Initial Teacher Training
Qualify as a Primary, Secondary or SEND teacher
Initial Teacher Training (ITT) is designed for graduates of any subject and awards Qualified Teacher Status.
Course duration
11 months
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
In-school placement
4 days a week
Teacher Training
1 day a week
Personal Tutor visits & observation
Full time (minimum of 30 hours a week)
About Initial Teacher Training
Initial Teacher Training is ideal for graduates who are ready to launch their teaching careers, offering hands-on teacher training in placement schools. Successful completion of this programme leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) which will qualify you to teach in all schools across England.
- Skip going back to university, learn in the classroom from day one
- Turn your degree into Qualified Teacher Status in 11 months
- Join a network of hundreds of student teachers across the country
- School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) (Learn more)
- Once qualified, start on a salary of £31-£38k (dependent on location)
Why choose Best Practice Network for your teacher training?
- Ofsted Outstanding: We are a top-rated provider of the Department for Education’s teacher progression pathway, guiding you from your Initial Teacher Training through to executive headteacher roles
- 20+ Years Experience: Delivering teacher training and professional qualifications for teachers, school leaders, support staff and early years professionals
- Subject & Phase Specific Groups: As part of a leading national provider, you'll train alongside peers across the country, specific to your chosen specialism
- Local Placement: Benefit from our network of 500+ partner schools, giving you access to local, high-quality in-school placements
- Supporting wellbeing: Our QTS-only pathway is designed to support your capacity and wellbeing as you transition into your teaching career
- Award-Winning Provider: Best Practice Network has been recognised as Education Apprenticeship Training Provider of the Year for two consecutive years
- 100% of our 2023/24 graduate teachers secured employment for September
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How is Initial Teacher Training delivered?
The programme is full time (minimum of 30 hours a week) and runs for three terms. You will spend 4 days a week in the classroom and complete your practical training in 11 months.
You will gain hands-on teaching experience through training in two school placements which will be arranged by Best Practice Network:
- Host school placement (School A): Your main school placement where you will train for 30 weeks
- Contrasting placement school (School B): A different school where you will spend a 6-week placement in the spring term
- Induction: you will have your first day of learning and ITT Induction before the start of your training to help you prepare for the programme
- Term 1: you will be in your host school this term. Training in school four days a week and attending online or in-person training one day a week
- Term 2: you will spend 6 weeks in a contrasting school placement. This placement will be organised by our placement co-ordinators
- Term 3: you will return to your host school to prepare for the recommendation of QTS
Programme Overview
Primary programme overview
SEND programme overview
Secondary programme overview
Apply for Primary Specialisms
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Choose from one of two age ranges – both are full time.
| Specialism | Age Range | Application Portal |
| Primary | 3-7 | Apply here → |
| Primary | 5-11 | Apply here → |
Apply for SEND Specialisms
| Specialism | Age Range | Application Portal |
| SEND | 3-7 | Apply here → |
| SEND | 5-11 | Apply here → |
SEND overview
Best Practice Network offers a high-quality specialist SEND teacher training programmes designed for entrants to the teaching profession who aspire to be qualified teachers in special schools or specialist provision within mainstream schools.
The trainee's chosen programme (3-7 or 5-11) will be matched to the stage that pupils are working at rather than their chronological age. SEND programmes are designed and delivered by professionals with an in-depth knowledge of special schools, specialist curriculums and provision.
By the end of the programme, trainees will be equipped to complete their ECT induction in a special school setting.
Where we refer to special schools, this route also applies to alternative provision, pupil referral units and mainstream schools with SEND resource units.
Curriculum phase
Trainees choose from one of two pathways – both are full time, lasting 11 months:
- SEND (curriculum age 3-7)
- SEND (curriculum age 5-11)
Programme structure
The training has the same features and benefits of our Primary ITT programme. If you choose the SEND programme, you will be immersed in a special school from September to December. You will then complete a 6-week placement in January in a contrasting mainstream primary school setting within an age and phase aligned to your pathway. After this placement, you will return to your host school for the duration of the programme.
You will have the support of expert SEND tutors to develop your skills and knowledge of working with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
You will complete a range of training including online specific curriculum webinars, Core Training Days, online study and research with expert professionals in school.
Student teachers are assessed in an ongoing formative manner in several ways and summatively against the Teacher Standards in the summer term.
Apply for Secondary Specialisms
Our programme prepares you for a lifelong career as a secondary teacher and specialist within your chosen subject, teaching up to GCSE level. Additionally, we offer post-16 enhancement to provide you with the skills to teach your subject at A Level, expanding your expertise and teaching opportunities.
| Specialism | Age Range | Application Portal |
| Biology | Secondary | Apply here → |
| Chemistry | Secondary | Apply here → |
| Computing | Secondary | Apply here → |
| English | Secondary | Apply here → |
| French | Secondary | Apply here → |
| Geography | Secondary | Apply here → |
| Maths | Secondary | Apply here → |
| Spanish | Secondary | Apply here → |
Subject Knowledge Enhancement SKE
If you are considering a secondary specialism, you might need to do a subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) course before you start your teacher training to top up your subject knowledge.
This could be because you have (one or more of the following):
- A degree in your subject but have not used your degree knowledge for more than 5 years
- a different but related degree to the subject you want to teach
- an A level but not a degree in the subject you want to teach
- an unrelated degree but relevant professional experience
- studied for a languages degree, but need to improve knowledge either in a main language, second language or both to an acceptable level for teaching in schools
SKE courses are fully funded by the DfE and eligible candidates receive an SKE bursary. As part of your interview, we will review your subject knowledge and if we identify you need to enhance your knowledge prior to starting your training. This will form part of your condition of entry to the programme.
You can find out more about SKE courses in this SKE Trainee Brochure.
Who is Initial Teacher Training for?
To be eligible for this programme, applicants MUST hold:
- A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with a 2:2 or above
- GCSE grade 4/C* or above in English and maths (or recognised equivalent**)
- If specialising in Primary or SEND, a GCSE grade 4/C or above in science (or the recognised equivalent**) is also required
- While school experience is not mandatory, we highly recommend it as a valuable way to confirm your interest in a teaching career
You can read more about eligibility on the Get Into Teaching website
*Please note for entry to the ITT Post Graduate Fee-funded route, you must have GCSE maths, English and science at Grade C / 4 or above.
However, if you hold Level 2 Functional Skills, Key Skills or another maths or English qualification, you will need still need to complete GCSE Equivalency testing to meet the ITT entry requirements.
**GCSE equivalent does not include Functional or Key Skills for the purpose of meeting the ITT requirements. Please do give us a ring to discuss further.
The cost of training for this programme is currently £8,500 and will raise to £9,535 from the start of the 25/26 academic year:
| Intake | Cost of training |
|---|---|
| February 2025 (Primary only) | £8,500 |
| From September 2025 | £9,535 |
Student finance
Home and EEA students may be eligible for a tuition fee loan to cover the cost. This would be available through Student Finance England. You won’t have to pay the cost of tuition charges up front and you will only repay the loan once you are in full-time employment and earning above £21,000
Home students in England may also be eligible for a maintenance loan to help towards accommodation and other living costs (please note EU students cannot apply). The loan is paid directly into your bank account at the start of term. You have to pay the loan back. This would be available through Student Finance England.
Please view our tuition fee policy here.
Bursaries and Scholarships
Best Practice Network is pleased to announce the following financial incentives are available for ITT courses starting in the 2025/26 academic year:
| Subject | Bursary | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | £26,000 | X |
| Chemistry | £29,000 | £31,000 |
| Computing | £29,000 | £31,000 |
| English | £5,000 | X |
| Geography | £26,000 | X |
| Languages (French German and Spanish only) | £26,000 | £28,000 |
| Maths | £29,000 | £31,000 |
Find out more about bursaries and scholarships here
ITT FAQs
- An honours degree from a UK Higher Education Institution at 2:2 or above. You will also need GCSE English and maths grade 4 (C) or above (or equivalent*).
- You will also need GCSE Science grade 4 (C) if you are studying Primary
*If you hold Level 2 Functional Skills, Key Skills or another maths or English qualification, you will need still need to complete GCSE Equivalency testing to meet the ITT entry requirements.
**GCSE equivalent does not include Functional or Key Skills for the purpose of meeting the ITT requirements. Please do give us a ring to discuss further.
You will need to apply to ENIC for a certificate of equivalency, and we will check that against the regulations that the government sets for entry into the profession.
You'll need to apply for an equivalency GCSE.
We accept equivalency tests from:
- A* Star Teachers www.astarteachers.co.uk
- Equivalency Testing www.equivalencytesting.co.uk
- Maths Made Easy www.mathsmadeeasy.co.uk
(This will be at your own cost).
If you also have non-UK GCSE equivalent examinations, send all of your certificates together.
(This will be at your own cost).
No. Although these are Level 2 qualifications, as are GCSEs, they do not cover the same breadth of knowledge so cannot be accepted as equivalent to a GCSE.
We aim to place all trainees no more than 45-minute travel away from home.
We will take into consideration your needs, in order to ensure we choose the right placement for you.
No – you only need QTS to be employed as a qualified teacher, which you achieve on successful completion of our course. A PGCE is an additional academic qualification awarded by a university which some providers offer alongside QTS.
Fee-funded is through a student loan and as you will be classed as full-time student, this would be unsalaried. The apprenticeship route would allow you to be paid a wage and your employer would cover the cost of the programme through the Apprenticeship Levy Fund.
Although not essential, prior school experience will strengthen your application and provide you with an invaluable insight into what teaching is really like and the role and responsibilities of a classroom teacher.
Contact schools who know you or local schools asking who the appropriate contact is. Be flexible. Schools are busy places and so might not always offer you exactly what you requested. Volunteering is a great option if your schedule permits.
Schools may require a DBS check as a matter of policy and you will need this as a trainee teacher. It would be wise to obtain this as soon as possible as they can take weeks to complete.
No, we are only offering the postgraduate fee-funded and employment based (apprenticeship) route.
There is no ‘best route’ into teaching. The question is which is the best route into teaching for you? This may depend on your own personal situation.
We’re looking for people who want to become outstanding teachers; people who genuinely enjoy working with children and young people; people who are passionate about education and who are relentless in their drive to ensure positive outcomes for children.
Further essential qualities are outstanding organisation and communication skills, resilience, a proactive reflective approach and good interpersonal skills. You should also have determination and energy, high standards of English, maths and excellent subject knowledge.
You will benefit from bespoke weekly core training days with your fellow trainees, additional tailored subject-specific training days, a school-based mentor and a personal Best Practice Network tutor, as well as support from a knowledgeable and accessible programme team including a placement coordinator who will arrange your second placement in a contrasting school environment.
There are several pathways for you to consider.
Primary
You will be able to specialise in the key stage 1 and 2 provision (3-7 or 5-11) including SEN provision.
The 3-7 route encompass early years specialism and your placements will take place in early years and key stage 1. The 5-11 route specialises in the curriculum across the entire primary phase meaning your placements will take place in key stage 1 and key stage 2 classes. Both routes lead to QTS meaning you will be qualified to teach across the primary phase regardless of which route you take.
Secondary
You will be able to specialise in the key stage 3 and 4 provision (11-16 or 14-19).
You will select your subject specialism (English, maths, chemistry, physics, biology, computing, geography, French or Spanish). Trainees must have taught classes to pupils in two schools prior to the award of QTS. The duration of the ‘second school’ placement is dependent on your ITT route. All routes lead to QTS meaning you will be qualified to teach across the secondary phase regardless of which route you take or subject specialism.
Yes, you would be eligible for QTS. We would recommend you consider the apprenticeship route if your current workplace setting offers Key stage 1 +
Any offer we make will be conditional on health checks, disclosure and barring check (DBS) and completing mandatory safeguarding online course.
The selection process will check your competence in spoken and written English.
If you have a master's without a degree, you will have to demonstrate the breadth and time of the academic engagement that would be expected to meet 1st degree study and would not be less than 3 years.
You will be eligible if you have:
- The right to work in the UK / settlement status
- Have held a residency in the UK for the last 3 years
We do not offer this as a course.
The amount of teaching builds up over the year. For example in the first module they would start by team teaching and working with groups or in more of a supportive role like a Teaching Assistant.
We will look at this on a case-by-case basis. We recognise that there are circumstances where a trainee undertakes ITT to take up a particular teaching role in a specific school and that this is sometimes a role in a special school. Accredited ITT providers and their lead partners should use their expertise and judgement to decide whether a primary or secondary ITT course would be most appropriate for the context in which the trainee will be working as an ECT. For example, we accept that there may be circumstances where primary ITT is more appropriate for a trainee who is preparing for a particular role in a secondary special school. Consideration should also be given to the trainee’s long term career ambitions in the teaching profession.
No, as you have already achieved QTS.
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