Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeships (PGTA)

The PGTA is a 1-year, fully funded, salaried teacher training programme which leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The apprenticeship starts on 1 September and QTS is awarded in July the following year. Apprentices need a contract of employment covering them for at least this period.

Applicants must have the following by 31 August before they start the apprenticeship:

• an undergraduate degree with at least lower second class honours

• GCSE English grade 4/C or above (applicable to primary and secondary school teacher training)

• GCSE Maths grade 4/C or above (applicable to primary and secondary school teacher training)

• GCSE Science grade 4/C or above (applicable to primary school teacher training only)

International equivalents are acceptable, but applicants must have lived in England for 3 years prior to commencing the apprenticeship.

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Applicants who do not have the required GCSEs are required to complete GCSE equivalency tests to meet the entry requirements. We accept the following GCSE equivalency test providers:

https://www.equivalencytesting.com/

https://astarequivalency.co.uk/

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Applicants who do not have a degree in the subject they wish to train in, will be required to complete a subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) course prior to commencing teacher training. Find out more about SKE courses here.

Our bespoke apprenticeship course is designed to help you fulfill a wider teaching role (including that of pastoral care) within your chosen educational context. The course will provide you with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). There is the option to complete a PGCE alongside the course, however, due to the increased workload of apprentices compared to unsalaried trainee teachers, we do not recommend this, unless you are planning on teaching abroad.

You will be at your employing school to begin the year. It is at your employer's discretion whether they start you straight away on your full 70% timetable or whether they build your timetable over a few weeks. This will be different for secondary school trainees and and primary school trainees. 

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In the spring term you will need to complete a placement at a contrasting school. This placement needs to be at least 4 weeks long and you need to be teaching at least 50%. If your main placement is in a special school, you need to have a placement in a mainstream school. If you are training to be a primary school teacher your placement must be in a contrasting key stage.

PGTAs must have 20% free time for off-the-job learning. This will be your weekly training day where you attend the live training sessions, either face-to-face or via Teams.

The 20% off-the-job does not include PPA time. Apprentices must be given at least as much PPA time as a main scale teacher in their setting.

PGTAs have an in-school mentor who will meet with you on a weekly basis. They will discuss your progress and set targets for the week ahead. The mentor will also address emerging areas for development or signpost you to the appropriate help. This meeting has to take place during your and your mentor's normal contracted hours. Your mentor needs to be a qualified teacher and cannot be an ECT. For secondary trainees the mentor will ideally have the same subject specialism.

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In addition, you will have a subject/phase specific lead mentor who will visit you on placement at 4 points during the year, including a settling-in visit.

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You will also be supported by a dedicated pastoral mentor who will look after your mental well-being.​

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If you think you will need additional support to access the course, please get in touch via email admin@yhtt.ac.uk or phone 01482 567793. YHTT is committed to deliver a fully inclusive teacher training experience.

You will be formally observed once per week and receive feedback. This does not necessarily have to be by your mentor. It could be a senior leader or another member of your department.

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Our summative assessments take the form of Big Questions for which you will prepare a presentation which is delivered to a panel, followed by a professional discussion. There are only written assignments for the PGCE.

PGTAs are employees. They must be paid at least unqualified teacher scale 1. If they were employed by the school prior to commencing the apprenticeship on a higher scale, it is at the discretion of the employer to continue paying the higher salary.

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The course fee is paid through your employer's apprenticeship levy. There is no cost to your employer or yourselves.

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There will be an additional cost of £1000 if you wish to undertake the PGCE course in addition to the apprenticeship.