Assessment Only Route to QTS

Demonstrate your experience in teaching to gain a formal qualification. Take one of the fastest routes to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Use your QTS to apply for roles in state-maintained schools in England.

A primary school pupil sitting in a classroom, listening

LevelShort courses and CPD

Duration6-12 weeks

Fee£2,500

Course codeCID1099

Course summary

The Assessment Only Route to QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) is for experienced teachers. You must have at least two years experience teaching full classes. This needs to be in two different schools with experience across two key stages in one of the following:

3-11 (primary)
7-14 (middle)
11-19 (secondary).

The course allows you to show you already meet all the Teachers' Standards for QTS.

Assessment lasts up to 12 weeks. This begins after you register with the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA). If you're eligible, we'll invite you to an interview. This is where you'll present evidence of your teaching experience.

For final recommendation for QTS, we’ll reassess your evidence. We'll also assess your teaching in your current school.

Once you’re awarded QTS, you’ll begin your Early Career Teacher (ECT) period. Your school and its ECT provider manage this. This includes support and further assessment of the core professional standards for teachers. It's usually organised by your school or local authority.

Please note, there’s no formal teaching on this course.

Why Sunderland for Short courses and CPD

What you'll study

There’s no taught element, and you won’t need to attend regular university sessions. However, interviews are usually held on campus.

Your final QTS assessment will take place in your current school.

How you'll learn

Assessment is over a maximum of 12 weeks in your current school. You'll receive a personalised assessment plan tailored to your experience. If you need more time to prepare, we may recommend you apply for one of our Initial Teacher Training courses.

Entry requirements

To apply for the course, you should have at least two years of teaching experience. This can be in the independent sector or overseas. The course is also suitable if you want your assessment to take place overseas.

We also require the following:

An honours degree, usually a 2:2 or above
GCSE grade C, or equivalent, in maths and English language. If you intend to teach at primary level, you also need at least a grade C in a science subject.
Full English language skills
Recent significant experience of teaching in at least two schools
Teaching experience across two key stages in your chosen age range. This would be either 3-11 (primary), 7-14 (middle), or 11-19 (secondary).
Be placed at an English National Curriculum school. This could also be a school with a recognised international curricula (IB, IPC, Cambridge, etc).
An enhanced check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). You'll also need Fitness-To-Teach approval, or international equivalent.
References from the headteacher/principal of the schools you've worked at.

We assess your numeracy and literacy competency continuously throughout the course. This is following the DfE’s removal of the Professional Skills Test.

If you're eligible, we'll invite you to an interview to present a portfolio of initial evidence. This will show your clear progress towards meeting QTS standards.

For further information please contact: fes.assessmentonly@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab).

If English isn't your first language, please see our English language requirements.

Fees and finance support

See all course tuition fees.

Apply now

If the course is right for you, we can complete the assessment within 12 weeks from the time of interview.

For more information and to apply, please contact us. Email fes.assessmentonly@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab) or call 0191 515 3099(opens in new tab).