National DfE Criteria
The Department for Education (DfE) has set criteria to ensure that all entrants to ITT have demonstrated their achievement of a minimum standard of educational attainment.
All applicants must:
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hold (or will hold by the start of the programme) a standard equivalent to Grade 4/C in GCSE in English and Maths. Certificates will be required at interview (certified statements can be requested from the examination boards for any lost/stolen certificates)
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hold (or will hold by the start of the programme) a first degree from a UK Higher Education Institution (or equivalent if studied overseas)
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have the right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the programme
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not currently hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
Applicants who are otherwise suitable for ITT but have not successfully achieved a GCSE Grade 4 may be given an opportunity to show that they can meet the required standard by taking an equivalence test, these are available through either Equivalency Testing or A* Star Equivalency. Please note Level 2 Functional Skills qualifications are NOT accepted as equivalent qualifications.
If you were educated overseas you will need to obtain a statement of comparability from ENIC (the UK National Information Centre for the recognition and evaluation of international qualifications and skills) to assess if you meet the national entry criteria.
i2i Criteria
We look for the following qualifications in potential candidates:
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a strong A Level or Degree relevant to the subject you want to teach is preferred (applicants must be able to demonstrate appropriate subject knowledge for the age range they intend to teach)
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a 2:2 or higher classification is preferred, however third class classifications will be considered
We look for the following seven key personal qualities:
- A positive attitude & commitment to working with young people. Teachers must have a genuine and realistic enthusiasm for working with children and young people, treating them with dignity, being able to build relationships rooted in mutual respect, whilst at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to their professional position.
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A passion for your subject and for delivering first class education. While we look for candidates with a deep understanding and knowledge of their subjects, it is equally important that this expertise is paired with enthusiasm. Your passion for your subject as a teacher is infectious; passionate teachers can hugely inspire young people and make a real difference. Our trainees and teacher play a huge part in furthering our vision of improving the life chances of our students through outstanding education.
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Excellent interpersonal, communication, organisation and time-management skills. Speaking, listening, and communicating are fundamental to a teacher’s role. As a teacher you need to use standard English grammar, clear pronunciation, and vocabulary relevant to the situation to convey instructions, questions, information, concepts, and ideas with clarity. Writing by teachers will be seen by colleagues, pupils, and parents and, as such, it is important that a teacher’s writing reflects the high standards of accuracy their professional role demands. The role of a teacher is complex and busy, with many competing demands; this requires excellent organisational and time management abilities, and you need to be able to work effectively as part of a team.
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A creative and innovative approach. The ability to find new ways to engage and enthuse your students, as well and the ability to develop your own knowledge and practice, are essential to a progressive and successful career in teaching.
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The ability to be reflective and improve your practice, and an eagerness to learn. Feedforward and development are key focusses of the teacher training programme. Trainees are encouraged to reflect on and look critically at their practice in order to identify areas for development and accept and absorb feedforward from their mentors. This, combined with a natural enthusiasm for learning, will ensure that your development is ongoing as you progress through the course on your way to becoming an exceptional teacher. Excellent teaching comes from more than just subject knowledge and expertise. The best teachers are hungry to continue learning themselves.
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The resilience, energy and stamina to thrive in a challenging environment. Training to teach, and teaching, is hard. While helpful and constructive, not all the feedback you receive as a trainee will be positive.. The workload is intense, and you will be juggling multiple demands. Your students may face challenging circumstances that manifest in the classroom and you will need to develop the techniques and skills to manage these. You will need emotional strength to manage this, and the ability to remain positive and optimistic in the face of setbacks. As tough as this may sound, the rewards of teaching make these challenges so worth it. Trainee wellbeing is a high priority and our dedicated team is here to support you every step of the way.
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High standards of personal and professional conduct. A good teacher needs to maintain high standards in ethics and behaviour both within and outside school and uphold public trust in the profession. Tolerance, mutual respect, and upholding fundamental British values are essential characteristics that all teachers must show.
Additionally, you should have a strong commitment to secondary education and have ideally spent time working (either paid or in voluntary capacity) in an education setting. We understand that for many, this isn't possible. In these circumstances, you will have taken other steps to have a clear understanding of how a modern secondary school works.
The i2i Teaching Partnership will support you with the process of gaining School Experience - please see our dedicated School Experience Page for further details.
Successful applicants will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Further information regarding this process will be provided once an offer has been made.
