If you’re thinking about training to become a teacher with The John Taylor SCITT, one of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether to pursue a PGCE with QTS or opt for QTS Only. Both routes will lead you to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), the professional qualification you need to teach in most schools in England, but they differ in structure, content, and future potential.
QTS is the essential professional qualification recognised by schools in England that confirms you have met the national Teachers’ Standards. It’s the key requirement for working as a qualified teacher in state schools within the United Kingdom.
A PGCE is a postgraduate academic qualification awarded by a degree awarding institutions such as a university (with The John Taylor SCITT, through the University of Derby). It sits at Level 7 on the UK qualifications framework and typically carries 60 Master’s credits, meaning it can contribute towards a future Master’s degree. It’s an academic complement to the practical classroom training you receive.
This is the more traditional and academically recognised route. You train through the SCITT program, completing your classroom experience alongside university-led academic study.
The QTS Only route at The John Taylor SCITT is designed for trainees who want to focus purely on classroom practice and the professional standards needed to teach, without the additional academic assignments that come with a PGCE.
Whether you choose PGCE with QTS or QTS Only, you will benefit from:
Qualifcation
Academic Study
Master’s Credits
Practical Focus
Future Study Potential
Both routes at The John Taylor SCITT lead to Qualified Teacher Status, the essential qualification to teach in schools in England and Wales. Your choice really comes down to how much emphasis you want to place on academic study versus classroom experience.
Whichever path you choose, you’ll be supported by an experienced team and gain real-world experience that equips you for a rewarding career in teaching.
You can search and apply for all our courses here:
In this blog, Mike Simmons, JTSCITT Director, discusses the importance of mentor meetings and having regular guidance from a skilled teacher to help challenge and celebrate you during your training.
In this blog, one of our trainees reflects on their first term as trainee teacher – sharing more on how they’ve grown in confidence, managed behaviour and how they’re building foundation for the next stage.
In this blog, Mike Simmons, JTSCITT Director, discusses the importance of lesson observation and getting constructive feedback during your teacher training.
In this blog, one of our trainees reflects on their first term as a trainee teacher, sharing insights from training to classroom experience.
