Entry Criteria

What are the requirements to be eligible for the Assessment Only route?

The AO route is not an Initial Teacher Training programme and all candidates must be fully ready for assessment at the time of application. The application and interview process will review candidates’ eligibility and places are allocated when requirements have been met.

Please note that the AO route will accept GCSE equivalencies. (See Equivalency Testing | Home | GCSE equivalency testing for further information.)  All overseas qualifications must also be checked through UK ENIC ( Home Page (enic.org.uk - previously known as UK NARIC) by the time of any interview.

Suitable applicants for Assessment Only will already need to have significant teaching experience and meet the following eligibility criteria.

• GCSE standard equivalent to grade 4 (C) in English and Maths
• GCSE standard equivalent to grade 4 (C) in a science subject
• hold a degree from a UK higher education institution or equivalent qualification
• show competent fundamental intellectual and academic capabilities in speaking, listening and communicating, writing and Maths, and personal qualities, attitudes, ethics and values appropriate to the role of a teacher
• have completed an Occupational Health assessment at their school to demonstrate health and physical capacity to teach
• through a rigorous selection process, be deemed as a very experienced graduate teacher without QTS
• demonstrate an ability to meet all of the Teachers’ Standards, across the age range of assessment, without the need for any further training

• have taught for a minimum of two years as an unqualified teacher (of whole classes, where the requirement has been to plan, teach and assess pupils over time. Cover is usually not suitable experience for AO.)
• have taught in at least two settings.  Whilst there is no specific requirement regarding time spent in a second setting, CVPA SCITT request a minimum of fifteen full teaching days within a second key stage. CVPA SCITT will consider whether the applicant’s experience provides sufficient evidence to demonstrate sufficient breadth and variety of experience to meet the Teacher Standards by having:

1. taught children and young people from different backgrounds, across the ability range in their chosen age ranges;
2. gained experience in different approaches to children and teaching, how children learn and to school organisation and management.

This breadth should be outlined within the application.

• have been subject to and passed the enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and other background checks
• be employed by/ working voluntarily in a school as an unqualified teacher. This school must be in support of the application for AO.

• Have some knowledge and understanding of the age ranges directly adjacent to their chosen age range

Please use the following link for additional information:  Assessment only route to QTS: criteria and supporting advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)