Teacher Training in England and Wales

In England and Wales teachers must have gained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

To gain QTS a candidate must have completed and passed a teacher training course, such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or a teaching degree (BEd), and, in England only, pass the QTS Skills Tests in literacy, numeracy, and ICT (Information and Communications Techlology).

QTS is technically only recognised in the country it was awarded (England or Wales), but teachers can normally apply for QTS in the other country with relative ease.

QTS is also recognised by many other countries once the relevant paperwork has been completed.

Teachers trained outside England and Wales must also apply to be awarded QTS if they wish to teach in England and Wales.

After having being awarded QTS teachers must normally still pass an induction period (previously called “probation”) – normally their first year of teaching. Those who fail the induction still retain their QTS, but cannot teach in state-run schools. The induction period normally lasts a year (three school terms). In England it cannot be retaken if failed, but in Wales it can.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland QTS as such does not exist in Scotland or Northern Ireland. However, like in England and Wales, all teachers in Scotland and Northern Ireland are required to register with either the General Teaching Council for Scotland or the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland; the General Teaching Councils will only consider those with teaching qualifications (such as the PGCE) for registration.

In Scotland a one-year probation period (equivalent to to induction in England and Wales) must be completed.

There are many paths in which a person can work towards gaining their QTS, the most popular of which is to have completed a first degree program (such as a BA or BSc) and then a Post-Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE). Other methods include a specific teaching degree (BEd) or on-the-job training at a school. All qualified teachers in England must serve, after training, a statutory one year induction period that must be passed in order to remain a registered teacher. In Wales this period lasts for two years. During this period a teacher is known as an NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher). Schools are obliged to provide guidance, support and training to facilitate the NQT's success during this year. Local education authorities are also obliged to provide professional development opportunities.