Funding for teacher training and development
The Growth and Skills Levy (formerly the Apprenticeship Levy) is a tax paid by large employers in England. Levy funds can be accessed to spend on apprenticeship training and assessment.
The levy cannot be used to cover wages or employment costs and apprentices must be employed by the school throughout the programme.
Why should your school use apprenticeships?
By using the Growth and Skills Levy, your school can provide free, high-quality initial teacher training and professional development opportunities to its staff. It can impact on the following:
- Training budgets: Apprenticeships offer a cost-effective way to invest in staff development and succession. Your school can access funding from £4,000 to £27,000 for our apprenticeship courses.
- Initial teacher training: The Growth and Skills Levy will cover fees to provide an accessible salaried route for eligible staff to gain Qualified Teacher Status through the Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship or Teacher Degree Apprenticeship.
- Leadership development: Apprenticeships can be used as part of your school's strategic workforce planning, to promote a diverse and inclusive school leadership.
- Staff Retention: Apprenticeships boost staff retention by providing teachers and leaders with career development opportunities. This benefits your school with greater stability and reduced recruitment costs.
- Recruitment: Your school can recruit into apprenticeships and use them to attract new staff to shortage subjects or address skills gaps.
How can my school access the apprenticeship levy?
All English schools can access levy funding. Access details vary by school status. Check the latest information.
Why choose NITE?
We are an established provider of apprenticeships that combine school-based, on-the-job learning with engaging and flexible online courses. To date, NITE has worked with over 400 schools, local authorities and multi-academy trusts across England to provide apprenticeships for their staff.
Our apprenticeships
Teacher Degree Apprenticeship: Primary Education BA (Hons) with QTS
Provides a fee-free, salaried route for those without a degree to gain a degree and qualified teacher status (QTS).
Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship plus PGCE
Provides a fee-free, salaried route for graduates to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), with a PGCE at no extra cost.
Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship plus PGCE SEND
Provides a fee-free, salaried route for graduates to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in SEND schools and settings with the option of a PGCE SEND at no extra cost.
Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship
Offers professional development for staff in support roles and can be a step towards a teacher training.
Frequently asked questions
At The Romero Catholic Academy, we believe some of the best future teachers are already working in our schools. Through our partnership with NITE, we are helping talented teaching assistants and support staff access clear, flexible pathways into teaching.
NITE's apprenticeship programmes enable colleagues to gain valuable qualifications while remaining with us, allowing them to develop their skills, confidence and career prospects without stepping away from the classroom.
Lauren Davies, Strategic Lead for School Improvement, The Romero Catholic Academy, Coventry, England
I've really enjoyed working with NITE's SEND Specialist Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship. I've worked with trainee teachers and ECTs for a long time, and what I like about this programme is how adaptable it is. Some providers heavily prescribe what you have to focus on every week, but that's not always relevant to the trainee in front of you. With this programme, the observations and mentor meetings can focus on what that teacher genuinely needs at that point in their journey, whether that's classroom practice, workload, wellbeing or preparing for assessments.
Amy Frohawk, Assistant Principal and ITT mentor, Tiffield Academy, Greenwood Academy Trust, Northamptonshire
Apprenticeships for non-teaching staff
Coventry University Group’s Better Futures Apprenticeships offer a range of apprenticeships suitable for administration and operations staff.
Find out more
