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Jonathan's experience on the Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship (with QTS) video transcript

Chapter 1: Postgraduate Teaching with QTS Apprentice Jonathan Butler

I've worked in a school for about 12/13 years, and being a teacher wasn't something that I'd always considered.
Because I thought I would have to go back to uni for a long period of time, and it would just be too much when I've got a young family.
But actually this course came along and it would allow me to stay in the school that I was at, it would allow me to train on the job, get first hand experience, and I'd be a teacher with full qualified status within one year.
It sort of allows you to start off quite slowly.
You start taking on more and more classroom responsibilities.
And having the time at university as well, that dedicated time to learn the theoretical approaches behind teaching has been really excellent.
I think one of the major skills that I've gained throughout this apprenticeship is my own confidence in the classroom.
Beforehand, I'd worry about individual lessons.
I would kind of think about what I'm going to do next.
I would micro analyse what I was going to do, but this is allow me to think, actually, you know what, I can do this.
Being able to watch children actually get something that you've taught is brilliant.
There was a ceiling to what I would be able to do in my previous role, and this has allowed me to kind of break through that.
And then after this, I've got a career path that I'll be able to follow.
If you're looking at maybe taking an apprenticeship or becoming a qualified teacher using this route, I'd say definitely go for it because you get so much experience actually being in the classroom.
And that's that's invaluable.
And you'll be potentially in an area that you're familiar with and good news as well: you get paid because you are employed as an unqualified teacher.
The Level 6 Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship is the way to qualify in teacher training.
And to learn as you earn while working within a ten month period across the academic year.
We have two new pathways which we are proud to offer from September 2026.
The first of which is the QTS-only route.
If you want to focus on the practical elements of the teaching apprenticeship without the extra pressure of academic assignments, this could be the route for you.
The other route we offer is a SEND specialist pathway, ideal for those already working in SEND settings, where you will have the expertise of colleagues working within SEND, to delve deeper into the issues and support we can give to pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.
Check out our website for the apprenticeships and the next available Postgraduate Open Day.

Jonathan's experience on the Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship (with QTS) video

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