Types of training provider

Which factors should you consider when choosing your training provider? 

Initial teacher training (ITT) providers range from large universities with more than 1,000 trainees to groups of schools that provide school-centred ITT (SCITT) for around 10 to 20 trainees. Your options are defined by the kind of course you're interested in and your present situation.

Higher education institutions

Universities, colleges and other higher education institutions offer both undergraduate and postgraduate initial teacher training courses. You will also undergo a teacher placement in schools. Research your course and training provider thoroughly before applying.

See a list of higher education institutions offering ITT

Teach First

The Teach First programme is an independently provided course of ITT, leadership training and commercial work experience, intended for high-flying graduates. Learn more about the teach first programme.

Schools

You can also choose to complete your initial teacher training at a school, either through a set school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) course or an employment-based programme, tailored to you by an employment-based initial teacher training provider (EBITT provider) - please note that each is funded differently:

See a list of SCITT providers

Employment based initial teacher training (EBITT providers)

EBITT providers are partnerships of schools, local education authorities and ITT providers that help to provide employment-based teacher training programmes. They recruit trainees, help match them with appropriate schools and design training programmes tailored to individual needs.

Find out more about employment-based routes into teaching

“My training was excellent. On the theoretical side, we learnt all the core topics: teaching, classroom management, time management, lesson planning, assessing pupils’ learning needs and tracking their progress.”

Jayne Long
Deputy head of science

Next steps

Visit the UCAS website  
Search for undergraduate ITT courses and find out more about the application process.

Search for a postgraduate course 
Find the postgraduate course that best suits your requirements.

Find an employment based initial teacher training provider (EBITT provider)  
Search for an EBITT provider offering the services you need in your area.