If you are thinking of applying for any of our initial teacher training courses, our Student Selection team have the following advice.
School experience
We are often asked if you need to have experience before you can apply for initial teacher training. While you won’t see teaching experience as a requirement for all routes, we would recommend that you spend some time in a school or schools before you apply. Almost everyone has experienced school as a pupil, but school life for a teacher is not the same. Even if you feel a strong vocation to become a teacher, it is still worth testing this by going into a school, talking to the staff and getting a sense of their day-to-day realities.
Schools are generally willing to discuss the possibility of voluntary experience with those interested in becoming teachers. This is also a great way to make connections with your local schools.
What documents do I need?
There is some variation in the eligibility qualifications for the various routes we offer. But you will need to provide proof of your identity: either a valid passport or your birth certificate, driving licence and proof of National Insurance Number (either your card or notification letter).
We will also need to see the required examination certificates and a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability if you took any of these outside the UK. If you have not already got this, visit www.enic.org.uk.
Have you got your certificates?
You might be surprised how many applicants can’t remember where their GCSE certificates are. After all, it may be years since you took them.
But we do need to see them. So, if, after checking everywhere in your house and your parents’, you still can’t find them, you will need to get copies. If you took your exams in England, copies or a certified statement of results can be ordered from the examining body.
There is a cost involved but you only need your maths and English, and a science if you are applying to do primary.
What if I haven’t got the required GCSE grades?
If you don’t have one or all the required GCSE grades, don’t panic. You can take online equivalency qualifications through our approved providers Equivalency Testing and A Star Equivalency. You can even start your application before you have completed the course, we just need to have the certificate before you enrol. If the worst happens, and you don’t get the grade, we can defer your place to the next cohort.
Do I need references?
Yes. You need to be ready to provide references. The three main types of references are professional references from previous or recent employment, academic references if you have recently finished university, and character references to vouch for your character and abilities from someone who knows you well, such as former employers, teachers, mentors and colleagues. If you are applying through the DfE portal, you will be provided with a list of reference options and you can select and upload them as instructed. If you are applying for a salaried route, you must also provide two safeguarding references, one from your currently employer and the second from a previous employer or a voluntary role.
Top tips for your personal statement
Your personal statement in an important element of your application. Here are our top tips to ensure you stand out - for the right reasons!
Write it yourself – we want to get a feel of who you are and why you want to train to teach.
Be mindful of using AI – you can use AI to help format your personal statement, if you feel you require this, but fully AI generated text is easy to spot and so you run the risk of having your application rejected if you overuse it.
Check your spelling, punctuation and grammar – we look for a certain level of fundamental English.
Proof read your work – sometimes it can be helpful to get a fresh pair of eyes to look at your personal statement before you submit your application to catch any errors that may have escaped your attention.
Tell us about all relevant experience – in particular, it's useful for us to know about any experience working with children, whether this was paid or unpaid experience.
Ensure you list all relevant qualifications and explain in depth how your experience correlates with your chosen subject. If your degree is not related to the subject you wish to teach, we’re looking for either an A Level at Grade E or above or a wealth of demonstrable experience.
Mention topics covered in the National Curriculum (for your subject) that you have experience or expertise in.
Be prepared to be questioned on elements of your personal statement if you reach the interview stage.
Provide a complete work history for the last 10 years at least – unexplained gaps may mean your application is rejected. Please include all experience, whether it relates to education or not.
Things to be aware of:
Your personal statement may be put through a plagiarism checker, so if you are taking inspiration from elsewhere (such as personal statement writing guides), be sure to rewrite things in your own voice.
American spellings raise red flags – we want “organisation”, not “organization”.
AI generated work always follows the same structure and sentence starters.
Format matters: a wall of text is difficult to read.
If you quote someone, you need to note the source of the quote.
Short personal statements may not give enough information, while long ones may give too much!
We read a lot of personal statements. Don’t be afraid to stand out.
Apply for the right route
You will find a How to apply section on each course page. This explains how to make your application and provides the course codes for the various course pathways: primary and secondary, full-time and part-time. Find the correct course code and note it down. You might be surprised at how many people apply with the wrong code!
Ready to apply? Here’s your quick checklist!
Volunteered or visited a school
Chosen your route and noted down the course code
Located your GCSE certificates (or ordered replacements)
Confirmed your eligibility and documents
Checked your referees are ready to support you
Build your confidence and hit ‘apply’!
If your application is rejected, you will be informed of the reason(s).
You are more than welcome to re-apply after a rejection as long as you act on the feedback given to improve your application. Identical resubmissions will be re-rejected.
