Successful completion of the Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship, leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status and the meeting of the Apprenticeship Standard. Gaining Qualified Teacher Status ensures that apprentices will be well placed to gain employment in UK schools and other education settings, with access to further career opportunities and pay progression in school.
This route is ideal for candidates who have experience of working in school and are looking to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
The Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship is an employment-based initial teacher training programme, which enables Apprentice trainee teachers to develop professional skills in the classroom whilst demonstrating evidence towards meeting the Teachers Standards for Qualified Teacher Status. Apprentices at the University of Wolverhampton follow either the Primary or Secondary Route. The route will commence in June for the 2021/22 intake, so applicants are advised to complete the candidate application and school pack before the Easter break, to enable sufficient time to process applications.
Job Roles/
Occupations
Benefits
The course has also been designed to develop school teachers who will be:
• Empathetic and committed to pupils' learning;
• Critically reflective and reflexive;
• Enthusiastic and innovative;
• Open-minded and research-aware;
• Capable of engaging in collaborative inquiry and practitioner research;
• Flexible and creative decision-makers.
The course will also help the apprentice to develop as a teacher who understands the link between subject knowledge and the curriculum knowledge needed to teach specialist subjects. Equally apprentices will develop as teachers who understand the needs of the individual pupil and the school community in which they will work.
How it works
The Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship requires that the main training school releases the Apprentice for 20% of their time for university-based training and activities. A second school experience of 30 days enables the apprentice to demonstrate meeting the Professional Standards for Teachers, in a contrasting and complementary school setting, as required by the Department for Education.
Candidates working in SEN schools have to undertake an additional 30-day placement, in order to demonstrate meeting all of the professional standards.
A skills coach is provided by the University to support and undertake observation and feedback visits every half term.
The Apprentice collects a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours contained in the Teachers' Standards to be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) at the end of the initial teacher training year. To successfully complete the Apprenticeship, the Apprentice must negotiate the 'gateway' to be entered for the formal end-point assessment. This requires an additional fourth term of teaching in school and the assessment, including a lesson observation and a professional discussion based on the portfolio of evidence.
Qualifications
The Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship is specifically designed to ensure that those who are successful can be recommended to the relevant professional body for the award of Qualified Teaching Status ( QTS) - the professional award required by all those who wish to teach in a maintained school. Successful completion of the End Point Assessment leads to the award of the Apprenticeship Standard.
Please note that this course provides QTS only and does not lead to a PGCE.
Fees and funding
For employers with a payroll below £3 million: The Government will pay 95% of the cost of the apprenticeship training and assessment for apprentices of any age, for employers who will not be paying the apprenticeship levy. You may also be eligible for extra employer incentives.
For employers with a payroll above £3 million: Since May 2017 employers are able to use their Apprenticeship Levy contributions towards the cost of the apprenticeship using their digital account. We will agree a payment schedule and discuss funding availability before you start your apprenticeships and ensure the cost to your business is clear upfront.
Entry Requirements
Academic Pathway:
For this apprenticeship programme we require applicants to have achieved the following admissions conditions
- Level 2 Requirements
- GCSEs at grade 4 (grade C) in English Language and Maths
- Level 3 Requirements
- A Levels - grades CCC or above
- BTEC Extended Diploma – grades MMM or above
- Access to HE Diploma (60 credits) of which a minimum of 45 must be at Level 3 (96 UCAS point equivalence, minimum 45 credits at merit)
We also accept Level 3 qualifications that are equivalent in depth to those listed above for example the Level 3 Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care or related subject area, if you are unsure if your previous qualifications are acceptable, please register your interest and we will be able to confirm if you are suitable for this course.
Free Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Occupational Health Check:
Due to the professional nature of our course, you will be required to complete a Declaration of Health and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check. We will coordinate both of these non-academic conditions with you should your course require this, and you receive an offer from us. There will be no cost for the DBS this is free to applicants who have secured an offer.