Gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) Through the Assessment Only Route
Assessment Only QTS at a glance
- Gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in 12 weeks
- Continue working while being assessed
- Ideal for experienced unqualified and overseas-trained teachers
- Multiple start dates throughout the year
- No additional training required if you already meet the Teachers' Standards
Already Teaching? Achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in 12 Weeks
The Assessment Only Route to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) enables experienced teachers to gain QTS in 12 weeks by demonstrating that they already meet the Teachers' Standards, without undertaking further teacher training.
If you hold a degree and have substantial teaching experience across at least two school settings or have taught in one school for five years, this 12-week route allows you to gain formal QTS while continuing to teach. Rather than following a traditional training programme, you will be assessed on the skills and knowledge you have already developed, making it ideal for unqualified teachers, overseas-trained teachers, and experienced educators ready to formalise their professional status.
Hear from a recent Assessment Only Route candidate
The Assessment Only Route was the perfect route for me to gain my qualification. From the very start, I felt well supported by the University. I found the course to be really flexible in terms of timings of observation and interviews. This was invaluable to me because of my role in school. My assessor offered me excellent advice and resources to support the development of my teaching practice and my school-based mentor was involved at every stage of the process.
Karen Hayes
Is the Assessment Only QTS route right for you?
This route is ideal if you are:
- Working as an unqualified teacher (paid or unpaid) in a primary or secondary setting
- An experienced Further Education lecturer now working in a school and seeking QTS
- An overseas trained teacher who does not automatically qualify for QTS or did not gain QTS within the four-year limit
- Working in an Independent School, Academy, Special School or PRU
Need further training before gaining QTS?
This route is not suitable if you require further training to meet the Teachers’ Standards. You may wish to consider:
You will enrol on one of the following modules:
- Assessment Only Route to QTS (home candidates) (6QT575)
- Assessment Only Route to QTS International (international candidates) (6QT581)
This module is completed entirely within your educational setting and is underpinned by the Teachers' Standards leading to a recommendation for the award of QTS.
Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.
Although there is no formal training linked to the Assessment Only Route, you will continue to develop professionally as a teacher and further develop your subject knowledge and teaching skills during the assessment period.
You will have a school-appointed professional mentor who will meet with you regularly and coordinate lesson observations, providing formative and constructive feedback, moderated by your assessor.
Continuous formative feedback throughout the placement will support your progress, culminating in a final summative assessment (viva voce).
Support from the University
We have a strong track record in training and assessing confident, forward-thinking teachers. Your university assessor will be part of our experienced team and will work alongside your school-appointed mentor to provide personalised support at every stage of the Assessment Only Route.
You are required to demonstrate that you are a reflective practitioner who has met the Teachers' Standards and can apply your skills, knowledge, and understanding effectively in a wide range of school settings. You will also need to show that you can relate theory to practice and critically evaluate the fundamental aims and values of education.
How you will be assessed
During the assessment period, you will:
- Be observed teaching by your sponsoring school and university staff, demonstrating competency against the Teachers’ Standards
- Produce a portfolio of evidence mapped against the Teachers’ Standards
- Provide high-quality evidence demonstrating consistent and competent practice across the relevant age phase required by the Assessment Only criteria
- Evidence two schools, or one school if you have taught there for 5 years, or mainstream experience, if applicable
- Undertake a subject knowledge assessment
- Undertake a final viva voce (oral examination).
In-school assessments
We work in partnership with your school to assess your ability to meet the Teachers’ Standards. Assessment is carried out by staff from both your school and the University.
Supporting schools must ensure you have sufficient opportunity to demonstrate the Teachers’ Standards. Evidence is recorded in an electronic portfolio, which forms part of a final professional discussion with your assessor.
International candidates will:
- Receive two live online observations from university assessors
- Receive weekly mentor feedback
- Submit a pre-recorded lesson for moderation
This ensures the assessment process is rigorous, robust, and securely moderated.
What can you do with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)?
With Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you will be able to progress in one of the most rewarding and impactful careers. QTS opens doors to greater responsibility, career progression, and higher pay scales.
You could also develop your career further with our MA Education (available online or on campus), particularly if you are aiming for middle or senior leadership roles.
Academic requirements
- A degree from a UK institution or equivalent qualification (original certificates required)
- GCSE grade 4 or above in Mathematics and English, or equivalent (evidenced with official certification)
- For primary teaching (ages 3–11), a grade 4 or above in a science GCSE subject
- Overseas qualifications must be supported by a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability
- Key Skills and OCR Level 2 Adult Literacy / Numeracy are not accepted; equivalency tests must be from A Star Equivalency
- Evidence of familiarity with different approaches to teaching, learning, and school management
Teaching experience requirements
Applicants will have at least two years’ teaching experience in the UK or overseas. The route is also available to those being assessed while teaching overseas.
You must have:
- Teaching experience across a minimum of 2 different schools or a minimum of 5 years teaching experience in a single school
- Where an applicant’s previous teaching experience is mainly in special schools or alternative provision settings, accredited ITT providers should ensure they also have teaching experience in a suitable mainstream school before acceptance onto the route
- To be meeting the Teachers’ Standards across one of the following phases: ages 3 to 11 (primary), ages, 7-14 (middle) ages 11-19 (secondary)
- Include teaching children and young people (not solely other responsibilities)
- Demonstrate teaching of children and young people from different backgrounds, across the ability range in your chosen age range
- Show experience of different teaching approaches to children, how children learn, and to school organisation and management
Teaching experience does not need to have taken place primarily in England.
Safeguarding and suitability checks
We are committed to safer recruitment, meaning that we consider a candidate’s suitability to work with children and young people in several ways during the application process. All our assessors are trained in safer recruitment, and at least one trained member sits on every interview panel.
- Enhanced DBS check (including children's barred list information)
All applicants are subject to appropriate pre-selection checks. For candidates employed in a UK school, the employing school confirms that an enhanced DBS check, including children’s barred list information, has been obtained; we do not repeat a check the school has confirmed. Candidates outside the UK provide the overseas checks described below.
- Overseas checks (where applicable)
DBS checks only cover UK police records, if you have lived or worked outside the UK you must provide evidence of your good conduct from each country in which you have lived or worked, normally a Certificate of Good Conduct or the local equivalent. We will ask for further checks where Keeping Children Safe in Education or the Home Office guidance on criminal record checks for overseas applicants requires it, and where a certificate cannot be obtained we will carry out a risk assessment.
- Childcare disqualification declaration
Applicants must comply with the Disqualification under the Childcare Act 2006 and related obligations.
- Health and capacity to teach assessment
Any questions asked are targeted and relevant to the capacity to teach. Applicants with a disability are under no obligation to disclose it and will be given every opportunity before and during the assessment to request reasonable adjustments.
- Headteacher confirmation of suitability
We obtain written confirmation of your suitability for the Assessment Only Route from the headteacher of your most recent employing school, or from an alternative senior member of staff where the headteacher is unable to provide it.
- Safeguarding information from your school
Your school will provide you with its child protection policy, its staff behaviour policy, information about the role of the designated safeguarding lead, and a copy of Keeping Children Safe in Education.
(Academic Year 2026/27)
Fees for UK-based candidates are based on distance from the University of Derby (DE22 1GB):
- Up to 50 miles: £2,650
- 51 to 74 miles: £2,850
- 75 to 100 miles: £3,050
- 100 or more miles: please contact askadmissions@derby.ac.uk
For candidates based outside the UK: £3,450 per candidate
Course updates
The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.
Programme leader:
Jayne Leggott
Assessors:
Clare Giles
Heather Kinuthia
Rubi Mahmood
Contact us
To discuss the Assessment Only QTS route or get help with your application:
Enquiry Form
Call us +44 (0)1332 591044
Join an advisory webinar to find out more. Contact pgtadmissionsE@derby.ac.uk to find out the dates and to book onto one of our webinars.
.jpg)
