Starting out in a new career is exciting and we know that you may have many questions. However, not all teacher training programmes are the same and it’s important that the course you choose if right for you, and equally that you’re right for the programme you choose.
The Get Into Teaching website has lots of information about the different routes into teaching. We have collated answers to the most frequently asked questions below to help you decide if Reach Teacher Training is right for you.
If you have further questions after reading the FAQs below, get in touch.
FAQs: Teacher Training
INITIAL TEACHER TRAINING
What is Initial Teacher Training (ITT)?
Initial Teacher Training is a fully immersive school-centred programme which ensures aspiring teachers will be in the classroom from the very start.
It is a year-long course and participants can opt to train to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or to gain Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) + QTS.
- The QTS is awarded by our partners, South West Teacher Training SCITT (SWTT)
- The PGCE is completed with our partners, the University of Exeter through face to face lectures, on-line tutorials (the lecturers normally visit Reach 3x a year) and three assignments over the course of the year.
SWTT works closely with the University to design a course that integrates up-to-date and relevant research, with a practitioner-led training curriculum. At Reach Academy, we have a dedicated training day in which teachers will actively practice a teaching technique. You will reflect on academic literature and engage in specific planning development sessions. You will receive lectures from colleagues well regarded in the local and national education landscape. They will also go on visits to other schools to deepen understanding about SEN and to experience how schools’ learning environments differ.
What does SCITT mean?
SCITT stands for ‘School Centred Initial Teacher Training’ (SCITT). These providers operate under an ITT provider. They are not a legal entity in their own right.
Why train with Reach Teacher Training?
Training at Reach means you receive on-site training, school and classroom experience every single day. You will receive support from mentors and surrounding teachers, experience subject and phase CPD’s. This gives you a chance to lean in and gain further experience in other lessons and observations of skilled and experienced teachers. Also, you will meet past ITT’s who can share their wisdom and advice from their own journey.
Our trainees are fully embedded in the school and broader community to deeply ground their practice. We firmly believe that cultivating strong relations with students, staff and families is crucial.
We use a system of deliberate practice to enable trainees to make rapid progress. Outstanding practitioners from across our network come in as mentors to deliver guest lectures on their area of specialism.
Who runs Reach Teacher Training?
Reach Teacher Training is part of the Reach Schools family. We are a training Partner of the Ted Wragg Teacher Training Partnership and run the PGCE element of our course in conjunction with the University of Exeter. UoE will send lecturers to us in Feltham and work with our trainees online.
The Director of Initial Teacher Training is Ryan Holmes. You can find out more about the team the runs our programme here.
Where are your placement schools?
We have a great relationship with many schools in the Hounslow area and surroundings, some of them include:
- Hounslow Town Primary
- Bolder Academy
- Chiswick School
- Grey Court School
- Waldegrave School
- Edward Pauling (Primary)
- Crane Park (Primary)
- Logic Studio School
- Heathland School
- Lampton School
- Green School for Boys
- Green School for Girls
- Gumley House
- Sparrow Town Primary
We cover the following boroughs: Hounslow, Richmond upon Thames, Kingston upon Thames, Hillingdon and Ealing and cover Surrey and Berkshire counties.
Places on the programme are subject to the ongoing availability of a placement school to support your training. While the provider will make every reasonable effort to secure appropriate placements to meet programme requirements, placement availability cannot be guaranteed in all circumstances
What about international applicants?
You must have the right to work and study in the UK full time for the duration of the programme. We cannot sponsor visas, you will need to have secured one separately. We advise having this ready April of the year you’re due to start training with us.
What if I already have existing teaching qualifications?
You can not train to teach if you already hold a QTS.
How many placements will I need to do?
Trainees are based primarily in one school and complete a second school placement, normally in the spring term, trainees will also visit a variety of other schools throughout the year on a number of guided visits to gain valuable experience and pick apart what makes that setting special, unique and effective.
Can I visit Reach to see if it’s right for me?
Reach Academy will host Get School Experience days throughout the year, these days will be a time to come and visit the lessons of your chosen subject, hopefully across a range of different year groups so that you can get the most out of your experience. You can find out more about our Get School Experience days on our website and via Get into Teaching’s website.
You can also contact us directly via email to arrange a day that may be more suited to a full school experience at reachteachertraining@reachacademy.org.uk
What is the application process?
To apply for Reach Teacher Training, you must apply through the Department for Education website:
- Select your chosen subject you would like to apply for
- Enter your qualifications, employment history and work experience history
- Write a personal statement of why you want to start your Teacher Training and make sure to add any past experiences that can support your application (try and write 1000 words to gain attraction)
Once your application is received, you will receive a screening phone call from our ITT administrator, this call will be to discuss your application further and hopefully set up a time for your interview.
The interview process for Reach Teacher Training is more extensive than other ITT programmes, we want you to spend the day at Reach to make sure that not only are you the right fit for our programme, but that we are the right fit for you.
What happens if I am accepted onto the course?
If you are successful, congratulations!
Next steps:
If you would like to come and visit Reach or your selected placement school to gain more insight into what your training year would look like, those days can be arranged.
You will be required to supply us with any identification, qualifications and complete any paperwork that is needed
We will apply and pay for your enhanced DBS clearance, this is a compulsory step for your onboarding process (please let us know if you already have a DBS on the update service)
What qualifications do I need for RTT?
To train to teach, you must have at least:
- Hold (or will hold) an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent);
- Have a grade C or above in Maths and English language GCSE;
- Have a grade C or above in Science GCSE (if training as Primary teacher)
If you are an overseas applicant, you need to receive a Qualification Equivalency certificate from ENIC (previously NARIC) to retrieve a comparison result with a UK degree and GCSE’s. If your equivalency is not sufficient, you may complete a GCSE equivalency test by the following providers:
Birmingham University https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/
Equivalency Testing https://www.equivalencytesting.com/
A-star equivalency https://astarequivalency.co.uk/
What does the application process look like?
To apply for Initial Teacher Training at Reach Academy, you must go onto the Department for Education website, and enter your qualifications, employment history, work experience history and then write a personal statement of why you want to start your Teacher Training and any past experiences that can support your application. Your personal statement can be up to 1000 words and 100% of this years successful candidates wrote 500 words or more. This is a chance to really sell yourself and talk about your passions and accomplishments.
How much does it cost?
QTS Only – £8790
PGCE + QTS – £9790
Will I get paid?
Initial Teacher Training through Reach Teacher Training is an unsalaried course, but you may be eligible to receive a Government bursary or a Reach bursary.
The DfE are offering the tax-free government bursaries for the following subjects:
Chemistry – £29,000
Computing – £29,000
Mathematics – £29,000
Physics – £29,000
Biology – £5,000
Geography – £5,000
Languages – £20,000
Design & Technology – £20,000
How can I fund my training?
You can apply for your tuition to be paid through Student Loans Company (SLC), you can also apply for a maintenance loan from SLC for extra assistance in making the change to study.
To find out if you are eligible for Student Finance, follow this link.
To apply for Student Finance, follow this link.
What is the payment schedule?
If you are privately financing your tuition payments, you can make these payments in 3 separate installments (below information based off 2025 payment schedule for QTS & PGCE tuition – £9535):
- 25% (£2383.75) on 02 September 2025,
- 25% (£2383.75) on 05 January 2026,
- 50% (£4767.50) on 20 April 2026.
If you are going to pay through Student Loans Company, SLC payment dates are (below information based off 2024 payment schedule for QTS & PGCE tuition – £9250):
- 25% (£2312.50) on 16 October 2024,
- 25% (£2312.50) on 05 February 2025,
- 50% (£4625) on 07 May 2025.
All payments are the same for UK residents and international applicants.
What are the dates of the ITT programme?
The ITT programme for 2026 is between 2nd September 2026 – 22nd July 2027. There may be some reading expected of you before the first day of school for preparation.
Why do schools partner with us?
Schools partnering with Reach can ensure that trainees are receiving personalised, relevant support that enhances their ability to meet the specific challenges of the school they are placed in.
Schools benefit from partnering with Reach Teacher Training to host trainees for the ITT programme, as Reach provide trainees with the skills and confidence to succeed in diverse educational settings. We have an excellent reputation not only throughout the Hounslow area but also Nationally. Schools trust us to deliver excellent training and there is zero cost for schools to partner with Reach.
Schools partner with Reach for our supportive partnership and access to a bigger talent pool. For more information you can access via this link.
What are the hours?
All staff are expected at 8am. Children leave at 3:30pm and staff are flexible to leave after this. Most staff will be here until at least 4pm, often later, but it is dependent on life circumstances. We have several flexible working arrangements in place to help individual teachers manage school and family life together. If this is a barrier, it is something we can discuss.
This will always be dependant on your placement school and should be based on a professional conversation with your mentor. We support flexible working whilst also wanting to make sure you get the experience you need to become a great teacher.
It is a full-time course structured over a 5 day week, with four days in active classrooms and one day based amongst current trainees learning from the Director of ITT and guest lectures.
What does the year look like?
Before the year commences in September, you will be required to do some light reading of the books that you will continuously refer back to throughout the year in your training sessions and everyday development. You will be required to attend our orientation day and any inset days at the start of the year to understand reach’s history, our values and expectations of all staff and body. These inset days will also include compulsory safeguarding training.
The term time includes four days of participation in your set form/classroom, planning lessons, observations, interventions and CPD’s after school. You will also have one on one sessions with your mentors to reflect and receive feedback on any lessons taught.
One day a week you will have an intense training session with all trainees from Reach and trainees placed at other schools which will be run by our Director of ITT. This will be the time to further develop your classroom management skills, expectations of pupils and given homework assignments of your own.
How do I write my personal statement?
Your personal statement can be up to 1000 words and 100% of this years successful candidates wrote 500 words or more.
Your personal statement should include:
- Why you want to be a teacher
- Why you want to teach the subject or specialism you’re applying for – if applying for primary, describe why you want to teach this age group
- The experience and personal characteristics you have, and how they relate to you becoming a great teacher
You can include any information you think is relevant to demonstrate your knowledge, qualifications, and experience. We want to see your passion and that you understand what a career in teaching involves.