Assessment Only Route
The ideal route into teaching for experienced unqualified teachers
The Assessment Only (AO) Route allows colleagues working as unqualified teachers to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS) without having to do any further training.
This route to Qualified Teacher status is designed for experienced colleagues who have direct, prior experience in educational settings. This pathway allows staff to demonstrate that they have already met all of the standards for QTS, by presenting a detailed portfolio of evidence.
Their teaching is then assessed in a school by Haybridge SCITT as an accredited and approved AO provider.
Essential Requirements to be considered for the AO route
- GCSE Maths and English for Secondary, GCSE Maths and English (plus Science for Primary teachers) at Grade 4 (previously grade C) or above (or equivalent).
- A degree from a UK university (or equivalent).
- A contract of employment as a teacher, either full-time or part-time, in the subject for which you wish to gain QTS. (Candidates on a temporary one-year contract are eligible to apply).
- Have been employed by your present school for at least 12 months.
- Primary trainees: Experience of having undertaken the full responsibilities of a teacher in a Primary school, teaching the full curriculum across the age range for which you are seeking. assessment, for at least two years (or equivalent if part-time).
- Secondary trainees: Experience of having undertaken the full responsibilities of a teacher in a Secondary school, teaching the subject across the age range for which you are seeking assessment, for at least two years (or equivalent if part-time). (Colleagues who only teach a subject at Key Stages 4 and 5 should have experience in a post 16 setting for one of their experiences).
Preparing for assessment
Candidates for Assessment Only QTS need to have had the opportunities to meet the teacher standards within their teaching role over the last 2 years. They will also need to have had the opportunity to teach in a contrasting school for a period of 6 weeks. Ideally, they will have been supported in gaining and collating their evidence base via their school’s normal CPD programme and with the support of an appropriate colleague (e.g. the school’s ITT lead). The application process needs to be fully supported by the employing school.
The Process
Interview and assessment of suitability
The potential candidate will be interviewed to ascertain the following:
- That all relevant documentation (such as original certificates and safeguarding documentation) is in place.
- Competency in the classroom across two consecutive key stages as measured against the Teachers’ Standards.
- That satisfactory evidence can be presented against all Teachers’ Standards.
- That a second school placement has been undertaken.
- An audit will be carried out in English and mathematics as part of the interview process.
An initial fee of £750 is payable by the employing school following the initial interview and assessment of suitability.
Following the interview and assessment of suitability, a decision will be made as to whether a candidate may proceed to the next stage in the process. Conditions may be set at this point including:
- Competency in literacy and numeracy as evidenced by the completion of assessments.
- A second school placement must have been undertaken.
- Any other condition raised by the initial interview and assessment of suitability.
Once an unconditional offer is made individual guidance will indicate the length of the route for each candidate and will be based on the candidate’s initial application, teaching experience, evidence of standards already met, and the interview day. The length of the route is a maximum of 12 working weeks
The Final Assessment
The Final Assessment visit will involve verifying the candidate’s ability to meet, and continue to meet, all of the Teachers’ Standards for the award of Qualified Teacher Status. This will involve the following:
- Examination of evidence presented against each of the Teachers’ Standards.
- Assess for continued competency in the classroom across two consecutive key stages as measured against the Teachers’ Standards. Discussion with mentor regarding progress.
- Discussion with candidate on selected Teachers’ Standards.
A fee of £1750 is payable following the completion of the final assessment.
