Overview
The Assessment Only Route to QTS (AOR to QTS) is for experienced teachers who have been teaching whole classes for a minimum of two years. You need to have worked in two different schools and have significant experience of two key stages across one of the following age ranges: 3-11 (primary), 7-14 (middle) or 11-19 (secondary).
The AOR to QTS allows you to demonstrate that you already meet all of the Teachers' Standards for QTS.
The assessment period is a maximum of 12 weeks which commences after registration with Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA). If you meet the eligibility criteria for AOR to QTS (see our entry requirements), we will ask you to present detailed preliminary evidence about your teaching at interview. For the final recommendation for QTS, we will re-assess your evidence and assess your teaching. This assessment will be conducted in the school at which you are working.
Typical applications to this route include people who have taught for more than two years in the independent sector or overseas. The AOR to QTS is also possible if you wish to be assessed while teaching overseas. Please note that you must be at a school that runs the English National Curriculum, or a school that runs a recognised international curriculum (such as IB, IPC, Cambridge, etc).
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 and not the University. This includes a personalised programme of professional support and further assessment against the core professional standards for teachers normally organised by your employing school or local authority.
There is no formal teaching on the AOR to QTS.
