Seminars and Interview Sessions

Getting the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

If you wish to teach in state primary and secondary schools in the UK, it’s mandatory that you have the qualified teacher status (QTS). While QTS is not a must in independent schools and further education institutions, some employers may take it into consideration during the selection process.

The teacher training framework in the UK is largely divided in to Early Childhood, Primary Education and Secondary Education. Students can start their teacher training from undergraduate, typcially with a BA (Hons) with QTS – course options are normally more abundant in Early Childhood and Primary Education. Alternatively, you can study an undergraduate programmes in another discipline and obtain your QTS by completing a PGCE programme afterwards.

BA (Hons) with QTS

3 Years

their teacher training from undergraduate, typcially with a BA (Hons) with QTS. Course options are normally more abundant in Early Childhood and Primary Education. Placement in local schools is included as part of the course, so that you can start working as a professional teacher right after graduation!

Qualify as a Qualified Teacher in the UK

Bachelor’s Degree

3 Years

Graduates from any disciplines can obtain the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) by completing a PGCE programme. PGCE is usally offered in Early Childhood, Primary Education or Secondary Education. PGCE in Secondary Education usually requires that you’ve studied a relevant subject in undergraduate.

PGCE

1 Year

Placement in local schools is included as part of the course, so that you can start working as a professional teacher right after graduation!

Qualify as a Qualified Teacher in the UK

Students who plan to return to Hong Kong to teacher are advised to complete their undergraduate programme in the UK, but pursue a PGDE in Hong Kong after graduation, to ensure that you have the right qualification to teach in Hong Kong.

QTS for Overseas Teacher: Existing Teachers in Hong Kong can now obtain QTS!

As part of its Brexit policies, from 2023 the UK government will recognize existing qualified teachers from a selected list of countries and regions (including Hong Kong, Australia, Canada, etc), and award them with the qualified teacher status (QTS). What requirements are there for existing qualified teachers in Hong Kong – in terms of experience and language proficiency? Is there any qouta or restriction on subjects?

Distance Learning PGCE with iQTS: Learning by distance learning, placements in Hong Kong

If you don’t have the above-mentioned qualifications and experience, the distance learning PGCE with iQTS qualification ^{(normally referred simply as iQTS)} could be a right alternative! These government-backed qualifications were piloted in the 2022/23 academic year and are now expanded and authorized for teaching in 14 universities across England. By completing the iQTS programmes via distance learning and the teaching placements locally (ie. in Hong Kong for our case), students will be awarded the iQTS by the authority upon graduation, which is equivalent to the normal QTS obtained via the traditional pathways. In this section, Rebecca will provide more information about the actual arrangement in terms of course delivery and the placements, to help prospective students assess its feasibility.

Graduate Prospects: What subjects currently have a shortage of teachers in the UK? How much more do Special Educational Needs (SEN) teachers typically earn? What other employment opportunities are there for teachers and graduates of education programmes?

According to government statistics (2022), the UK has experiencing a shortage in teachers. Students entering teacher training programmes fall hugely short of government’s targets. In subjects like Business Studies, Modern Languages, Computing, Design & Technology, Physics, new entrants are at least 50% lower than targets. What’s the situation like in other subjects? How much more do Special Educational Needs (SEN) teachers typically earn? If existing teachers are looking to try something else, what other employment opportunities are there for them in the UK? Rebecca will share the employment records of their past graduates, to provide an idea of the labour market in teaching and education.

Programme Highlights:

In this last section, Rebecca will provide an overview of the teacher training and education programmes available in University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), covering topics such as course structure, entry requirement, facilities, placement arrangement, etc:

Programmes leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS):

• BA (Hons) Primary Education (ITE) with QTS
• iQTS (PGCE Primary (5-11)) ^{One-Year Distance Learning, with Placement in Hong Kong}
• iQTS (PGCE Secondary (11-16) – Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics) ^{One-Year Distance Learning, with Placement in Hong Kong}
• PGCE with QTS Primary Education (5-11)
• PGCE with QTS Primary & Early Years Education (3-7)
• PGCE with QTS (Secondary (11-16) – Art & Design, Biology with Science, Business, Chemistry with Science, Computer Science, English, Geography, History, Mathematics, Modern Languages, Physical Education, Physics with Science)

Other Education-related Programmes:

• BA (Hons) Early Childhood 🔔
• BA (Hons) Early Years Education (Top up) 🔔
• BA (Hons) Education 🔔
• BA (Hons) Education (Digital Education/Special Needs)
• iPGCE ^{One-Year Distance Learning Programme}
• MA Career Development ^{2.5-Year Part-Time Distance Learning Programme}
• MA Education (Early Years)

🔔 indicates the more popular options among HK students in the past