Teaching Level 6 Apprenticeship (QTS) PGCE
About this course
Designed as a flexible route into teaching, the PGCE Level 6 Teaching Apprenticeship is intended for teaching staff who are employed by a primary or a secondary school and already have a degree, but do not yet have a teaching qualification or Qualified Teacher Status and wish to attain this.
With NTU, during the apprentice's time at university they’ll be taught by former teachers who will support them in building their expertise, critical thinking and creativity. They’ll learn how to bring the curriculum to life for students, developing who they are as a teacher.
They’ll be equipped with the subject knowledge and professional skills needed to meet the expectations of teachers.
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NTU is rated the top-rated University provider of higher and degree apprenticeships in the UK (RateMyApprenticeship, 2024) -
Funding for the course is available through the Apprenticeship Levy. -
The apprentice will be recommended for accreditation for Qualified Teacher Status with the Department for Education, allowing them to take a post as an Early Career Teacher upon course completion.
What you’ll study
The majority of the apprentice’s time will be spent in their employing school, training in the classroom and supported by experienced teachers and mentors. They will also spend time studying at the University and there will be a second placement in another school that takes place after Christmas for approximately six weeks. There may also be an induction week pre-Christmas at this second school.
At the University the apprentice will study for the same award as other postgraduate teacher trainees except that the delivery will have more emphasis on being trained within a school environment and will involve more staff from schools.
Successful apprentices will achieve a PGCE qualification from NTU, be awarded Qualified Teacher Status, and be certified as having completed the Level 6 Teacher Apprenticeship.
They will be a registered student with NTU and their qualification will be an NTU award. This means that NTU has responsibility for the quality of training and the apprentice will benefit from the combined expertise of the University and lead placement school. The exact form of the delivery of the year will depend on the school to which they apply.
Learn to be a Teacher (60 credits)
By studying this module, the apprentice will become a critically reflective teacher who can assess, adapt and improve their professional practice and appraise individual learning needs. They’ll develop a research-informed approach by questioning and critiquing teaching and learning strategies in order to maximise pupil progress. They’ll take an increasingly autonomous approach to their continuing professional development and a consistent commitment to the professional expectations of a teacher.
Learn to Teach (20 credits)
This module will support the apprentice’s knowledge and understanding of a wide range of inclusive professional practices. They’ll take a constructively critical and reflective approach toward effective and creative innovation in professional practice. They’ll take an informed stance in relation to key issues in education with a critical awareness of how children learn. They'll also interrogate the professional values of a teacher through high-quality work in all areas of the curriculum.
Learn to Teach a Subject (40 credits)
This module will develop the apprentice’s ability to plan, teach and assess the broad and rich range of subjects at primary level, as well as encourage them to take a research-oriented approach to the development of their professional practice. They’ll gain the comprehensive subject and curriculum knowledge required of an expert teacher and develop innovative approaches to teaching the primary curriculum. They’ll develop their professional identity as a critically reflective teacher of the primary curriculum - implementing the research skills necessary to make a significant contribution to the shaping of teaching, learning and assessment. This module will also lay the foundation for entry into the profession as an active contributor to teaching and learning.
Professional Practice (QTS)
Upon successful completion of the above modules, trainees will be awarded the Professional Practice (QTS) module.
Learning to be a Teacher (60 credits)
By studying this module, the apprentice will become a critically reflective teacher who can assess, adapt and improve their professional practice and appraise individual learning needs. They’ll develop a research-informed approach by questioning and critiquing teaching and learning strategies in order to maximise pupil progress. They’ll take an increasingly autonomous approach to their continuing professional development and a consistent commitment to the professional expectations of a teacher.
Learning to Teach (20 credits)
This module will support the apprentice’s knowledge and understanding of a wide range of inclusive professional practices. They’ll take a constructively critical and reflective approach toward effective and creative innovation in professional practice. They’ll take an informed stance in relation to key issues in education with a critical awareness of how children learn. They'll also interrogate the professional values of a teacher through high-quality work in all areas of the curriculum.
Learning to Teach a Subject 1 & 2 (2 x 20 credits)
Through these two related modules apprentices will develop their understanding of the key concepts relating to education in their subject. They’ll gain the comprehensive subject and curriculum knowledge required of an expert teacher and develop innovative approaches to teaching their secondary specialist subject. They’ll develop their professional identity as a critically reflective teacher of their secondary specialist subject - implementing the research skills necessary to make a significant contribution to the shaping of teaching, learning and assessment. This module will also lay the foundation for entry into the profession as an active contributor to teaching and learning.
Professional Practice (QTS)
Upon successful completion of the above modules, trainees will be awarded the Professional Practice (QTS) module.
Completing your Apprenticeship
To achieve the apprenticeship, all apprentices must complete an End-Point Assessment (EPA). The EPA is an independent assessment that ascertains whether an apprentice is competent in their occupation.
Gateway
Gateway is the period of time between the end of the off-the-job training (practical period) and the beginning of the assessment period when EPA will take place.
At Gateway, the apprentice, employer and training provider will review the apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours to determine whether they are ready to take their EPA. This is normally done at a Gateway review meeting which takes place near the end of the apprenticeship. At this meeting, all three parties will check that the mandatory aspects of the apprenticeship have been completed and that the apprentice is ready to take their final assessment(s).
Apprentices must meet the Gateway requirement set out in the assessment plan before taking their EPA.
End-Point Assessment
This apprenticeship is non-integrated. This means that the end-point assessment is administered and assessed by an external organisation. For this apprenticeship standard there are twenty six End-Point Assessment Organisations (EPAO), the preferred EPAO is University of Gloucestershire but employers may choose to select an alternative.
Details of the assessment elements can be found in the assessment plan.
There are two elements to this end-point assessment:
- Lesson observation
- Professional discussion
Upon successful completion, apprentices will be confirmed to be a competent and qualified teacher.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
How you're taught
Through lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, and independent study, apprentices are engaged in studying the theory and practice of learning and teaching. At the same time, supported by our professional tutors and colleagues in the apprentice’s workplace, apprentices develop their professional practice alongside their study. The course provides access to our online course materials, PebblePad eportfolio tool, libraries, and support services, with an enriched professional practice experience that guides the development of each individual against the national Teachers’ Standards.
What will my timetable look like?
The precise pattern varies depending on the phase of education in which the individual is training. Broadly, it consists of one day per week at the university, and four days per week in placement at the employing school, with a full university week in early September.
How many days will I spend at the University?
The precise pattern varies depending on the phase of education in which the individual is training. Typically, an apprentice will spend a total of between 40 and 55 days each year attending at the university.
At the very start of the course there will be a need for the apprentice to attend University full time for two to three weeks. After that time, University attendance will just usually be one day a week.
‘Off the job’ Training requirements and apprentice workload
A full-time apprentice will need to spend at least six hours per week of their employed time engaged in off the job training. This training cannot take place in the apprentice’s own spare time, it will need to be during their paid hours. Part of this off the job training will be fulfilled by attending University.
There will also be a second placement in another school that takes place after Christmas for approx. six weeks, during which the apprentice will not be able to work at the employing school but will still have to be paid by them. There may also be an induction week pre-Christmas at this second school.
When planning for a postgraduate trainee teacher’s teaching workload, we usually suggest a gradual build-up of up to 40% of a teacher's responsibility by Christmas, up to 60% by Easter and then up to 80% by the end of the course. We recognise that an apprentice might be more experienced than a beginning trainee and so these loads can be adjusted after a conversation with the course teams, but the apprentice will still need time for their academic work and so cannot take on a full-time member of staff’s usual classroom responsibilities.
How you're assessed
A combination of teaching observations, a portfolio of evidence of professional development, practitioner enquiry, assignments, and presentations. As required by the national standard, the End-Point Assessment is founded on a teaching observation followed by a professional dialogue with an expert panel consisting of an external assessor, a tutor from the university, and a representative from the employer of the apprentice.
Careers and employability
If you’d like to know more about NTU’s groundbreaking Employability Promise, and the support you’ll receive both during and after your course, visit our Careers and Employability page.
Campus and facilities
You’ll mainly be studying in the Ada Byron King building, with access to facilities including our mock classrooms.
Our self-contained, community-focused Clifton Campus has been designed to keep our students busy between lectures. Catch-up with your coursemates in the Pavilion’s barista café and Refectory; brainstorm group presentations in chic and stylish study spaces; enjoy some proper R&R in The Point, home of our Students’ Union. The campus also hosts the multimillion-pound Clifton Sports Hub, offering great options for everyone — whatever your interests, and however competitive you’d like to get!
You’re also right next to the bright lights of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. All through termtime, a dedicated on-campus bus service will get you to the heart of the action (and back) in under 25 minutes. You’ll find a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.
Take our virtual tour to get a real feel for the campus.
Entry requirements
The prospective Primary Apprentice must meet the standard entry requirements for all ITT courses, as set out by the DfE;
- This includes a UK honours degree or equivalent
- It also includes GCSE English, Mathematics and Science at minimum grade 4 or equivalent. Applicants with pending qualifications will be considered, but the qualification must be attained prior to enrolment. Anyone who is unable to provide the required GCSE certificate will need to complete a relevant equivalency test prior to enrolment.
The prospective Secondary Apprentice must meet the standard entry requirements for all ITT courses, as set out by the DfE;
- This includes a UK honours degree or equivalent
- It also includes GCSE English and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or equivalent. Applicants with pending qualifications will be considered, but the qualification must be attained prior to enrolment. Anyone who is unable to provide the required GCSE certificate will need to complete a relevant equivalency test prior to enrolment.
We will accept equivalency tests in whatever GCSE may be missing in order to admit the applicant to the course. However, if completing an equivalency test, the applicant will also need to have completed a Functional Skills qualification in this same subject in order to qualify for entry to the apprenticeship's End Point Assessment and complete the apprenticeship . This is a regulation determined by the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education. We have a Functional Skills provider with whom applicants can undertake this qualification if necessary, and they do so in parallel with their PGCE study. To reiterate: this means that an individual without the necessary English and / or maths GCSE(s) will need to undertake equivalency tests in order to get onto the course, and then Functional Skills qualifications while on the course in order to be able to complete the apprenticeship. There is no additional cost to the individual, NTU provides the Functional Skills course without charge.
Other requirements
The apprentice’s employer will work with us to set up and support the apprenticeship place. The employer will be responsible for ensuring that there is a qualified teacher at their school who will act as the apprentice’s mentor, and for ensuring that the apprentice can be released from their employment duties for a suitable proportion of their working week (usually one day a week).
The apprentice will need to be employed full time as an unqualified teacher for a minimum of 30 hours per week and for a minimum of 16 months from the start of the apprenticeship. We will need to check that the apprentice will have sufficient responsibility for sizeable classes of students during their apprenticeship year, teaching an age-appropriate curriculum.
An apprentice’s pay at all times must be in line with the minimum wage or above and the employer’s pay policy (noting that the employer may be a single academy or a multi-academy trust, or a local authority):
- if the employer is an academy trust, the salary must be in line with what is paid to unqualified teachers
- if the employer is a local authority, the salary must be between the minimum and maximum of the unqualified teacher pay range.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
Unfortunately English apprenticeships are not available for EU or international students.
Fees and funding
To undertake an apprenticeship you must be employed - as such, your employer will pay your tuition fees.
If you or your employer have any questions regarding the fees and funding available for this apprenticeship, please see our Apprenticeships pages, contact our Apprenticeships team at apprenticeships@ntu.ac.uk, or call +44 (0)115 848 2589.
Unfortunately English apprenticeships are not available for EU or international students.
How to apply
You can apply for postgraduate teacher training courses at https://www.gov.uk/find-postgraduate-teacher-training-courses, although a teacher apprenticeship place needs to have been established by the university in discussion with the employer in the first instance.
Get in touch with our Apprenticeship team at: Apprenticeships@ntu.ac.uk