Primary QTS Only
Applications Open!
"The implementation and organisation of the ITE curriculum ensure that trainees quickly learn to apply their knowledge in placement schools. Trainees receive an excellent balance between subject-specific learning and the generic pedagogical approaches to teaching in the primary age-phase."
(Ofsted, 2023)
Our QTS Only programme offers the most up-to-date theoretical training paired with tailored teaching placements across our network of partner schools. On our school-led teacher training route, trainees spend the majority of their time in schools, applying their theoretical training in the classroom and learning from mentors with current and relevant classroom experience. By immersing you in schools, you are able to gain valuable real-world experience and learn the very best teaching methods first hand. This allows you to develop the knowledge and skills required to deliver first-class outcomes for children.
​
Your centre-based learning and award of QTS is completed by our team at Prestolee SCITT.
Qualifications
Completion of this course provides you with the following qualifications
How will I study?
Click below to find out more about how you will learn on our QTS Only programme.
01
TRAINING
02
OBSERVATION
03
TEACHING
Our training sessions are seamlessly integrated with your in-school learning. Trainees will begin the programme with training sessions at the start of each week and have the opportunity to observe and apply their learning during their observation days (see Observation). Trainees continue to attend training sessions once a week throughout their teaching block, providing a good point of contact with lead mentors and other trainees to reflect and digest events of the week.
​
Most of our in-person training sessions take place at our two hub schools, and you will have the opportunity to apply for a study site when completing your application. Our hub approach to training gives a personal touch to our programme and allows trainees to develop strong connections with their peers.
In addition to our hubs, we also use our Prestolee Multi-Academy Trust and wider partnership schools where full-cohort sessions are required.
Trainees will attend observation days in each placement, typically at the end of each week following two or three training sessions. You will have the opportunity to observe teaching theory and practice discussed during your training and reflect on your learning, and even apply your knowledge in practice. This integration of SCITT training sessions and experience in schools means are trainees are proficient in applying what they have learnt in training into classroom settings quickly, regardless of your experience in schools.
​
Observation days are also essential for you to develop your confidence in the school environment and build a rapport with staff and pupils before you begin teaching. This means our trainees can hit the ground running with their training and embed knowledge from the start of the programme.
You will begin teaching in your first placement school around week seven, starting off with core subjects (Phonics, Reading, Writing & Maths) and building up to wider curriculum subjects on a gradually increasing teaching percentage. You will be supported by your lead mentor and school-based mentor throughout this phase.
​
Assessed teaching in split into three phases:
-
Beginning Phase: teaching up to 50% of a class timetable in core subjects
-
Developing Phase: teaching up to 60% of a class timetable in core & wider subjects
-
Extending Phase: building up to 80% of a class timetable by the end of the programme
​
By the end of the programme you will have taught subjects across the primary national curriculum and Early Years Statutory Framework, and be a confident in planning, assessing and delivering these subjects in your chosen phase.
Placements
You will spend a minimum of 120 days across the key stages in two or more schools in order to give you a rich and varied experience. You will complete three teaching blocks in two placement schools across the academic year.
Placement A
September 2025 - January 2026
Placement B
February 2026 - July 2026
Throughout all of your teaching placements, you will be supported by a specially trained school-based mentor who will provide the guidance, support and challenge needed to ensure you are meeting all of the standards for QTS. This is in addition to the support you will receive from your classroom teacher, your Lead Mentor and the Prestolee SCITT Management Team. This guided support is central to our ITT programmes.
How will I be assessed?
Qualified Teacher Status
You will collate a portfolio of evidence throughout the year demonstrating how you have met our curriculum. Our ambitious curriculum is based from the Department for Education's ITTECF and has been carefully designed to develop our trainees into outstanding teachers and prepare them for their first role as Early Career Teachers. You will build this portfolio electronically through our online system Mosaic, and it will consist of:
​
-
Reflections
-
Progress Matters
-
Lesson planning
-
Mentor observations of your teaching
-
Weekly reviews completed with your mentor
You will present your findings to a panel at the end of your programme to demonstrate your readiness for teaching. Following successful completion of this presentation you will be awarded Qualified Teacher Status by Prestolee SCITT.
There are no essays required for completion of your Qualified Teacher Status.
Our Pathway Options
You can choose to specialise in one of our two pathways
Regardless of your pathway choice, you will be qualified to teach ages 3-11 (Nursery to Year 6) at the end of this programme
3-7 Pathway
Two contrasting placements in both EYFS (Nursery or Reception) and Key Stage One (Year 1 or Year 2)
5-11 Pathway
Two contrasting placements in both Key Stage One (Year 1 or Year 2) and Key Stage Two (Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 or Year 6)
Entry Requirements
This course has the following entry requirements:
*We will consider class 3 degrees where the application is otherwise strong
What other criteria do I need to meet?
​Assuming the minimum criteria are met, selection is based on your ability to demonstrate:
-
An understanding of the national curriculum
-
An awareness of safeguarding
-
An awareness of the Teachers' Standards
-
Enthusiasm to teach
-
An understanding of our values
-
Professionalism
-
The value of diversity and the importance of an inclusive approach
-
The ability to reflect critically and analytically on your experiences
-
Correct use of standard spoken English
-
Correct use of standard written English
-
The ability to plan a mini-teach linked to the national curriculum
-
A strong commitment to our training programme
Course Fees
Our course fees for 2025-26 are set at £9250 £8500 per annum.
For this academic year, we are offering a £1,000+ discount for the first 20 trainees that enrol on our QTS-only programme.
Trainees have 2 options for payment, either via a loan from Student Finance or via self-funding. If you fund via Student Finance, once your loan application is approved the payments will be made directly to us and you do not need to take any further action. If you self-fund, you will need to adhere to the following payment terms and payments can be made either by BACS or cheque.
September 2025
Amount Due
£3,083.33
£2,833.33
Percentage of total fees:
33%
January 2026
Amount Due
£3,083.33
£2,833.33
Percentage of total fees:
33%
April 2026
Amount Due
£3,083.33
£2,833.33
Percentage of total fees:
33%
Tuition fee loans are not means tested, meaning that if you are eligible for student finance you can apply for a tuition fee loan to cover the full fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan to support you while training to teach. More information can be found on our Finance page.