Why Grad2Teach?
Why Choose Grad2Teach?
We offer a salaried route into teaching—combining hands-on classroom experience with fully funded training and a supportive graduate programme.
JOIN A POWERFUL TRAINING NETWORK
You won’t be going it alone. Grad2Teach connects you with a national network of schools and fellow trainees, giving you the chance to learn, grow, and thrive together.
TRAINEE EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
Each term, you’ll take part in in-person training days—an increasingly rare feature in experience-led programmes. These sessions bring all our trainees together to learn, collaborate, and share experiences face to face. It’s a chance to build confidence, grow your network, and show the passion that doesn’t come across on paper.
FLEXIBLE ENTRY, PERSONALISED PATH
Our programme is built to support your journey into teaching—whether you're a recent graduate or changing careers. With three start points each year and flexible placements in Phase One, you can begin when the time is right for you.
In Phase Two, you’ll move onto one of our three salaried QTS pathways, tailored to your experience and goals. (You’ll find more details on these routes to the right.)
REAL CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE
You’ll learn by doing—spending the majority of your training year in the classroom, supported by experienced mentors every step of the way. You won’t just observe, you’ll teach, grow, and make an impact from day one.
Our Courses
Phase One is infinitely flexible because we understand that some applicants apply for our programme and already possess a wealth of experience as unqualified teachers or that they were qualified outside of the UK, while others hold a term’s worth of experience or expertise within their subject.
Essentially, some trainees will be ready to hit the ground running, while others will need to take a slower and more staggered approach. Phase One allows you to be eased in, before you take on the additional responsibility of their PGCE, apprenticeship or the assessment-only route.
Before applying, you MUST HAVE: An Honours degree – this can be any subject. At least a term of experience working in a mainstream school. This can be through an agency or direct employment and in either primary or secondary setting. Applicants with voluntary experience, but no employed experience, may still be considered, depending on what this experience consisted of.
We are proud to be partnered with Step Teachers, a well-respected and reputable Education Employment Agency who would happily help you gain some paid experience ahead of you making your application to our programme:
Most of our trainees progress onto the Employed PGCE with QTS, a salaried, school-based route delivered in partnership with the National Institute of Teaching and Education (NITE). While teaching independently for at least 12 hours per week, you’ll develop your practice with expert mentoring and structured academic training. With three entry points throughout the year, Grad2Teach ensures that you and your school can choose the right time to begin your PGCE, setting you up for success. This tailored approach has contributed to our 100% pass rate.
Alternative Pathways
We understand that a PGCE isn’t the right fit for everyone. That’s why we also offer a Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship and an Assessment Only Route (AOR)—both designed to suit experienced educators who are ready to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) through a different pathway.
For those with substantial prior teaching experience, schools may fast-track them directly into full-time teaching, bypassing the PGCE, provided they meet eligibility criteria and their school supports their progression.
Entry Requirements for the Employed PGCE
Before beginning your PGCE, you’ll need to hold GCSEs in English, Mathematics, and Science (grade C/4 or above) to ensure you meet the national standards for teacher training.
At Grad2Teach, we believe great teachers—like a good BBQ—are best developed low and slow. Most trainees spend at least one to three terms in Phase One, refining their skills before progressing to QTS. But for those with substantial experience, our Not Only Assessment pathway offers a streamlined route to qualification through the Assessment Only Route (AOR)—with added value.
We don’t just assess and certify; we support. Before AOR is triggered, trainees build their portfolio in Phase One, gaining structured training and development to ensure they’re fully prepared to demonstrate their competence. Once ready, they move onto AOR to secure Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) efficiently and confidently.
Eligibility for Assessment Only
- A relevant Honours degree in their chosen subject.
- GCSEs in English and Maths (grade C/4 or above), plus Science for Primary applicants.
- At least one term of full-time teaching experience, including planning, marking, and assessment.
This pathway is ideal for those who are ready to qualify but value the extra support to ensure long-term success in the classroom.
Meet the Team
At Grad2Teach, our mission is to empower aspiring educators through a transformative, salaried teacher training experience. We equip trainees with the essential skills, confidence, and real-world experience needed to thrive in the classroom, fostering a deep-rooted passion for teaching.
Our Commitment
We go beyond conventional training by offering a structured yet flexible approach tailored to individual experience levels. Whether through our Employed PGCE with QTS or our Assessment Only Route (AOR), we provide expert mentoring, hands-on experience, and continuous professional development. Our programme focuses not only on pedagogical excellence but also on building resilience, cultural competence, and innovative teaching practices.
Grad2Teach - how it works:
