Welcome to the CCCU ebook about how to get into teaching. Whether you don’t yet have a degree, want to do a postgraduate qualification, or you’re an unqualified teacher looking for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), this ebook is for all students in the UK in who want to become a fully qualified teacher in primary, secondary, or further education.

Our aim is to help you as much as we can through your teaching journey, from deciding which route to take to explaining the teachers’ standards. This ebook is specifically aimed at students who are looking to teach in the UK. Therefore, any information about teaching English as a second language isn’t included here.

Firstly, we recommend that you start with the quiz in Chapter 1 to see which course is best for you and then flick through to the relevant course page. We also recommend that you read through the chapter ‘How to gain QTS’, and what will happen during your Early Careers Teacher Entitlement (ECTE) period.

Throughout this ebook, there are a lot of acronyms and abbreviations mentioned that are used throughout the sector. As your teacher training progresses, you’ll become more familiar with the language. But in the meantime, there’s a glossary to help you.

Teaching really is one of the most rewarding careers you can choose. Guiding children, young people, and adult learners to help them discover who they are and what they want to do in life is one of the most important and gratifying parts of the job. The opportunity to shape minds and witness their growth is an unparalleled experience.

What’s more, no two days will ever be the same as you foster a dynamic classroom environment where creativity and problem-solving are essential. You’ll also commit to lifelong learning as you learn and adapt to new technologies, teaching methods, and curriculum, instilling a growth mindset within yourself.

Whilst undeniably demanding, particularly in your first few years, there are other perks of teaching that you’ll benefit from:

• a competitive starting salary of £32,916
• extended time off school holidays
• career progression.

So, if this seems like a journey that you’re ready to embark on, then let’s get started.

1. Find out which route to take based on your answers in the quiz below.
2. Then scroll down to 'Initial teaching education courses' to find out more information about the course you have chosen and how to apply. 

Whichever route you take, you will have to evidence that you have achieved grade C/level 4 in maths and English GCSE, or equivalent. To teach primary, you must also have a grade C/level 4 minimum GCSE in science.

You can apply to study with us without these qualifications, but you must have these GCSEs before your course start date.

Training to teach in further education (FE) does differ from training to teach primary or secondary, so if you’re set on teaching in FE, then it’s important for you to understand these nuances.

Firstly, gaining QTS isn’t necessary for teaching in FE. Rather, you’ll need to aim for eligibility for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status. Both our PGCE FE and Education in Further Education and Skills courses meets one of the eligibility criteria for gaining QTLS.

In order to gain full QTLS, you must meet the full eligibility criteria that’s set out by the Society for Education and Training (SET).

In addition, reference to the teachers’ standards and ECT period isn’t applicable to those in FE. Therefore, any information regarding QTS, teachers’ standards, and ECTE isn’t relevant within FE.

Depending on which course you’ve chosen, there are a few different application options. Applying instructions should be on the relevant course page, so be sure to check online.

Applications open from October, and you’ll need to have all your qualifications to hand, including GCSEs. If you don’t have the relevant GCSEs then you can still apply, but you will need to pass them before you start your course. You’ll also need to have written your personal statement and have two reference details ready.

Below are instructions for how to apply for the courses that we provide. If you have to apply via UCAS, you can head to our website to find out how to complete your UCAS application with our handy step-by-step guide.

Primary Education

Like with the majority of our undergraduate courses, simply apply via UCAS (UCAS code: X122). 

PGCE and School Based

For all postgraduate courses, you must apply via the government website.

Assessment Only

You can apply for this 12 week course via our website on our system which is called MyRecord.

Select the Apply button at the top of the page.

Diploma in Further Education and Skills

Simply apply via our website on MyRecord.

Select the Apply button at the top of the page.

Childhood & Youth route

1. Childhood, Youth & Communities Foundation Degree: Apply via UCAS (UCAS code: X321)
2. BA (Hons) Youth & Communities Top Up: Apply via UCAS (UCAS code: X326)
3. PGCE: Apply via the government website.

Childhood, Youth & SEN route

1. Childhood, Youth & SEN Foundation Degree: Apply via UCAS (UCAS code: X325)
2. Childhood, Youth & SEN Top-up Degree: Apply via UCAS (UCAS code: X324)
3. PGCE: Apply via the government website.

Most courses will ask you for an interview. This is a great opportunity to showcase your abilities and experience, and to really show your passion for why you want to become a teacher.

At CCCU, you’ll have a different interview depending on which course you take.

For our primary courses you’ll be invited to a remote interview which will consist of two parts:

• a short presentation activity consisting of a 3-5 minute presentation on an educational topic or current issue in education
• a formal interview with one of our academics.

The remote interview for our PGCE Secondary course is very similar to that of the primary interviews, apart from the presentation topic. For your presentation topic you’ll be required to present on a specific subject briefing, which can be found on our website.

For the PGCE Further Education interview, you’ll be required to sit a comprehension and written task relating to a key issue in current post-compulsory education and training, which will be sat live during the remote interview. You’ll also be interviewed by one of the Further Education and Skills team, discussing current issues in the sector, your experience, and the skills needed to succeed in teaching. This interview should take around 90 minutes altogether.

All information regarding remote interviews including preparation tips, presentation briefings, and other important information, can be found on our website.

Remember that different ITE providers may have a different interview process to CCCU, so please be sure to check this with your relevant institution.

Having previous, relevant experience before applying isn’t compulsory for your application, but it is beneficial. Previous experience can include volunteering in a school, tutoring, or childminding. If you have any classroom experience, then this is a bonus.

We recommend you gain some relevant experience before applying to train to illustrate your drive and willingness to enter the profession. It also gives you the opportunity to see what the job role entails and will give you more of an awareness of the career that you’re about to embark on.

Gaining relevant experience also reduces the chance of you deciding to drop-out or switch courses as you’re already aware of the demands of teaching before committing to a teaching qualification, enabling you to tackle challenges better if issues arise during your training.

Embarking on a teaching qualification, particularly a PGCE, can initially be a little overwhelming after completing your bachelor’s degree. So, the more experience you have, the better prepared you’ll be for when you start the new academic year.  

There are four main types of funding available for teacher training. Depending on your circumstances and which route you choose to take, you may be eligible to apply for multiple funding options below:

• Tuition loan and maintenance loan: Provided by Student Finance England, this is the loan that you apply for when looking to study an undergraduate or PGCE course.
• Tax-free government bursary: Depending on which subject you want to teach, you may be entitled to a government bursary on top of your student finance. However, this award isn’t available for every subject, including primary, or if you’re receiving a salary during teacher training. Check out the Get Into Teaching website to see how much you can get for your chosen subject. For teacher training in further education, go to the gov website for updated information for FE bursaries.
• Bursary for veterans: This government bursary of £40,000 is an incentive to get ex-servicemen and women into teaching, starting on an undergraduate course. This only applies to ex-forces if you have been out of service within five years and want to study specific subjects. Find all the information you need on the government website.
• Salaried courses: If you choose a salaried course, you won’t be able to benefit from the above funding options. However, you will be paid an unqualified teacher’s salary, which is dependent on which school you work in. Unlike the government bursary, you will be taxed on your salary.

Remember to check which scholarships your university also offers. For example, you may be eligible for the following awards that we offer here at CCCU:

• Sport Scholarship
• Care Leaver’s Bursary
• CCCU Grant.

Check out our scholarships and bursaries page for more information on what we offer.

Before you embark on your training, we want you to feel completely informed. So, here are some myth busters and answers to your most popular questions.

1. Do I need relevant teaching experience before I apply?

It’s not compulsory to have experience before you apply but we really do recommend it as this will give first-hand insights into what the profession is like.

Whether you want to volunteer in a local school or nursery, or you have worked with children and/or young adults before, this will all count towards relevant experience. 

2. Can I become a teacher without a degree? 

In most cases, you will need to have a university-level education in order to become a primary or secondary school teacher, and many schools require you to have QTS.

However, there are some alternative routes where you may not need a traditional degree in order to get into teaching: 

• Teacher degree apprenticeships (TDAs): This route will enable you to work whilst studying for a degree-level teaching qualification. 
• Further education: Depending on your experience, you don't always need a degree to teach in FE. 
• Early years: Whilst you don't need a degree-level qualification to work in early years, you can study alongside working through our Childhood & Youth route (see Chapter 1). 

2. Are UK teachers paid well?

With the average UK graduate salary starting from £25,000, the starting salary for a teacher is way above this, starting at £32,916. If you’re teaching in London, it’s more.

There’s also room for financial and professional progression. Whether you want to progress in a pastoral route, or become Head of Department for example, this added responsibility comes with a pay rise.

Here's a breakdown of a teacher's salary, depending where you are in England: 

3. How long can I take to complete my ECTE period?

The ECTE will take a minimum of two years to complete. Depending on your personal circumstances, you may be eligible to extend your ECTE period so you can pass.

For more information about the ECTE period, head to chapter 5.

4. Is every school the same? 

Each school is different and, depending on your teaching style and ethos, your style of teaching may not suit every school. Some differences that schools have include:

• different curriculums
• different behaviour policies
• different SEN support
• different class sizes
• different school times and number of lessons.

The list continues! Before you apply for jobs at schools, we recommend you book in a tour around the school to really get a feel for what it’s like. You could then speak to students and staff, and may even have the opportunity to speak to one of the Senior Leadership Team or the Headteacher.

Booking an initial tour before applying shows your initiative and gives you a chance to present yourself in the best way possible too.

5. Can I still apply to teach if I have a degree but not my GCSEs in maths and English?

In order to start your teacher training, you'll need grade C/level 4 GCSEs in maths and English. If you’re opting to teach primary, you'll need at least grade C/level 4 or equivalent in science. You will need your GCSEs even if you have a degree.

If you don’t have your GCSEs yet, you can still apply, but you’ll need to have passed both maths and English before you start your course.

Having these fundamental qualifications evidence that you’re able to use basic maths and English, which is essential in every teaching role.

6. Do I have to join a teaching union?

It’s not compulsory to join a union but you can. You can even join a union as a trainee as you’ll be in the classroom during this time. You may even get free or discounted membership as an ITE student.

There are a few different unions to choose from including:

• NEU
• NASUWT
• UNISON

plus more options available.

If joining a union, it’s best to do your research into each so your specific needs and expectations are met.

7. How big is the workload for a teacher? 

We won’t lie – teaching comes with a lot of work and a lot of admin. And it can be quite overwhelming at first. But once you find your feet, and you have your lesson plans ready, teaching becomes a lot easier.

What’s more, you’ll teach on a reduced timetable during your training and ECTE years, so you won’t have a full teaching timetable until the third year of your career. This gives you time to focus on your university work and other pieces of work you have to do in order to pass your ECTE period.

8. Can I specialise in a subject that wasn’t my degree?

You can specialise in a subject that wasn't your degree depending on your level of subject knowledge. If you studied Film and Media for example, you can apply to be an English teacher, but you must demonstrate your level of subject knowledge during your ITE interview.

If your subject knowledge isn’t quite up to standard, you can do a subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) course before you start your teacher training. This is usually an online course that ranges from 8-25 weeks.

Depending on your knowledge gaps, your ITE provider will recommend which course length will be best suited to you. But don’t worry, there is a part-time option to choose as well. 

During your training year, you’ll have time to enhance your subject knowledge so you’re fully prepared for teaching a subject that you may not have studied before.

Remember, you don’t need to have a degree in the subject you’re teaching, especially if you’re teaching at primary level.

If you’re worried about your lack of subject knowledge, you can always look at the curriculum and different exam boards to see what they cover before you attend your ITE interview.

9. Do you spend hours marking as a teacher? 

The amount of time you spend marking depends on your school's marking policy. Some schools have a heavy policy, where you have to deep mark each week/month/term etc. Some schools may only have a live marking policy, where you mark during class time only.

It all depends on the school’s framework and marking policy, and it’s a good question to ask when researching schools during your job applications.

10. Is teaching easy? 

Whilst teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs you can do, it isn’t the easiest job. In the beginning, expect long hours and a lot of admin. But don’t worry - this does get easier as you get better.

You may have also read that teachers get free holidays. Teachers get paid pro-rata so this isn’t the case. But it is nice to have some time to recuperate throughout the year and, depending on your workload and time management, you may not have to take work home.

Teaching is one of the best careers you can choose. So, if you want to transform lives, benefit from career progression, and teach a subject you love, then teaching is definitely for you.

11. What is the best age to become a teacher?

You can start teaching at any age. Whether you want to begin your teaching career in your 20s or you decide on a career change in your 50s, you can be a great teacher at any stage in your life. 

If you're in your 20s and have a real passion for teaching, then bringing that energy and enthusiasm into the classroom is fantastic for children's learning. 

If you're mid-career and want a change, then you can bring your knowledge and a diverse skillset into the classroom.

If you've experienced a full career and want a change in your 50s or 60s, then sharing your life experience, knowledge, and wisdom in the classroom is a great tool for engaging children. 

Wherever you are in your life, if you want to embark on a teaching career, then you can do. 

QTS stands for Qualified Teacher Status, and it’s a term that will be mentioned a lot throughout your training. Ultimately, this is what you need to achieve to become a fully qualified teacher.

Having QTS illustrates that you are able to meet the necessary standards for teaching and are competent to deliver effective education.

QTS is important as it ensures that all qualified teachers meet a certain level of competence and professionalism, which helps to maintain high standards within the education system.

What’s more, the majority of schools in England prefer that their teaching staff maintain QTS and it’s often a prerequisite for many teaching positions.

Having QTS allows you to progress in your teaching career, enabling you to climb both the professional and financial ladder.

Overall, QTS serves as the benchmark for quality teaching, ensuring all children receive the best possible education.

All our primary and secondary teaching courses offer QTS. However, some teacher training courses do not offer QTS upon graduation, so be sure to check with your ITE provider.

Reflective practice is essential during your ITE period, and beyond, as it enables you to critically reflect and evaluate your own practice as you identify areas for improvement and how to better your teaching.

Not only will this process help to develop your self-awareness and how to adapt to the needs of your students, but you’ll continue to refine your teaching approach, which you will then carry on throughout the rest of your career.

Through this, you’ll become confident in continuously evolving as the sector also evolves, enabling you to always provide effective learning experiences throughout your long-lasting career.

Reflective practice is critical within the teaching profession, and it’s a vital part of gaining QTS. To gain QTS, you must:

• meet the teachers’ standards
• apply to the Core Content Framework (CCF) by engaging with evidence-based practices
• demonstrate progress
• successfully compete placements.

Through effective reflective practice, you’ll be able to evidence how you are progressing within your teaching, as well as applying the CCF.

Each week, you’ll keep a record of your reflective practice, illustrating your continued critical reflection. This weekly task is target-based, meaning you’ll set three targets to focus on, which you’ll then aim to meet and reflect on. These targets will be set with your mentor to ensure they are appropriate and can be supported by your school setting.

Here are just a few tips to help you with your reflective practice from some of our current ITE students:

1. Focus on your observations: Each week, you’ll be observed by your mentor who will fill out an observation form. This form will contain comments covering observations including how the lesson could be improved. These are great points to pay attention to within your reflective practice as it will give you a specific focus for what to work on.
2. Read the literature: Delve into current and relevant literature that will help you to understand what you need to do to achieve your targets. Showing that you are making decisions based on research will highlight your critical thinking and ability to take an evidence-based approach to your teaching practice.
3. Ask questions: A simple yet effective tip, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Whether that’s your mentor, a teacher, or the SENCO, asking questions and gaining advice from current professionals will help you tremendously when it comes to figuring out how you should teach well. Having these conversations and reflecting on them may also fit well into that week’s reflection.
4. Don’t be afraid to try new things: Your ITE period is a time for learning and experimenting in the classroom. If you’ve never tried a behaviour tactic before, for example, then don’t be afraid to give it go (as long as it’s in line with your school’s policy of course). And if it doesn’t work, then at least you tried, and it’s something to reflect on. Also, what works for one class might not work for another, so don’t hesitate to try different teaching techniques that cater to the individuals in your classroom.

Hopefully, after reading this chapter, you better understand QTS and why it’s important. And you now have some insight into what you’ll have to do during your teacher training course in order to gain QTS upon graduation.

Once you graduate and secure a teaching position, you’ll begin your ECTE (Early Career Teacher Entitlement) period. The ECTE period will support and guide you as you enter the teaching profession. This marks the first two years of your teaching career following qualification.

Previously called the Early Career Teacher induction, this framework was updated in September 2025 with the aim of giving more flexibile support to newly qualified teachers to ensure that all their training needs are met. 

Within the new framework, there will be more of a focus on SEND and oracy, and you'll have more flexibility, which will enable your training to be more adaptable to your needs.

What support is provided during Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE) period?

During your ECTE period, you’ll benefit from various forms of support to help you develop your skills and confidence as a teacher. 

• In your first year, you'll will receive 10% more non-contact time compared with other classroom teachers.
• In the second year, you're given 5% additional non-contact time.
• You'll be assigned a dedicated mentor, with regular scheduled meetings to review progress.
• You'll follow a structured professional development programme aligned with the Early Career Framework (ECF), delivered either by the school or an approved provider, during timetabled hours.
• There are two formal assessment points (at the end of terms 3 and 6), alongside informal reviews in other terms.
• Assessments follow a ‘no surprises’ policy, with performance discussed consistently throughout the year.

When applying for teaching jobs, you must make sure that your school firstly offers the ECTE training and is registered with an Appropriate Body (AB). If the school hasn't given you the name of the AB at the start, then make sure you ask for this information.

The AB is an organisation that will validate your ECTE period. It's also there to support you if anything serious arises. 

As a CCCU graduate, you’ll also have support from your tutors during the ECTE period, so don’t be afraid to reach out and contact your lecturers.

Here, CCCU alumni, Lynn, shares her best advice for completing your ITE and ECT years.

How to successfully complete your teacher training years 

I graduated from CCCU with my PGCE in English in 2018. I’m now six years into teaching and am a Head of Department. I’m also a mentor for current ECT students.

The ITE and ECTE periods are tough; juggling teaching and assessments requires a lot of skill and impeccable time management. But with the right advice, you’ll be able to complete these training years and continue to progress within your teaching career.

Whether you’re about to embark on your teacher training or you want some tips for your ECTE years, then below is some advice I give to my mentees.

1. Accepting that the to-do list will never be complete

Sometimes, I’d go into school with a to-do list of about ten things and come out of school with an even longer list! Truthfully, it’s not possible to complete everything. In education, there will always be more that can be done.

The best thing to do is to prioritise what’s urgent. Sometimes I colour code my list using traffic light colours. Ultimately, the most important thing will always be your lessons.

2. Plan out your tasks during your PPA time

I used to just let PPA time roll around and do whatever task I fancied. Not only was this terrible planning and time management, but it was also not smart.

Remember: work smarter, not harder. Now, I plan my weekly PPA time and schedule the most pressing tasks for this precious time.

3. Give yourself a certain amount of time to do each task

Tasks like marking can take hours to complete. And if you’re not careful, you could spend your entire weekend working, which isn’t sustainable.

The best thing to do is to set a timer for each task. This way, you’ll work on a task that needs doing but you’ll be able to manage your time more effectively so you can get some well-needed downtime.

4. Collect evidence for your ECTE as you go, rather than waiting until your assessment point

For my first ECT assessment, I waited until about a week before the deadline and then ended up trying to think retrospectively about all of the ways I had met all of the teacher standards. This was super tough!

Moreover, it was challenging to remember what had happened over the last few months and what little things I had done to help both myself and the children make progress.

For the last two assessment points, I collected evidence as I went. This meant I just had about an hour or two of fine-tuning to do before handing in the assessment.

Evidently, this was a far better system, and treating the evidence file as a working document chunked the task and made it manageable.

5. Do your printing for the next day the night before

If your school or subject is anything like mine, printing is an important but semi-stressful part of the day.

When you have a really busy full day, the printer will probably break… just to test your patience! Or you may get stuck behind someone running off a full cohort of mock exams.

I swear by doing my printing the day before where possible. However, I do sometimes go home instead! Unsurprisingly, I regret this when I am stood behind someone who is printing 250 sheets in the morning…

6. Get the students to leave the books open at the page of the work you need to mark

This sounds so simple, but it’s so effective. This has totally revolutionised my teaching and marking. Sometimes I can get so caught up flicking through books that marking a simple task will take forever. This minimises the time spent skimming through the book, and instead focuses on what is necessary to mark.

7. Get out and observe other staff members in different departments

Sometimes this is difficult when you have lots of deadlines. However, even taking some marking or some work into a colleague’s classroom and sitting at the back whilst they’re teaching their lesson can be helpful.

You can pick up all manner of tips which can help with workload. For example, one tip I picked up from a History teacher was to lay out of all of the student books on the table nearest the door, directing students to pick up their book upon entry. This means you save time handing books out before and during lessons, giving you a couple of minutes to breathe before your next group of students roll in.

I really hope that you can find some comfort in these tips. Hopefully there are some nuggets in here that can help you not only just survive, but thrive. Good luck and enjoy being in the classroom!

Hopefully you now feel fully prepared to enter into teacher training. Not only do you know how to prepare for your ITE interview, but you know what’s expected of you for when you have QTS. And if you want to teach in FE, then, not only will you know which courses you can do to gain eligibility for QTLS, but you also know the full criteria needed to gain this.

Alongside this checklist, make sure you read the Get Into Teaching website, which gives you all the information you need about your teacher training application.

To help you further, use this checklist to help you in your University application.

• Apply for your specific route – if you don’t know which route to take, head back to the quiz in Chapter 1.
• Start your application. This may be via the University, government website, or UCAS depending on which route you choose to take – read Chapter 2 if you’re unsure.
• Write your personal statement.
• Have your qualifications, including your GCSEs, ready.
• Make sure you have two references for your application.
• Apply for student finance – to see what you could be eligible for, read Chapter 2.
• Get ready for your interview – read Chapter 2 for more information.
• Send off your application.

If you have any questions about applying to CCCU for your ITE programme, simply email our Course Enquiry Team and they’ll give you all the information you need to help you apply.

Good luck in applying and we hope to see you at CCCU next year!

There are a lot of abbreviations in teaching, so here’s a handy glossary to help you navigate the language within the sector.