Gain qualified teacher status while working in school
This qualification allows you to work towards a recommendation for qualified teacher status (QTS) in your current setting. Our Secondary PGTA programme allows you to:
- complete your teacher training on a work-based pathway
- work closely with expert colleagues experienced in both your own setting and at St Mary’s
- receive a salary from your employing school during your training.
The Secondary PGTA course at St Mary’s allows you to train to teach pupils aged 11-16.
This programme will start in September and has a duration of 15 months.
What you'll do
This postgraduate, work-based route into the sector will allow you to benefit from paid employment status along with 80% on-the-job training and 20% off-the-job-training.
During your Initial Teacher Training (ITT), you will be employed by a school within the St Mary’s Partnership for ITT for 12 months. You may already be working at a school as an unqualified teacher or teaching assistant. The course is salaried. Employers that pay into the apprenticeship levy will be able to use up to £9,000 of funding from their apprenticeship service account to cover the cost of training and assessing the apprentice.
As part of the 80% on-the-job training, you will work as an unqualified teacher for four days of the week which will predominantly take place in your employing school.
You will also spend at least 20% of your time off-timetable developing the professional expertise and core knowledge expected of teachers of secondary age pupils, including your understanding of how to teach your specialist subject. This will usually take place one day per working week.
Eleanor Stewart
Head of Teachers Education Partnerships (School of Education)
Upcoming webinars and events
Postgraduate events
Join us at a postgraduate event
Course content
Modules
These modules are the modules that were available to students in the 2023/24 academic year and are illustrative of what may be offered for 2024/25.
Please note: it is possible that a module listed on the website will not be able to run due to reasons beyond our control. For more information please refer to our course information disclaimer.
Entry requirements
In addition to a first degree and the other qualifications listed below, you will need to be employed in a school willing to support your apprenticeship to enrol on our Secondary PGTA course.
Additional requirement information
We are committed to recruiting trainee teachers who have the ability to work in a way that promotes the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. The interview process will cover the suitability of applicants to work with children and young people.
You will also need to have:
- a bachelor’s degree from a UK or non-UK university (or other institution)
- a maths qualification of the same standard as GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) grade 4
- relevant subject knowledge expertise
- excellent written and verbal English language skills
- at least one year’s experience in a school setting
Those applicants meeting the required GCSE standard by taking an equivalence test or by offering other evidence of attainment will additionally need functional skills qualifications or equivalent qualifications at level 2 in mathematics and English.
You will need to be employed in a school willing to support your apprenticeship to enrol on our PGTA course.
International Requirements
International students should check our country-specific pages for equivalents. If English is not your first language you will need to achieve an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any section.
We now accept IELTS Indicator test results as proof of your English language level.
To show you meet the required standard in the English language, you’ll need one of the following:
- an International English Language Testing System (IELTS)(opens in new window) score of 6.5 or higher
- the equivalent score in another English language testing system
- to have completed some of your education in the English language, for example, a degree studied in English.
Further Information
For more information about entry requirements please email apply@stmarys.ac.uk.
Fees & funding
September 2025
Home
£9,000
International
£16,320
Additional costs
Your tuition fees will cover the cost of all mandatory elements of your programme. Additional costs could be incurred depending on optional modules chosen and other projects undertaken.
For further information about additional costs please see our additional costs webpage.
Your course fees will be paid for by the school in which you are employed.
Funding
You can check on the UK government website to see if you may be eligible for a loan of up to £12,167 to help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate programme.
Home and international students may also be eligible for external sources of funding. International students should check their eligibility for our International Scholarship.
For more information, please look at our postgraduate funding page.
How the degree is taught
Assessment methods
After successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will be assessed against the Teachers’ Standards required to be awarded Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). You will then complete a final assessment, known as an End Point Assessment (EPA), at the start of your Early Career Teacher (ECT) year.
Trainees are recommended for Qualified Teacher Status by successfully meeting the Teachers’ Standards (DfE). Continuous assessment throughout the programme will determine success.
Self-assessment is also recognised as a valuable perspective in the evaluation of both school and centre-based work.
We us other assessments to ensure you understand and can apply the knowledge. This may include:
- self-assessment
- presentations
- micro-teaching
- lesson observations
- portfolio of evidence against the Department for Education’s Teachers’ Standards.
Assessment is ongoing and is measured against the Teachers’ Standards. We require high standards of attendance, punctuality and participation from you for of all course elements.
Career opportunities
If you choose to teach in England, as an early career teacher you’ll benefit from a two-year induction period alongside your work in school. You’ll continue to earn a salary and get mentoring and continuous professional development to help you succeed as a fully qualified teacher.
While induction is a requirement to teach in most schools in England, you do not need to complete an induction period to teach outside the UK.
However, if you wish, you can choose to complete your early career teacher induction at a Department for Education-accredited British School Overseas(opens in new window).
Apply now
All applications for PGTA programmes are made via the Department for Education's (DfE) application system.
Along with your academic qualifications and personal information, your application will need to include a personal statement and references.
Make sure to check our step-by-step guide to application process.
More from St Mary's
We have a range of webinars and events to help you decide whether St Mary's is the place for you.
Discover what life is like on our London campus.