Become a Primary Teacher
The Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship (PGTA) is designed for graduates of any subject and awards Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a Level 6 Teacher Apprenticeship.
- Pay no fees thanks to government funding
- Earn a salary between £21k-£27k while you learn
- Learn in the classroom from day 1
- Turn your degree into Qualified Teacher Status
- School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) (Learn more)
- Once qualified, start on a salary of £31k-£38k (dependent on location)
Apply by May 18 for a June start. Or choose to start in September.
Express Your InterestApply Now
(1).png)
Course duration
12 Months + 3 month EPA
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
In-school placement
4 days a week
Teacher Training
1 day a week
Personal Tutor visits & observation
Once qualified, start on a salary between £31k-£38k
What is the primary Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship?
The primary Teacher Apprenticeship is a school-based training programme designed for those who want to inspire the next generation of young learners during their formative years.
Unlike other teacher training routes, there are no fees for the Teacher Apprenticeship. That’s right—nada, zero, zilch! All training costs are covered by the Apprenticeship Levy.
During your training, you will be employed by a school and receive a salary on the Unqualified Teacher Pay scale.
Successful completion of this programme will award Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a Level 6 Teacher Apprenticeship Qualification, which will qualify you to teach in all schools in England.
Start your training in June!
Most aspiring teachers wait until September to start their training, but you don’t have to! With Best Practice Network, you can begin your journey to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) this June, giving you a head start before the busy back-to-school period.
Starting in June gives you the opportunity to:
- Ease into teaching: Settle into school life during the quieter summer term, giving you more time to familiarise yourself with your placement school, colleagues and pupils
- Build confidence early: Develop your teaching skills and gain confidence before the new academic year begins
- Fast-track your career: Starting earlier means you’ll qualify before the majority of student teachers, so you will have an advantage when searching for a full-time teaching role
- Stand out to employers: Demonstrate your enthusiasm, commitment and initiative by beginning your training early, making you highly attractive to prospective schools
.gif)
Who should apply for the Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship?
The Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship is an ideal training pathway for individuals who hold a degree in any subject and are looking to become a qualified teacher.
This programme is perfect for:
- Support staff and teaching assistants looking to progress into teaching
- Unqualified teachers looking to gain Qualified Teacher Status
- Graduates or career changers looking for their first teaching role
If you're not already working in a school, you'll need to secure a school-based placement before starting your apprenticeship. If you need support, our expert team is here to help you find the perfect school placement before your training begins.
To apply for this programme, you must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any subject with a minimum 2:2 classification
- Have achieved at least grade 4 (C) in GCSE English and mathematics (or equivalent)
- If applying for Primary specialism, have also achieved grade 4 (C) in a science subject
- Must have held residency in the UK for the last three years
.png)
How will I train to become a primary teacher?
Apprentice primary teachers can start their training in either June or September 2025. Over 12 months, you will complete practical training while being employed in a school. Throughout the programme, 1 day a week (20%) of your time will be dedicated to off-the-job training delivered by Best Practice Network.
Following the 12 months of teacher training and the recommendation of QTS, you will undertake an End-Point Assessment (EPA). Upon successful completion of the EPA, you will be awarded the Level 6 Teacher Apprenticeship qualification.
- 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
- Term 4: End Point Assessment for Level 6 Teacher Apprenticeship Qualification where you can reach distinction level in addition to your QTS!
Why Become a Primary School Teacher?
Primary school teachers are the foundation builders! They play a pivotal role in shaping young minds during their most crucial developmental years. Here's why becoming a primary school teacher is a fantastic career choice:
- Inspire a lifelong love of learning: Spark curiosity and creativity in your pupils, making learning fun and rewarding. Through storytelling, hands-on activities, and engaging lessons, you'll inspire the next generation.
- Shape well-rounded individuals: Teaching goes beyond academics. You'll nurture social, emotional, and physical growth, empowering children to become confident, resilient, and well-rounded individuals.
- Celebrate growth every day: There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing the progress children make. From their first “a-ha” moments to newfound confidence, you’ll be at the heart of their journey, celebrating every milestone.
How do teachers make a difference to young people's lives?
Why choose Best Practice Network for your teacher training?
- Ofsted outstanding: provider of the DfE’s full teacher progression pathway, supporting student teachers from entry into teaching through to executive leadership.
- 20+ Years experience: Delivering teacher training and professional qualifications for teachers, school leaders, support staff and early years professionals.
- Subject & phase specific groups: As a leading national provider our enrolment enables student teachers to train alongside peers specific to their phase, subject and specialism.
- Local placement: Our network of 500+ schools provides our student teachers local access to in-school placements.
- Supporting wellbeing: Our pathway is QTS-only helping support student teacher capacity and wellbeing on their journey into teaching.
- Award-winning: Best Practice Network has been named Education Apprenticeship Training Provider of the Year for the past two years.
- 100% of our 2023/24 graduate teachers have secured employment for September
.png)
Don't just take our word for it! Check out what our student teachers think of the programme...
Meet the team!
.png)
.png)
.png)
Apply to be a Primary Teacher
What qualifications do I need to train to be a Primary teacher?
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 and science (or recognised equivalent*)
- 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
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 contact our team for further support.
The Application Process
What Happens After You Apply?
-
Application review
Once you’ve chosen the age phase you’d like to teach and submitted your application, our team will conduct an initial review.
-
Online interview
We’ll contact you to arrange an online interview. You'll be asked to complete some pre-interview maths and English task as well as a presentation.
-
Conditional offer
If your interview is successful, you’ll receive a conditional offer to join the programme.
-
School placement support
Don’t have a school to support your training yet? No problem! Our dedicated placements team will work with you to secure a placement school, ensuring you’re ready to begin your teaching journey.
-
Enrolment and onboarding process begins
I am currently employed in a school
If you are currently employed in a school or have found a school that will support your training, the Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship is an ideal pathway to achieve Qualified Teacher Status and a Level 6 Teacher Apprenticeship in just 12 months + End Point Assessment.
All training costs are covered by your placement school’s Apprenticeship Levy, so there are no fees to pay.
During your apprenticeship, you will be employed at your placement school and receive a salary of between £21k-£27k per year on the Unqualified Teacher Salary (UNQ1) and upon qualification, you’ll step straight into a starting teacher salary of £31k–£38k.
Choose from one of two age ranges – both are full time.
| Specialism | Age Range | Application Portal |
| General Primary | 3-7 | Apply here → |
| General Primary | 5-11 | Apply here → |
I am not employed in a school
If you're not currently working in a school or haven't been able to arrange a school placement, our Initial Teacher Training (ITT) route is a great way to begin your journey into teaching. This programme combines 4 days of hands-on training in a local school with 1 day of online training, leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in just 11 months.
While this programme isn’t salaried, you can apply for student loans to cover training and living costs, and depending on the subject you choose to teach, you may also be eligible for government bursaries or scholarships.
From day one, you’ll gain real teaching experience alongside a national network of fellow trainees, and once qualified, you’ll begin your teaching career with a starting salary of £31k–£38k.
Choose from one of two age ranges – both are full time.
| Specialism | Age Range | Application Portal |
| General Primary | 3-7 | Apply here → |
| General Primary | 5-11 | Apply here → |