different schools.
- Have significant experience of two key stages across one of the following age ranges: 3-11 (primary), 7-14 (middle) or 11-19 (secondary).
- Taught pupils and young people from different backgrounds and across ability ranges.
- Gained experiences in different approaches to pupils, how pupils learn and of school organisation and management.
- Taken full responsibility for planning, teaching, assessment of whole classes.
- Demonstrated the ability to meet all of the Teachers’ Standards without the need for any further training.
- A degree (2:2 honours or above)
- GCSEs in English and mathematics (and science for primary teachers)
- DBS clearance
- DoH clearance
Course details
If you meet the eligibility criteria, contact us to arrange an initial meeting and complete an Expression of Interest form.
Assessment is through three visits and a portfolio.
Initial Visit – the purpose of the visit is to:
- Review your suitability for application and relevant prior experience
- Observe you teach a lesson
- Meet with a Senior Leader or mentor to confirm your readiness to begin the assessment period
- Explain the requirements of the programme and how you are assessed.
When the Assessment Only Route Leader is assured that the candidate is ready, the programme application form is completed. Once approved, the assessment process begins. The assessment period is a maximum of 12 weeks, which commences after registration with the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).
Interim visit - the assessor needs to:
- Meet with the headteacher and/or mentor
- Observe a lesson
- Review portfolio evidence
- Give advice about how to prepare for final assessment
Final Assessment visit - the assessor needs to:
- Observe you teach and have a short professional discussion about the observed lesson
- Review your portfolio
- Have a professional discussion of portfolio evidence to assess your knowledge, skills and behaviours with regard to the Teachers’ Standards
- Meet your headteacher and/or mentor
One visit is undertaken jointly with a moderator to ensure that all students are appropriately assessed to consistently meet the Teachers’ Standards and can be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status.
During the assessment period, you will compile a portfolio of evidence demonstrating that you meet the required standard across each of the Teachers’ Standards.
If you are judged to have passed and meet the Teachers’ Standards, the University of Winchester will notify the DfE, and QTS will be awarded.
If you are awarded QTS, the next step is to begin a period as an Early Career Teacher (ECT). This will be overseen by your host school and their ECT-providing body, not the University. Your ECT period includes a personalised professional support programme and further assessment against the core professional standards for teachers usually organised by your employing school or local authority.
The Assessment Only Route does not involve any formal tuition by University tutors.
Modules
Modules
This is an assessment only route.
Entry requirements
The Assessment Only Route is for experienced, unqualified teachers who have taken full responsibility for teaching whole classes for a minimum of two years.
All applicants are also subject to checks against the Secretary of State’s Teacher Prohibition Orders.
Childcare Disqualification
Student teachers who are enrolled on an initial teacher education programme at the University, including school-led programmes, which involve placement in a primary school or setting in its later years provision and/or early years provision (nursery and reception classes) need to be aware of the following requirements: Childcare Disqualification.
Course enquiries and applications
To find out more about the programme and to book please contact: ao@winchester.ac.uk
If you have spent over 6 months outside the UK in the last 5 years you will be required to obtain criminal records checks from each of the countries you lived in for over 6 months continuously. Further information about obtaining a criminal records check from outside the UK is available on the gov.uk website. Please note, obtaining criminal records checks from other countries can take a long time.
No International Entry Requirements for this course.
Additional costs
The Assessment Only Route does not involve any formal tuition by University tutors.