Try a taster course

Three day taster courses, including a one-day school placement, are designed to help you decide whether to apply for initial teacher training.

Tailored to different subjects and age groups, taster courses are for people thinking about teaching a secondary priority subject or who are from groups currently under-represented in the teaching profession - eg. men (especially in the primary sector), minority ethnic groups and people with disabilities.

Search for a taster course in your region 

Please note:

In Wales, courses operate either as taster courses (via ITT providers) or as 'prepare to teach' courses (via the Open University). Learn more about these courses.

Taster courses are not for people who have already applied for an initial teacher training place.

Courses are not intended to provide basic school experience to support your application to ITT and may not be counted as relevant experience by ITT providers.

Before starting a taster course in England, you must obtain a registration number, either by registering with the TDA online or calling the Teaching Information Line on 0845 6000 991.

“If you are deciding about training to teach then you should definitely get as much experience of the classroom as possible.”

Amber Hopkins, 24
PGCE applicant