Applying for teacher training need not be held back due to gaps in subject knowledge, or lack of degree in that subject.
Subject Knowledge Enhancement is a scheme started by the Department for Education (DfE) to boost teacher numbers in shortage subjects. SKE courses aim to make teaching a viable career path for all graduates.
If you apply to us, we may ask you to take an SKE course if we feel you have the right qualities to become a great teacher, but believe you need to complete additional subject enhancement training first. If that is the case, we will offer you a place conditional upon completing an appropriate SKE course.
This could be for several reasons, including:
- your degree wasn’t in your chosen subject, but it was closely related
- you completed your degree more than five years ago
- you studied the subject at A level, but not at University
- you have relevant professional experience, and an SKE course will show you how to apply that to the curriculum and your teaching
Taking an Subject Knowledge Enhancement course will enable those with the potential to become outstanding teachers to increase or refresh their subject knowledge. They give us confidence that you fully understand your subject enough to be able to teach it.
About Subject Knowledge Enhancement Programmes
SKE programmes are completed face to face, online, or a combination of both, and are available in certain secondary subjects. (Chemistry, Computing, Languages, Maths and Physics funded, and Biology, Design and Technology, English, Geography and Religious Education self-funded).
The length of SKE varies depending on your need – from 8 week ‘refresher’ or ‘booster’ programmes, through to more extensive 36 week courses. You can take the course part-time, spreading it out over a longer period, or go for a shorter, more intense, schedule with more hours per week. You need to finish your course before you start your teacher training.
We will discuss your options with you once you have accepted a place on our programme. The majority of our SKE is facilitated via Eureka, VidLearn or TES
Eligibility & Funding
The Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) package is reviewed annually by the DfE. After the latest review, the DfE have confirmed that for the first 6 months of the academic year 2024 to 2025 (October 2024 to March 2025), they will offer funded SKE provision in Chemistry, Computing, Languages, Maths and Physics.
Arrangements for April to September 2025 will be confirmed following the DfE spending review which will determine the funding available to support SKE delivery in that period.
Self-funded courses are available in Biology, Design and Technology, English, Geography and Religious Education.
You must have been offered a place on our programme (or with another provider) with enrolment on an SKE course as a condition of acceptance.
If you have a degree in your chosen ITT subject that was awarded in the previous 5 years you will not be eligible for an SKE.
You may be eligible for a training bursary of £175 per week to support you throughout the SKE course. The SKE bursary is only available in the following subjects: Chemistry, Computing, Languages, Maths and Physics.
The bursary is dependent on progression at the required rate - to receive the SKE bursary you need to complete the equivalent of 20-25 hours of study each week. However, it may be possible to extend the duration of the course enabling you to work less hours per week for a longer period.
