Trainee teachers will soon be able to gain a degree through an apprenticeship, instead of through the traditional university route into the profession.
Degree apprenticeships are growing in popularity as they offer the chance for people to earn while they learn, and gain a degree without student debt.
They are already on offer in professions including nursing, law and even space engineering, and a new Teacher Degree Apprenticeship (TDA) will soon become available.
It will enable schools across the country to recruit thousands more teachers into classrooms and will open opportunities for more people to get into teaching.
The new apprenticeships will be offered alongside the university route, so aspirational teachers will be able to choose the path that works best for them.
What are Teacher Degree Apprenticeships?
Normally, teacher training courses require candidates to already have a degree to be eligible.
With a TDA, you’ll work in a school while you gain qualified teacher status (QTS), which you need in order to teach in most schools in England. At the same time, you’ll be studying for a degree.
It means trainees won’t take on student debt and will earn while they learn, supporting those who may not have the financial means to do a traditional university-based teacher training programme.
It will be available for people to train as both primary and secondary teachers.
When can I apply for a Teacher Degree Apprenticeship?
Subject to final approval, schools will be able to start recruiting apprentices from autumn 2024, with the first trainees beginning the programme in 2025.
How do I apply for a Teacher Degree Apprenticeship?
We expect applications to open from autumn 2024 for training to start in autumn 2025.
Who is eligible and what qualifications do I need?
The TDA will be available both to those beginning their careers and those currently in employment who are interested in pursuing a career in teaching, including teaching assistants and career changers.
Candidates won’t need to already have a degree.
Further information on eligibility criteria will be provided at a later date.
How much will trainees earn?
Trainees will start working in the classroom from day one. As they develop skills to become excellent teachers, they will gradually scale up their teaching practice.
Salaries will reflect trainee responsibilities at each stage of their course. Details of exact earnings will be announced at a later date.
On top of receiving a salary, their training and qualifications will be fully funded.
How is this different to other teaching qualifications?
Currently, except for fee-funded undergraduate initial teacher training, all routes into teaching require trainees to already have a degree or undertake full time, fee-funded study.
The TDA will be an exciting and unique route into teaching that builds on the existing Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship (PGTA) and will be the only route that provides a salary as well as the training to get both a degree and QTS.
Will this lower teaching standards?
No. On completion, TDA trainees will have the same qualifications as someone who has qualified as a teacher through any other teacher training route.
This doesn’t mean trainees will be treated as qualified teachers from the beginning. They will work under supervision at an appropriate level that is suitable to their stage of training.
What other routes are there into teaching?
There are several routes to gaining QTS, including through university study, school-led training, or charitable organisations like Teach First.
Find out more via Get Into Teaching.