Working with GLF Schools Teacher Training

Please find information on all the different routes into teaching that we can offer potential trainees below, and watch our GLF Schools Routes Into Teaching webinar:

Bursary Information for Teacher Training Routes for 25-26

The bursaries/scholarships for teacher training were announced last week for 25-26, which might be of interest to schools. We know a bursary of £5000 in a subject can increase applications by 10%.

For 2025 to 2026 the DFE are offering the following postgraduate bursaries;

  • £29,000 in chemistry, computing, mathematics and physics
  • £26,000 in biology, design and technology, geography and languages (including ancient languages)
  • £10,000 in art and design, music and religious education (RE)
  • £5,000 in English

Applicants with a 1st, 2:1, 2:2, PhD, or master’s degree may be eligible for a bursary.

Scholarships:

  • £31,000 in chemistry, computing, mathematics and physics
  • £28,000 in French, German and Spanish (no other languages)

Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeships

ITT providers are responsible for ensuring that all grant funding designated to support salary costs reaches the employing school so that it can be used for its intended purpose.

This grant is in addition to funding available from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for training and assessment costs only. The levy funds training costs.

From 2025 to 2026, postgraduate teaching apprenticeship grants in chemistry, computing, mathematics, physics, French, German and Spanish are of the same value as the bursary. In other subjects, the grant will continue to be £9,000 lower.

For 2025 to 2026, the DFE are offering grants of:

  • £29,000 for chemistry, computing, mathematics and physics
  • £26,000 for French, German and Spanish (no other languages)
  • £17,000 for other languages, biology, design and technology, and geography
  • £1,000 for art and design, music and RE

New Routes in Teacher Training Offered for 25-26

There are several additional routes into teacher training beyond the more common fee-paying and salaried routes that Heads and Professional Tutors might be interested in knowing more about. Please get in touch with Angela Rodda if you want to learn more about a route: arodda1@glfschools.org

 

New PILOT Undergraduate Teacher Degree Apprenticeships in Secondary Maths and Primary.

GLF/IFT are working with Brighton University to offer these two DFE pilot Teacher Degree Apprenticeships in 25-26.

  • The Secondary Maths Teacher Degree Apprenticeship comes with a DFE grant for schools to support the salary and the ability to claim all training fees from the Apprenticeship Levy to help the trainees on their degree/QTS training route.
  • The Primary Teacher Degree Apprenticeship does not contain a DFE grant to support the salary. Still, it does allow the candidates to use the Apprenticeship Levy to fund their degree/QTS training route.
  • For more information, visit Brighton University’s Website HERE

Secondary Maths Teacher Degree Apprenticeship Details

  • Salary - Schools will pay the salary  3 days a week for 4 years and DFE will pay the other 2 days.
  • Timetable - 60% 3 days a week on-the-job training in schools and 40% (2 days) off-the-job training, which will mainly be delivered online to best fit around the candidate's schedule. 4-year course leading to degree and QTS.
  • Route/support—This is offered in the 11-16 route only, and candidates will have a school-based mentor and university-based tutor to support them.
  • Entry requirements - A Levels- CCC or BTEC- MMM, plus GCSEs C/4 in English Language, Maths, and Science. (Will accept International Baccalaureate, T Level – Merit in Education and Early Years of Education and Childcare. Need IELTS 6.5 overall.
  • Employer role - Provide TDA contract of employment, pay salary, provide a mentor, attend apprenticeship progress reviews
  • Funding for Schools - Schools that employ maths TDA trainees as part of the pilot will receive financial support with the trainee’s salary costs. DFE pay 2 days a week. This will cover the proportion of the time trainees will spend studying towards their qualification. The funding from the DFE is only for the 150 nationally available places.
  • Funding for training costs - Cost for the training programme can be claimed from GLF’s levy pot- after a suitable application and vetting process. Trainees can’t access a student loan but can apply for means-tested benefits if they meet specific criteria.

Primary Teacher Degree Apprenticeship Details

  • Salary - Schools will pay the salary – not confirmed by the DFE on what pay spine yet- might be less than UQT1
  • Timetable—60% 3 days a week on-the-job training in schools and 40% (2 days) off-the-job training, which will mainly be delivered online to best fit around the candidate's schedule. This is a 4-year course.
  • Route and Support—Offered in grades 5-11 only, candidates will have a school-based mentor and university-based tutor to support them.
  • Entry requirements -  A Levels- CCC or BTEC- MMM, plus GCSEs C/4 in English Language, Maths, and Science. (Will accept International Baccalaureate, T Level – Merit in Education and Early Years of Education and Childcare. Need IELTS 6.5 overall.
  • Employer role - Provide TDA employment contract, pay salary on agreed pay spine (not yet confirmed), provide a mentor, attend apprenticeship progress reviews.
  • Funding for schools - There is no direct funding to support the salary- however, trainees would not have to pay degree/teacher training fees.
  • Funding for training—After a suitable application and vetting process, the training programme cost can be claimed from the apprenticeship levy pot. Trainees can’t access student loans but can apply for means-tested benefits if they meet certain criteria.

 

Assessment-only Route for qualifying candidates only

  • This new route, offered by GLF Schools Teacher Training via an accredited Assessment Only provider, is essentially a fast-track route for those who have already been teaching as unqualified teachers and are ready to be assessed.
  • It is important to know that teacher training assessment is robust and assessed against The Teachers’ Standards, and is evidence-based.
  • Candidates can only take the assessment route if they already meet the Teachers’ Standards required for qualified teacher status (QTS), and do not need any further training or time to get the necessary evidence to pass QTS.
  • Candidates must have the evidence ready to share with assessors via a portfolio.
  • They MUST have worked in two or more schools and age phases (linked to their training route). For example, 11-16 routes must have been taught in two different schools, both KS3 and KS4, with evidence of all the teachers’ standards in both key stages.
  • They meet the standard ITT entry criteria. (Degree 2:2 or above and 50% in the subject they want to teach, C/4 or above in English Language and Maths and Science for Primary, along with other entry criteria to work in the UK, DBS and fitness to work assessment.
  • They will undergo a series of assessments from initial to final assessment and need to provide a portfolio of evidence against the Teachers’ Standards. This route does not lead to a PGCE.
  • This programme takes up to 12 weeks.
  • The cost for this programme is approximately £2000- £3000 depending on the provider. Schools or candidates can pay for this.

Thank You from the Teaching School Hub 

We want to thank all schools, Headteachers and colleagues who work with us on teacher training.

Our numbers continue to grow, and with the launch of our new Oxford and Reading hubs, and more local hubs in the pipeline, we look forward to expanding our reach to even more schools in the future.