Training partnerships based in a higher education institution (HEI) or further education (FE) college

These are based in a university or college but, in accordance with the secretary of state’s requirements, must involve a close partnership with schools. While the HEI is ultimately responsible for the management of the training, schools are heavily involved in selecting, training and assessing trainees. The training is funded by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) through the finance department of the HEI.

School-centred initial teacher training (SCITT)

The training is based in schools, usually as consortia, and is organised by them. The schools design the training programme and organise its delivery. If the SCITT chooses, it can seek the involvement of an HEI or local authority, but can only provide postgraduate routes that may lead to the award of qualified teacher status (QTS).

The SCITT may designate a lead school to carry out financial management and other functions. In these cases, the training is funded by the TDA through the governing body of the lead school. Alternatively, the consortium may prefer to work with a managing agent which could provide some overall management functions, including the design of the training programme and the organisation of its delivery. Organisations such as an HEI, FE college, local authority, subject association and religious or community groups may wish to play this role. In such cases, they are required to work in close partnership with the schools in the consortium. The training is funded by the TDA through the organisation designated as the managing agent.

Employment-based routes (EBR)

Training offered by EBR providers are the graduate teacher programme (GTP), the registered teacher programme (RTP) and the overseas trained teacher programme (OTTP). The training is based in, and organised by schools, and involves individuals being employed in schools as unqualified teachers while undertaking a structured training programme. The EBR provider and schools work in partnership to design, organise and deliver training programme(s) leading to the award of QTS.

If the EBR provider chooses, it can seek the involvement of an HEI or local authority and in some cases the EBR provider will be an HEI or local authority. Depending on the type of EBR place allocated, the TDA currently contributes funding towards salary, training and, where applicable, trainees’ assessment costs.