Postgraduate Primary Training

Programme Overview

All of our courses lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) - explained here.

Primary school teachers need to be proficient in teaching all subjects, ensuring a well-rounded education for their students. We offer trainees the option to specialise in one of two consecutive age phases: 3-7 years (EYFS and KS1) or 5-11 years (KS1 and KS2).

During your training, you will:

Build core expertise: Master all subject knowledge required for your chosen age range.
Gain varied experience: Train across two different partner schools (view our partner schools list).
Receive dedicated support: Benefit from professional mentorship, including weekly 1-on-1 mentor meetings and structured observations.
Earn higher qualifications: Have the opportunity to complete a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) alongside your QTS, validated by the University of Buckingham. Learn more about PCGEs.
Enriching extra-curriculars: Take part in unique field trips - such as planning trips at Whipsnade Zoo or exploring educational outreach at Luton Town FC.
Career progression: Attend tailored employment fairs to help secure your permanent teaching role post-qualification.

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for our primary training courses, you must have proof of:

GCSEs at grade 4 (previously grade C) or above in English, Mathematics and Science*, or equivalent
An undergraduate degree, or equivalent (excluding BA (HONS) route)

If you are unsure about whether your experience meets this criteria, please contact us.

*If you do not have these GCSEs, you may be eligible for equivalency testing. Please click here for more details.

Programme Structure

Our courses blend expert-led center training with hands-on, practical school experience. Choose between our full-time and flexible part-time pathways:

Full-Time	Part-Time
1 year (38 weeks)	2 years (39 weeks in Year 1, 19 weeks in Year 2)
1 day a week in the training centre	1 day a week in the training centre
4 days per week in school	Year 1: 2 days per week in school Year 2: 3 days per week in school
QTS awarded at the end of Year 1	QTS awarded at the end of course
Intensive Training and Practice (ITAP) ITAP consists of 4 focused training weeks spread throughout the year that dive deep into key teaching skills. Due to the immersive and practical nature of these blocks, all trainees (including part-time) must attend these 4 weeks full-time. You will receive advance notice of these dates to help you plan ahead.
Assessment Assessment is continuous throughout the course. You will be evaluated through your ongoing performance during school placements and submitted academic coursework - leading directly to your QTS recommendation.

Specialisms

For those training in primary ages 5 - 11, we also offer specialised courses, where you will receive additional training sessions in your chosen specialism. For the 26/27 training year, these are:

Primary with SEND

Routes and Fees

We offer a range of postgraduate training routes tailored to your experience. Select a route below to learn more, or contact our team if you need guidance on choosing the right pathway.

Fee-funded QTS and PGCE

Trainees on this route will be required to fund the course themselves. Costs for the academic year 25/26 are:

- QTS Only: £8,850

- QTS with PGCE: £10,050

The UK government offers a range of financial support options to help trainees pay their tuition fees and living costs, such as loans, bursaries and grants. More information can be found at getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-and-support.

Employment Based QTS Only

This route is available to those who are already employed by a school, such as unqualified teachers, technicians or teaching assistants. If you already have teaching experience, you may be eligible for our assessment only route. Please click here for more details.

The tuition fee for courses under this route are £8,850. This fee may be partially or fully covered by the employing school if agreed upon in advance.

If you wish to complete a PGCE alongside your training, a fee of £1,200 will need to be paid for by yourself and not by the school. There are several options offered by the government to help you pay these fees, including loans, bursaries and scholarships. For more information on funding and eligibility, please click here.

While you train, you will earn an unqualified teachers salary, which varies between schools.

Postgraduate Apprenticeship

While you train, you will earn an unqualified teachers salary, which varies between schools. Unlike the other routes, the apprenticeship will last for 13 months - from September to October the following year. QTS will be awarded in the summer term, with an End-Point Assessment (EPA) in the autumn term to complete the course.

You will not be required to pay a tuition fee, as this is paid via the school's apprenticeship levy. However, if you wish to complete a PGCE alongside your training, a fee of £1,200 will need to be paid for by yourself. There are several options offered by the government to help you pay this fee, including loans, bursaries and scholarships. For more information on funding and eligibility, please click here.

How To Apply

Applications to our training courses are made via the DfE 'Apply' portal.

DfE applications are open from the start of October - mid July for courses that start the following September.

Apply at: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-teacher-training

Click here for more information on how to apply.

Please contact us if you have any questions, and we will be happy to help.

GSO Test