Train With Us

Excelsior Teacher Training Hub as part of Excelsior Multi Academy Trust offers a postgraduate teacher training programme as a regional training hub in partnership with Worcester University.

This route into teaching primary education, where you train to teach in a school every day. School-led teacher training allows you to learn on the job as you gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to prepare you for a successful transition into teaching.

You will be taught by supportive and expert practitioners who will empower you to gain your teacher training qualification.

What qualification will you gain from the School Direct programme?

On completion of the course, you will gain a Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) accredited by the University of Worcester.

About the course

You will be based in school 4 days per week and attend lectures and training 1 day per week, either at The University of Worcester or Excelsior Multi Academy Trust. Trainees spend 120 minimum days in school and there are around 30 professional study days during the year.

Trainees on the school direct programme undertake three school placements in contrasting schools with two different key stages to enable trainees to experience a broad range of learning environments.

· Placement 1 – School A

· Placement 2 – School B

· Placement 3 – School A

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

· Honours degree normally (2:2) or higher from a United Kingdom higher education institution or equivalent qualification. Applicants with a 3rd class degree will be considered on an individual basis.

· English Language and English Literacy, Mathematics and Science (or equivalent) (for 2022 entry, applicants must have these

qualifications by the start of the course). Alternatively, we offer equivalency Test if you don’t have the required GCSE grade to apply for our courses. Trainees who begin courses before providing evidence of the required GCSE standard (or equivalent) will not be eligible for financial incentives, such as bursaries or grants until they achieve the required standard. 

Qualifications not listed?

Contact the Admissions Office for advice by email: AdmissionsB@worc.ac.uk

Additional requirements

· An Enhanced DBS check. You will be sent details of how to apply for your DBS in the summer term. You will need to pay for this. You may already be part of the DBS update service. Find out about the update service here. As part of the DBS process you will be checked against the Children’s Barred List.

· A check against the Prohibition List. If you have lived, studied or worked overseas for three months or more in the last five years a Certificate of Good Conduct from the country of residence will be required. Further information and guidance associated with additional costs are available from the Home Office.

· An online occupational health check. All those on a teacher training programme must be certified as meeting national requirements for physical and mental fitness to teach, as set by the Department for Education.

· International students: IELTS 6.5 or equivalent

School Experience

School experience is desirable, but not essential prior to an interview.

How long does it take to train to become a teacher?

As a postgraduate, training to become a teacher on the Full-time Regional Training Hub Programme takes 1 year. The programme starts in September and placements finish in July.

Costs

You are required to pay the standard tuition fee for full-time UK students enrolling on a PGCE in the academic year 2023/24 will be £9,250 per year.

There will be day-to-day costs for resources and travel costs for placements, depending on the location of the school.

This is a non-salaried route to teaching; however, you might be eligible for funding through student loans, bursaries, or scholarships.

Fund your teacher training Department for Education information on funding your teacher training

For more information about this course please click the following link: PGCE - Primary (QTS) - University Of Worcester

How to apply

Our 1 year School Based PGCE course starts in September 2024

You can apply from October 2023 until the end of June 2024.

To apply for our Postgraduate Certificate in education (PGCE) with qualified teacher status (QTS) visit The Department for Education’s website: Apply for teacher training - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

School based PGCE course Primary 3-7

Course code: Y584

School based PGCE Primary 5-11

Course code: 2XMF

Additional useful information is available on the Get Into Teaching GOV.UK (education.gov.uk)

Starting your teaching journey with us

Excelsior Multi Academy Trust is a highly regarded provider within Birmingham and Dudley and is made up of 6 soon to be 7 schools.

Our programme provides school experience from the start together with high-quality subject knowledge and pedagogy training delivered by expert practitioners.

If you have any questions about the PGCE with QTS School please email: traintoteach@excelsiormat.org