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Writing a personal statement for a PGCE

How To Write a PGCE Personal Statement

Your personal statement is crucial to the success of your application and must be well written, concise, well-structured. It must also clearly demonstrate your reasons for choosing teaching and your commitment and suitability for this career in only 47 lines!

Before applying, do your research. Find out what being a teacher is really like. Get experience in a school, talk to teachers and read careers information.

General Tips:

• Compose your statement in Word and cut and paste it into your online application. This will allow you to ensure it fits, that you have used spell check and have proofread it to ensure its word perfect. Personal statements with a poor level of written English will be rejected.
• Use Verdana 12 as this is the size and font used by UCAS.
• Ensure it has a good structure with an introduction, a middle and a conclusion.
• Get someone to check your final draft who is knowledgeable in this area and whose judgement you trust.
• Research the Training Provider you are applying for. Which skills/experience/qualifications do they expect?

Your Personal Statement should:

• be persuasive
• be fluent, realistic, relevant and specific
• mention young people- it is about enabling them to learn rather than why you want to teach
• overuse of short sentences all beginning with ‘I’
• general statements and narrative
• I feel/think/believe – instead, use positive action words e.g. planned/managed/implemented/organised
• making a statement without having evidence to back it up

Sections in your Personal Statement:

• Introduction- why teaching and why you?
• The relevance of your work experience
• What subject you want to teach and why?
• Additional factors
• Concluding paragraph

1.Introduction

Why teaching?

• What is your motivation? What has influenced your decision to teach? Avoid ‘I have always wanted to teach’ or ‘I believe teaching is worthwhile’ or ‘I like children’.
• Concentrate on what influenced your decision to teach, how the idea has developed and what can you offer in terms of personal skills and attributes.
• Have certain people influenced you? Why? How?
• Show your desire to work with young people and refer to evidence.

Make a list of skills and qualities that you have that can be linked to all the key skills that make an effective teacher and how you can demonstrate this with examples:

• Organisation
• Communication
• Energy & enthusiasm
• Responsibility
• Love of subject
• Team player

2.Relevant Experience

School-based experience:

• Where? Try to avoid visiting the school you attended as a pupil
• How long for? One day is probably not enough time to see what it means to be a teacher, you need enough time to gain a good understanding of teaching and schools.
• What did you do? Did you observe lessons, work as a TA, attend meetings/training/ research curriculum/teaching and learning/had a focus on EAL or SEND pupils?
• What Key Stages did you experience? Make sure it is relevant to the specific PGCE course you are applying for.
• What techniques did you observe? Effective and not effective and why?
• Lesson-planning
• Classroom organisation
• Classroom management
• Inclusion/ diversity issues e.g. English as an additional language (EAL); special educational needs (SEND); disadvantaged pupils and gifted and talented pupils.

Always say what you have done and how it demonstrates the skills required as a teacher. For example, ‘reading with a group of pupils showed me that…’ or ‘working with a low ability group allowed me to…’

Other work with young people (paid/unpaid): 

• Youth groups
• After school groups
• Summer camps

What if you don’t have any relevant experience?

Highlight the other experiences you have engaged in and use these to demonstrate your understanding of teaching and schools.

3. What subject you want to teach and why?

• For Secondary, you need to show that you are passionate about your subject area and passing on that enthusiasm to young people.
• Link to relevant work experience, what have you observed and match your skills to this.
• Refer to any research you have done regarding your subject and also the curriculum/ examinations you would be required to teach at that Key Stage
• Link your qualifications and wider reading to your subject knowledge, if your qualifications are not relevant you need to show how you are going to develop your subject knowledge in order to teach the subject.
• State why you have applied to this particular type of PGCE course e.g. school-based/ flexibility/ reputation.

4. Additional Factors

• Hobbies linked to the profession/ skill set e.g. value-added skills such as sport, music, language etc.
• Additional courses you have completed/ completing e.g. ICT, subject knowledge enhancement course etc.
• Further experiences planned for the future prior to commencing a PGCE course.

5. Concluding Paragraph

• State your commitment to the course, acknowledge that teaching requires dedication, stamina, time management, being pro-active
• Reinforce your reasons for being committed to teaching
• Demonstrate awareness of the physical and mental demands of the course and the profession
• Career plan – what is your goal for your teaching career?

A teacher’s must-have qualities:

• Interpersonal skills
• Ability to think of their feet
• Good time-management

Background Reading

www.ucas.com/ucas/teacher-training 

Times Educational Supplement ( www.tes.com )

www.theguardian.com/education

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How to write your teacher training personal statement

Your teacher training personal statement should express why you'd make a great teacher and spell out your experiences, qualities and skills. We've got the inside track from Admissions Tutors on how to go about writing a good teacher training personal statement, what to do and what not to overlook...

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Let's start with a look at when to apply for teacher training. Places on teacher training courses are filled on a first come first serve basis. This is due to two factors. Firstly, the Department for Education set the maximum number of trainees on some courses. But the thing that really limits the number of places available is ensuring that there are enough school placements for all trainees. Training providers can only recruit up to a number that is manageable in terms of providing the trainees with the placement experiences they need.

Places for the most popular subjects tend to go early, for example, Physical Education (PE), Primary and Psychology. Shortage subjects such as Chemistry, Computing, Maths and Physics don’t fill up so fast.

The route you are taking into teaching may also influence when you apply. School Direct is run by the schools themselves and they can only take as many trainees as they can train within their schools. They may only have the one place available for your chosen subject and once those placements are gone, they’re gone. Universities tend to have larger and wider networks of partner schools which provide school placements. This gives them more options for finding school placements so they may have places available for longer. Unlike School Direct you don’t get to choose exactly which school you go to, though they’ll try to match your school placements to your preferences as much as possible. If you apply late you run the risk that all the placements are gone.

So, you want to apply as soon as you can, with a brilliant personal statement that reflects who you are and why you want to become a teacher. So, what does that look like?

Your teacher training personal statement broadly needs to convey four things:

• Your passion for wanting to become a teacher and commitment to the profession.
• Your reasons for wanting to teach your chosen subject.
• The skills and experience that you’ll bring to the role of teacher.
• Your awareness of the realities of what lies ahead - it’s a challenging but rewarding role so you need to be realistic about this and be aware of some of the hot topics facing the sector.

Kate Brimacombe, Associate Professor of Education and Associate Director of the Teacher Education Partnership at Plymouth Marjon University, explains what she is looking for in a teacher training personal statement:

“It's really lovely to get something that's individual and firstly I want to see that passion for wanting to work with children. You absolutely can get that across - it comes off the page.

“It can’t feel half-hearted, it needs to feel committed. If independence, motivation, and self-reliance don’t sing off the page, then that's an error in a sense. You need to get your personality into the written word, I’m looking for that fire that says ‘this is absolutely what I want to do’. One common mistake is being too short so that it doesn’t get that passion across. The lack of content and desire are the main reasons I don't shortlist candidates.”

You must convey why you want to teach your subject. What is your expertise? Why do you love it? What are the challenges facing teachers of your subject? Why do you want to teach this? Think about the age group you’ll be teaching and discuss why you want to teach them. What relevant experience do you have? How does your experience to date influence your thinking?

Ultimately, you’ve got to inspire others to love your subject, so be clear about how your own relationship to it is going to enable this.

The ingredients of a convincing teacher training personal statement are:

• Passion for teaching. Express your drive and fire on the page.
• Be individual. Stand out in a positive light; one tip here is not to waste characters on quotes, they don’t say anything about you.
• Convey your desire to work with children. Explain where this comes from.
• Prove it. Include the things you have actively done, what you’ve learnt from real life experiences in schools and/or working with children, and what you got out of it.
• Demonstrate the qualities of a teacher. Point out your commitment, empathy, independence, innovation, motivation, patience, self-reliance, and tip-top organisation skills.
• Depth. Don’t cut it too short, you’re allowed up to 4000 characters which is around 600-700 words, so write until you’re thereabouts, and then edit it so that it reads even better.

In addition, for a strong personal statement you’ll want to demonstrate some awareness of the national curriculum for your subject and then highlight how your subject knowledge maps to it.

Back to Kate for another crucial tip: “The other big thing is that we’re checking the accuracy of your spelling and grammar, it must be correct if you’re going to be a teacher. To be fair, we don't get a lot of mistakes because I think people understand that expectations around written and verbal communication are high in teaching.”

Some aspiring teachers know they want to teach but are uncertain on the age group or subject. For example, maybe you love sport and are keen to be a secondary PE teacher, but you also enjoy working with younger children at sports clubs so you’re feeling split. In this scenario, try to settle this before you apply but if you can’t then write honestly about the situation and take extra care to ensure that neither option comes across being the fallback one that you’re not really committed to.

The magic ingredient: Examples from your own experience

There's no one way to structure your teacher training personal statement but be sure to back up every point you make with evidence. A great way to do this is give real life examples of what you actually did, and what you learned from it. It’s not enough to just list your work experience, you need to explain what you learned and how this experience will help you as a teacher.

You don’t need school experience to apply for a teaching course, though it helps. But if you don’t have school experience then you at least need some transferable skills, so any other experience of working with children is valid here, things like helping with sports teams and youth clubs are valid too. Use your examples to demonstrate the skills you’d bring to the role of teacher.

You could also refer to a teacher who made a difference to you at school, or who influenced your love of working with children and helping them to learn.

By discussing examples, you can also demonstrate that you are realistic about the role, in that is challenging as well as rewarding. For example, you might discuss a session you observed or taught, reflecting on what went well, how you adapted to the situation and how you would improve on it.

This is how to make effective use of real life examples, according to Julie Stevens, course leader for PGCE Secondary Education at Plymouth Marjon University: “I want to read about how you’ve helped a pupil to make progress. What did you change? How did you recognise they weren’t learning? What did you adapt to help them understand? Maybe you modelled it or talked it through? How did the child respond? You might talk for example about why a child was messing around or why a seating chart was put together in a certain way. It’s really encouraging when a candidate offers insights into teaching and that sense of self-reflection”.

You can talk about that examples that demonstrate transferable skills. For example, maybe you had to be resilient to get your Duke of Edinburgh award, maybe you’re a leader on the sports field or maybe you’re a dedicated musician with the music exams to prove it?

In addition, the way you talk about children is really important, the training provider needs to know that you see them as individuals and that you want to help them become independent thinkers. Back to Julie again for more about this: “I want to see candidates who talk about children as individuals and how you can help them make the best progress they can. Helping young people to make decisions for themselves and become independent learners, so that they take responsibility for their own success is essential for adulthood.

"It’s great when someone can talk about innovative things, like how to use social media for good outcomes. Anything like that is powerful because it means they understand our role as educators – we aren’t just filling them with knowledge, we're trying to get children and young people to understand how to develop themselves.”

Get your referee geared up

References really do matter. Julie and Kate report that in practice most of barriers to shortlisting a candidate come not from the personal statement, but from references that are too short. They’ve seen references as short as three lines and that doesn’t tell them enough about you and your suitability for a career in teaching. You could be an impressive candidate, but you can’t be offered a place until your reference checks out.

If you’re applying for undergraduate teacher training through UCAS then one reference is required. If you’re applying for postgraduate teacher training then you’ll need two references. If you’re at university, or have been within the past five years, then one reference must be from someone at your university. The other reference can be from someone who knows you from work, and if you’re applying for School Direct then one of your references must come from your current employer.

A good reference says good things about you and backs up some of qualities and skills you’ve outlined in your personal statement. Your referee needs to talk about your character and why they think you could be a great teacher. The training provider is looking for insight; a different perspective on you, and hopefully one that that verifies the impressions they’re taking from your statement.

You can do a lot to make sure your reference is on point. First ask your referees if they are willing to be your referee and if they think you’ve got the potential to be a good teacher. Next you need to arm them with all the arguments as to why you’ll be a good teacher, they probably don’t know everything you do. Ideally they would read your personal statement so that they can write a reference that complements it.

If applicable, ask your referee to comment on your academic abilities, including your predicted grades. If possible, go through the reference with your referee as you might see something they’ve missed. If so, ask if they are willing to add it, it’s up to them but you can suggest things.

A good teacher training personal statement shows passion and love for teaching, as well as that you’ve done some research and that you’re dedicated to teaching career. Show your personality; show them the teacher you could be. @marjonuni

Back to Kate for closing advice: “Speak with honesty and speak from the heart. I’m looking for passion. I'm looking for somebody I think the has the potential. Then when you come to interview, I already know that you have that passion and so you just need to add the shine to that and tell us more about it in-person, one to one. In that way your teacher training personal statement is the stepping stone into the interview, if it does its job then we’ll be excited to find out more about you”.

You’ve got this. Follow the advice above and you’ll have a brilliant teacher training personal statement in the bag. The next step will be your teacher training interview, so why not check out our articles on how to ace your teacher training interview and teacher training interview questions .

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Personal statement for PGCE secondary

If you want to teach children aged 11 and over you'll need to apply through the Department for Education's (DfE) Apply for teacher training service

This example should be used for guidance only. Copying any of this text could significantly harm your chances of securing a place on a course.

Example personal statement for PGCE secondary

I became interested in teaching after realising how much I had benefited from excellent and passionate teachers. They exuded a real sense of enthusiasm for learning, which inspires me to pass on that passion.

My love for computing developed during my A-levels after discovering an aptitude for programming and networking. This drove me to study more, going on to gain a 2:1 in BSc Computer Systems and Network Engineering from the University of England. Studying at university developed my passion for computer sciences and taught me a range of transferable skills that I believe are fundamentally important to teach young people. This is demonstrated in my dissertation, which was awarded a first, investigating The Internet of Things (IoT) and how it can help shape educational establishments of the future.

While at university I decided to volunteer as a teaching assistant in a mainstream school. By my final year I was able to take responsibility for running activities in the classroom, balancing the needs of each child and managing behaviour issues. In addition, I regularly helped run the lunchtime computer club. In working with more vulnerable students such as SEN learners I saw the role played by support staff in maintaining control of the classroom, particularly with those who can be disruptive when under stimulated. I learned the importance of differentiating lesson plans to educate and engage students with special needs and the power of strategies such as a well thought out seating plan and friendly competitiveness in learners. I saw students develop within the classroom as a result of my determined support and these good working relationships are beginning to result in higher grades. I have liaised well across several departments to communicate information about students in an organised and diplomatic way.

One highlight was when I supported a young person with ADHD who attended computer club. They had been struggling to remain focussed and on task in class but were able to focus well when completing tasks on a computer. As a result, they suffered from poor behaviour, disengagement and low self-esteem. I negotiated with some class teachers to allow this pupil to use a tablet during their lessons. The pupil could then access any PowerPoint presentations being delivered to enable them to go back and reread specific slides. They could also access links to visual resources to enhance their understanding of the subject being taught. Homework was posted online for them to complete and submit electronically. This was such a success that the school invested in more tablets to be used by a range of students across the school. This further inspired me to want to become a teacher to enable me to support others who may be facing barriers to learning that could be tackled through the introduction of technology.

To support my professional development further I undertook short work placements in two other schools. Volunteering in Key Stages 1 and 2 confirmed my desire to teach Key Stages 3 and 4. I became aware of the many demands placed upon teachers and their time and I believe that the project management, communication and problem-solving skills gained during my degree will be invaluable assets within the classroom and beyond. I was exposed to a range of pedagogical models and teaching methods, which is something I look forward to learning more about on a PGCE.

One of my hobbies is to make short films about how to use different forms of technology and software packages. I post these on YouTube as instructional videos. These have proved to be very popular and I am considering how I can use this type of activity to benefit the students I teach. One option is to support students to create their own videos to help deepen their understanding of a subject, which they can then choose to upload to the school's virtual learning environment to aid their peers if they wish.

During school placements I witnessed the challenges and rewards present in a school environment. Teachers need to be resilient particularly when working with students who find school difficult, do not want to engage and do not want to accept support. However, I look forward to working in the education system and believe I could help and inspire students to develop their future aspirations.

While researching for my dissertation I spoke with secondary school teachers about the challenges their students faced and one that came up often was digital poverty. In many inner-city schools, pupils do not always have access to up to date and reliable computer technology to allow them to keep up with the advances in technology that they’ll face when seeking employment. One of my aims would be to investigate how the use of integrated technologies, as well as fostering links with local companies and the community, could result in a cost-effective solution allowing all students equal access to computer technology.

Technology has become its own form of literacy due to its prevalence in everyday life. Numerous careers use at least one aspect of Microsoft Office or Google Drive daily; balancing budgets on spreadsheets, creating slides to be presented, or attaching documents to emails to communicate important information. Allowing students to learn and refine these skills prepares them for life beyond the classroom.

With technology being present in many classrooms, and not just to teach computing skills, the introduction of the IoT could enhance learning activities even more. It could provide improved connectivity, introduce artificial intelligence and virtual reality to the learning environment as well as cloud computing platforms. I am excited about the future of education and how I can be an active part of it.

When writing your personal statement, you need to include:

• What inspired you to choose teaching.
• Why you wish to teach at secondary level.
• Your knowledge of the pressures and rewards of teaching.
• The personal qualities and skills that will make you a good teacher.
• How you might contribute to the wider school environment such as running extra-curricular activities and clubs.
• Any experience of working with children and what you learnt through doing this.
• Evidence of your knowledge related to the subject you hope to teach.
• Any relevant work or unpaid experience.
• Your degree, degree modules and dissertation topic where relevant.
• Any relevant skills, hobbies and achievements.

Find out more

• Read all about applying for teacher training .
• Get prepared with our teaching interview questions .
• See more examples of teaching personal statements .

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How to write a teacher training personal statement or Initial Teacher Training application

Teacher training personal statements: the dos and don'ts

An Initial Teacher Training (ITT) or teacher training personal statement is a key part of any initial teacher training application – it's your chance to sell yourself.

Your personal statement gives teacher training providers an opportunity to find out more about you – your motivations for pursuing a career in teaching, your reflections on any school experience you have and the skills, competencies, values and attitudes that you bring to the table. What can you offer teaching? What will make you an outstanding teacher who will inspire, engage and challenge pupils? 

A teacher training personal statement shouldn’t be a list of all your jobs or qualifications – those are set out elsewhere in your application. Nor should it simply be a factual account of what you have observed or what you did in a classroom during your school experience. While it's important to give a brief context of this, it's much more important to explain what you learnt during your time in school; skills you developed and reflections on what you observed or did. Teacher training providers or ITT partnership schools need to see that you have thought about your experience carefully.

It's also worth reiterating how important it is to check your spelling and grammar. You're going to be in charge of educating the next generation – you must have strong written communication skills.

Examples can be a great way of demonstrating what you have learnt

Steer away from overusing general teaching related statements such as “I’ve always wanted to work with children”, especially when writing a primary school teacher training personal statement. Obviously, teacher training providers want to see that you have an interest in working with children but this can be demonstrated through your reflections on what you learnt during any school or similar experience and what you found rewarding about the work.

Examples can be a great way of demonstrating what you have learnt. Think about the skills that  make a good teacher  and give examples of any relevant projects you've worked on or any children you've worked with (always remember to anonymise the people involved). What was challenging about the situation, what did you learn and what were the outcomes you achieved?

By all means draw on skills you've gained elsewhere, maybe in a different career field or in your own education or family life. If you've overcome obstacles or challenges that you believe show your resilience and adaptability, draw on that experience to demonstrate how you would handle the pressurised environment of teaching and working in a school.

Your teacher training personal statement should be coherent and well-structured

If you hold a non-subject specific degree and you know you have some gaps in your subject knowledge, it’s a good idea to mention this in your teaching training personal statement but to also offer the provider a solution. You can demonstrate that you've done some research and you've already considered a solution to this challenge by mentioning that you would like to do a  subject knowledge enhancement  (SKE)  course prior to starting your teacher training to bring your knowledge up to the level you need to teach.

Find out more about about SKE

There are plenty of guides on how to write a personal statement for teacher training which outline the basics, but the most important thing remains your own personal reasons for applying. Be clear about what motivates you. A personal statement that suggests you haven't thought through your reasons for going into teaching will not help your application to succeed. Teacher training providers are less likely to be concerned about someone who has had a diverse career but is now committed to teaching than someone who says they have always wanted to teach but can’t give clear reasons why. If you’re not currently based in the UK, include reasons why you want to pursue your teaching career here. And last but definitely not least, your personal statement should be coherent and well-structured.

In summary:

• Draw on your experiences  (especially teaching experience) to show what you've learnt and what you will bring to the teaching profession
• Evidence your skills , competencies and values, with relevant examples if possible
• Be clear about your motivations  for going into teaching
• Make sure your statement is  coherent and accurate
• Don’t copy!  Your statement should be entirely your own work; do not copy online examples.

Good luck! Further advice from UCAS can be  found here .

Tags in this post

• Teacher training

In This Section

• Your Personal Statement
• How to Apply

There’s a single application for all of your choices, and this includes a personal statement.

Your personal statement is your opportunity to let your chosen training providers know about your qualities, skills and expertise, and why you want to be a teacher.

You can only complete one personal statement for all the choices you make in both Round1 and Round 2. You can’t change it or create different ones for your choices.

Explain why you have chosen your particular subject and/or age range (for Primary), and the skills and attributes you have that make them appropriate for you.

What to include

Think carefully about the things we will want to know about you. You’ll probably want to include things like:

• your reason(s) for wanting to teach
• evidence that you understand the rewards and challenges of teaching
• details of your previous education and how you have benefited from it
• any other work with young people, such as helping with a youth club, working at a summer camp or running a sports team
• the range of relevant abilities and skills you can bring to teaching, for example, practical experience, managing people, working with or leading a team, and communication skills
• any reasons why there may be restrictions on your geographical mobility
• why you want to study in the UK, if you don’t currently live here
• whether you’ve taken part in the  School Experience Programme organised by the DfE

In addition to the details you give in the school and work experience section, you can also expand on your experience of teaching, such as visits to schools, classroom observations or working as a teaching assistant.

How to write it

Draft a copy of your personal statement and then copy it into your application form.  You might want someone to proof read it before hand.

•  Check the grammar, punctuation and spelling

Don’t copy!

Don’t copy anyone else’s personal statement or from statements posted on the internet.  Make sure your personal statement is all your own work.

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Teacher Training Personal Statement Examples

What is a teacher training personal statement?

The teacher training personal statement is your opportunity to let training providers know about your qualities, skills and expertise, and why you want to teach.

While your application form briefly outlines your qualifications, skills and work experience, your teaching personal statement is where your personality shines through.

Take your time with it, be prepared to receive constructive feedback and write a few drafts before you send it off.

How do I write a good teacher training personal statement?

To help you write a successful teacher training personal statement, we recommend you include:

• use examples to back everything up, based on your teaching experience so far
• tailor your personal statement according to the age group you wish to teach
• write using concise English, using first person terms such as 'my' and 'I'
• be original and honest - don't embellish the truth or lie outright
• avoid clichés and general statements, such as 'since a young age' or 'I've always wanted to be a teacher'
• demonstrate your passion and enthusiasm for teaching.

You have up to 4,000 characters to write a memorable opening, middle and conclusion.

Don't waste your valuable space on writing about things that are already on your UCAS form elsewhere, such as your qualifications.

What should I include in my teacher training personal statement?

When planning out your personal statement, ask yourself what it is your training providers are looking for. Make sure your statement answers the following questions:

• Why do I want to teach? - show that you know about the challenges and rewards of teaching, and remember that everything has its ups and downs. Maybe talk about any lessons you have observed/taught, what went well and how you would have improved on them. Discuss teaching styles used and the use of technology in the classroom.
• Why do I want to teach this age group/at this level? - what appeals to you, and what experience do you have teaching these students/children?
• What are my strengths? - include the relevance of your degree and subject knowledge.
• What experience do I have? - include any experience you have of volunteering with children, such as teaching a sports team, youth work or working at a summer camp? Give examples of how this helpd develop your teaching skills.
• What personal skills/abilities do I have? - these might include research, creativity, time management, IT skills, problem solving, managing people, organisational skills, listening skills, leading or working in a team. To strengthen your application, make sure you back everything up with examples.
• Are there are any location restrictions? - if you don't currently live in the UK, why do you want to study here? Are you willing to move away from your current home town/city for your degree?

You only have up to 47 lines (4,000 characters including spaces) in which to persuade your chosen initial teacher training (ITT) providers to offer you an interview. The statement must be concise, enthusiastic and sell your potential to be a successful teacher.

For more help and advice on what to write in your teacher training personal statement, please see:

• Personal Statement Editing Services
• Personal Statement Tips From A Teacher
• Analysis Of A Personal Statement
• The 15th January UCAS Deadline: 4 Ways To Avoid Missing It
• Personal Statement FAQs
• Personal Statement Timeline
• 10 Top Personal Statement Writing Tips
• What To Do If You Miss The 15th January UCAS Deadline.

What is a teacher training degree?

Teacher training degrees combine the study of curriculum subjects with learning teaching techniques and putting these into practice during hands-on school placements. The course leads to QTS (qualified teacher status) to enable you to teach in a school or college.

How long is a teacher training course?

To teach in England and Wales you need to gain QTS. You will obtain this on an ITT programme, which could be school or university-based and takes approximately one year to complete.

How do I become a teacher with a degree?

To teach as a qualified teacher in England, you'll need qualified teacher status (QTS). If you already have a degree, you can complete a postgraduate teacher training course to achieve this. Additionally, you'll need to have a GCSE at grade C/4 in maths and English, as well as science if you want to teach primary.

Can I train to be a teacher without a degree?

Unfortunately no - you cannot become a teacher without a degree.

But if you are an undergraduate or have a degree in a different subject than what you want to teach, there are options to help you get into a teaching career.

Will I get paid for teacher training?

There are three types of funding available for teacher training - depending on your circumstances, you could receive all three:

• Tax-free bursary or scholarship.
• Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan.
• Extra financial support if you're a parent, have an adult dependant or a disability.

Further information

For more tips and advice on teacher training personal statements, please see:

• GetIntoTeaching
• The Complete University Guide

Related resources

Teacher training interview questions.

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Applying For Teacher Training Courses

6 Personal Statement Writing Tips

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What is scitt.

Those looking to become a teacher or build-up previous teaching qualifications with a postgraduate degree, look no further.

The SCITT programme is a great way for students who are looking to gain a QTS qualification . It is a great qualification for students who are looking to become a teacher and is a perfect way to gain a postgraduate qualification

What does SCITT stand for?

SCITT stands for School Centred Initial Teacher Training.

SCITT Programmes are teacher training courses that lead students into a QTS. A SCITT programme can award students with a PGCE degree , although this does not always happen.

So, what is a SCITT in schools? The programme for a SCITT is run by local schools, who are focusing on giving graduates the chance to get some practical teacher training and to also give graduates the chance to learn on the job as well.

How to apply for SCITT and SCITT entry requirements

You will have to apply for the SCITT via the UCAS Teacher Training Portal .

As it is the case with most applications through UCAS, you will need to provide a Personal Statement and two referees. Once your application has been accepted (if it is accepted), you will be invited for an interview, which isn’t too dissimilar to a university interview . Once you've done this, you may be required to complete an aptitude test .

As for entry requirements, in order to take part in the SCITT Programme, you will be required to have a C at GCSE level in Mathematics and a C in English (Literature or Language) and students who have ambitions towards teaching primary aged children, will need to attain a grade C in Science subjects as well.

How much does SCITT cost?

So, how much is SCITT?

The cost of SCITT can change depending on where you are studying and what you are studying, but more often than not, it is around £9,000. It is relatively similar to the PGCE and the PGDE qualification in terms of funding, however, the PGCE does have it’s own PGCE funding options as well.

There are a number of bursaries, grants and scholarships for students who are looking to participate in the SCITT. SCITT funding could be very useful.

Those who have a PhD or a Masters at a 2:2 level or higher, are able to claim a bursary of around £26,000 as long as their 2:2 is in one of these subjects:

• Modern Foreign Languages
• Mathematics

Those who have a 2:2 or higher in Mathematics are entitled to a bursary of £30,000.

There are bursaries available in other subjects as well, but these don’t receive a bursary as high as £26,000. The following subjects are entitled to a bursary between £4,000 and £15,000:

• Design and Technology
• Religious Studies
• Primary Mathematics

There are also some scholarships available for students as well. Scholarships can go a tad higher than both bursaries, as they can fetch around £28,000 for students (£32,000 if you're studying Mathematics).

The following subjects are eligible for scholarships:

• Modern Foreign Languages (French, German and Spanish)

Your eligibility for these bursaries, grants or scholarships will all depend on you, as their may be different rules, laws, standards and regulations, especially for international students, but there are also scholarships available for international students as well.

Can I get paid on SCITT?

Unfortunately, no. These are not paid placements. You may end up with a pretty sweet gig at the end of it at the school who is teaching you, but it’s unlikely that you'll get paid before then.

Anyone who does want to be paid for doing a SCITT, may want to apply for The School Direct programme instead, which works in the same way, but with an added financial incentive in it.

What is the difference between SCITT and School Direct?

There isn't too much between the two, in reality.

Both offer routes into teacher training and both have the ability to award students with a PGCE qualification. The main differences are that SCITT itself awards a PGCE in a SCITT, whereas, those studying the School Direct will have their PGCE awarded by their HEI (Higher Education Institute) partner.

SCITT teaching is a great way for students to learn more about the world of teacher training and also about what the challenges are for you when you start teaching as well.

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• Personal Statement and Reference

Personal Statement

• The personal statement demonstrates a commitment to teaching.
• There is evidence of work in more than one school and that some of this work has been voluntary. This experience has been reflected on.
• There is evidence of other experiences that have promoted personal development, for example previous work or career, helping with voluntary organisations such as Scouts or Guides, charities or other experiences.
• The personal statement is articulate and interesting and is grammatically sound.
• The reference is very positive in terms of academic achievement and highly recommends applicant for teaching.
• The reference describes the applicant’s personal qualities and attributes.
• The reference outlines prior experience in the classroom or other educational setting.

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• The Selection Process
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Your teacher training personal statement

Your personal statement is your chance to make yourself memorable with teacher training providers and show them why you’ll make a great teacher.

You do not have to write it all at once – you can start it and come back to it. Successful candidates often take a few weeks to write their personal statements.

How long should my teacher training personal statement be?

Your personal statement can be up to 1000 words. 90% of successful candidates write 500 words or more.

You could include:

• skills you have that are relevant to teaching
• any experience of working with young people
• your understanding of why teaching is important
• your reasons for wanting to train to be a teacher
• any activities you’ve done that could be relevant to teaching (such as first aid courses, sports coaching or volunteering)

Teacher training providers want to see your passion and that you understand the bigger picture of teaching.

How to write your personal statement

When writing your personal statement you should make sure you check your spelling and grammar in your application. You want to make the best possible impression.

You can use ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help you write your personal statement. You should not rely on it to write your entire statement because:

AI tools use bland language and will not be able to give details about you as a person. Using them may result in your application being unsuccessful

your account to apply for teacher training may be blocked if you consistently submit personal statements that look like they have been written with AI tools

Do I use the same personal statement for each application?

You can use the same personal statement for every course you apply to.

However, there may be some instances where you’d like to tailor it to different courses.

For example, if you want to apply to train to teach maths and also to train to teach physics. In this case, you might want to change your personal statement to talk more specifically about the subject you’re applying to train to teach.

Should my personal statement be different if I’m training to teach primary or secondary?

You should use your personal statement to explain why you feel passionate about teaching a specific age range or subject.

If you’re applying for a primary course with a subject specialism, or you’re particularly interested in certain primary subjects, you can talk about that, too.

If you’re not sure if you want to teach primary or secondary, you can find out more about teaching different age groups .

Do I need school experience?

You do not need school experience to apply for teacher training, but it can help strengthen your personal statement.

Teacher training providers like to see that you have a good understanding of teaching, how the school system works and what your transferable skills are. You need more than just good subject knowledge and school experience can be a great way to get this.

Getting some school experience can also be a good way to make sure teaching is right for you before you apply for a course.

Find out how you could get school experience .

Get help with your personal statement

You can get help with your personal statement from our teacher training advisers . They have years of teaching experience and can give you free, one-to-one support by phone, text, or email.

Advisers can also help you understand more about what teaching is really like, which can help improve your application.

Start your application

Create an account and start your application for a teacher training course.

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Get free one-to-one support

Maximise your chances of submitting a successful application with the support of a dedicated adviser with years of teaching experience. Chat to an adviser through phone, text or email.

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Call or chat to us Monday to Friday, 8:30am until 5:30pm , except on bank holidays (opens in new window) .

Whether it's just an idea or you're ready to apply, you could get personalised support from an adviser with years of teaching experience. Chat to them by phone, email or text as little or as often as you need.

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Kingsbridge Teacher Training, Rivington Ave, Platt Bridge, Wigan, WN2 5NG

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Kingsbridge SCITT

Every lesson shapes a life through Kingsbridge Teacher Training

• Our vision and values - Why Kingsbridge?
• What you will achieve?
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• Route 1 Initial Teacher Training
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• Apprenticeship Training Plan (formerly known as commitment statement)
• End-Point Assessment Service
• Teacher Educator Programme (TEP)
• Register your schools interest in our Teaching Apprenticeship Programme
• Create a Partnership with Kingsbridge
• Entry Criteria
• Trainee Teacher Role Description and Person Specification
• An effective personal Statement
• The Interview Process | Keeping Children Safe in Education
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• Safeguarding

An effective personal statement

We ask everyone who applies for a place at Kingsbridge to tell us why they want to join us. The personal statement is your chance to sell yourself to us. We want to know why you want to be a teacher and what drives you. We want to feel your passion for your chosen career path and we want to hear about what you have done so far to make it happen.

We give you 4,000 characters to tell your story and it’s up to you to make the most of it. The kind of things we’re looking for include your skills and experience, not just in teaching but in all aspects of life. We want to hear about your determination to make a difference to the lives of children and young people and the personal attributes that you possess that will help you to do this.

Make sure you proof read your statement before submitting - it’s a good idea to get someone else to read through it as well. Remember - articulation, grammar, spelling, punctuation and presentation are what we are all about!

UCAS offers some great tips on how to write your personal statement and you can find them  here .

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Entry Requirements

What do you need for teacher training, academic requirements.

UK recognised degree.  Any subject will be considered.

GCSEs in Maths and English at grade C / 4 or above

GCSE or equivalent in Science at grade C /4 or above

We are able to accept a broad range and type of qualification, as long as it meets the government recognised equivalency . If all or part of your qualifications are from outside the UK, you can check if they are eligible using the ECCTIS service.

PERSONAL SKILLS AND QUALITIES

You will need to demonstrate that you can  communicate accurately and effectively in spoken and written Standard English . Excellent interpersonal skills and strong communication is at the heart of effective teaching.

You'll also need to demonstrate the capacity to meet all the required National Teachers' Standards by the end of the training, possessing the personal and intellectual qualities to be a teacher.

You will need to pass health and a DBS check and have the physical and mental fitness to teach.

We are looking for people with creativity! You'll be teaching a broad range of subjects. Can you challenge and excite pupils to develop them into confident, enthusiastc learners?

You'll need to be reflective and resilient. Teaching is a complex but rewarding career. Every day is a school day with something new to learn. You need to be able to reflect on your experiences and lessons as you'll be the kind of person who is always seeking to improve things. That also takes determination to bounce back when lesson go wrong and challenges need to be overcome.

Becoming a teacher is a major step which requires huge commitment to changing the lives of children. Whilst experience is no longer a statutory requirement and the SCITT does consider applicants with no experience, we strongly recommend getting first hand experience in a primary school. Experience is incredible valuable to help you understand what the job entails and can confirm that teaching is right for you. Besides this, it can also boost your confidence in writing your personal statement and assist through the interview process, as you can show what experience has taught you about teaching and learning.

We can offer suitable candidates experience within our partner schools - this can be a really valuable step in becoming the teacher you dream of becoming!

We aim to recruit a range of good role models representative of the local population, particularly from minority ethnic communities and men. Also, we are particularly keen to hear from experienced classroom assistants and those seeking a career change.

Trainees come from a very diverse set of backgrounds with widely differing pre-course experiences. Some trainees come straight from school and completion of their first degrees, whilst others have spent time in different careers and bringing up children. We pride ourselves on our ability to support and meet the needs of all our trainees so you enjoy the course and meet your full potential.

References You need 2 references to apply. ​

Unlike a standard work reference, your references for teacher training need to be named individuals rather than (for example) a human resources team or academic department.​

Your referees will be asked to write 500 words about your character and suitability for teaching after your interview​ Choose referees who’ll endorse your:                           Ideal referees could include:​

*  teaching passion and potential                              *  your university tutor or supervisor​ *  suitability for working with children                     *  your current line manager at work​ *  academic abilities                                                    *  your previous employer​ *  reliability and professionalism                                 *  a teacher at a school where you work or volunteer​                                                                                     *  a supplier or client you’ve worked with (if you’re​ self-employed)​ Referees should  not  be family members, partners or friends.​

Training providers will only accept a character reference as a second reference.​

It’s important to have at least one academic or professional reference.​

If you would like to speak to someone regarding your application or just to get more advice, you are very welcome to call on 0116 2543187 or drop an email to [email protected]

Privacy Overview

School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT)

Our programme provides high-quality training that shapes brilliant teachers.

Are you a Teaching School Hub or Multi-Academy Trust? Partner with us to deliver our new School-Centred Initial Teacher Training programme  in your region.

Your work will help individuals develop into inspiring teachers or mentors, while supporting schools to deliver the excellent teaching their children need. This one-year programme for trainees and mentors includes:

• research-led self-directed study
• live training
• one-to-one support

This is an unsalaried, fee-funded route and our first cohort will begin in September 2024.

Partnering with Teach First means you can offer the full 'Golden Thread' of teacher and leadership development across your schools, from Initial Teacher Training (ITT) through to Executive Leadership.

SCITT trainees benefit from:

• a structured one-year programme of training and support
• online and face to face training modules
• access to expert training materials
• an experienced mentor
• the opportunity to train in a school local to them.

Schools benefit from:

• an unsalaried trainee teacher on a high-quality programme with expert support
• a trainee placed in school for the whole year (except for an additional six week placement) who builds up their teaching allocation throughout the year, providing capacity to your school
• high-quality training for a middle leader to become a great mentor.

Everyone benefits from our:

Experience - 20 years of delivering high-quality teacher education.

Expertise - Evidence and research-led training created by experts in teaching and teacher development.

Specialist training - Subject-specific training to ensure teachers can build on what they know and unlock their full potential.

What makes Teach First a great SCITT partner?

We’re the largest ITT provider in the country and have been committed to driving change in the system for the last 20 years. 

We’ve taken the unparalleled experience and expertise we’ve gained from our Training Programme to develop our new School-Centred Initial Teacher Training Programme . Our Training Programme was recently inspected by Ofsted and has again been rated “outstanding” in all areas in both primary and secondary phases.

Our high-quality, evidence-led SCITT training is designed with schools, for schools. We work with a wide range of educational experts and school leaders – including delivery partners like you – to bring concrete school experience to our training content. If you choose to partner with us , there will be ongoing and meaningful opportunities to collaborate and continually enhance our programmes and processes.

The success of our recent Ofsted Lead Provider visit for Early Career Framework (ECF) and National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) emphasises the strength of our relationships with delivery partners, the quality of our curriculum and our impact on schools.

Partner with us

We’re proud to already be working with several Teaching School Hubs and Multi-Academy Trusts across the country to deliver the ECF and the full suite of NPQs.

We’re now looking for partners to recruit for and deliver our School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme to trainees and schools across all regions in England. We bring our expertise in developing the highest-quality training, while you bring the knowledge of what the schools and communities in your area really need.

Interested in working with us?

Email [email protected] to start building our partnership together.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Teaching School Hub? We're here to help.

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DEVELOPING GREAT TEACHERS

Our individualised training and classroom practice focuses on developing adaptive teachers who make a difference to pupils’ learning, enabling them to be great Early Career Teachers.

CONSIDERING TEACHER

If you are thinking about joining the teaching profession in London and want to know more about our programme contact us now!

WHERE WE TRAIN

Our teacher training is school based in innovative and transforming primary settings throughout London. Additional training takes place at our ITT Centre in the heart of London.

WHY CHOOSE US?

Teaching London SCITT and the LDBS partnership have been training Outstanding teachers for over 20 years. Our graduate training leads to Qualified Teacher Status with a PGCE. We also run the Assessment Only Route for unqualified/Overseas Trained Teachers. We are a small and experienced provider, offering bespoke training within a highly supportive environment. Consistently high quality training with excellent outcomes for trainees with employment over the last 3 years. Personalised, proactive and highly responsive provision for trainees and schools, reflecting local and national agendas.

Small and experienced provider, offering bespoke training within a highly supportive environment.

Consistently high quality training with excellent outcomes for Trainees with 98% employment over the last 3 years.

Personalised, proactive and highly responsive provision for Trainees and schools, reflecting local and national agendas.

Established and rigorous training programme for Mentors which supports Trainees’ learning in school with over 47 centre-based training days per annum.

Supporting schools to build a sustainable workforce with our graduates in local communities.

Friendly, efficient and caring team: accessible staff who put well-being at the centre of training. Our values are at the heart of everything we do: wisdom, trust, humility, creativity, justice and service.

• A highly trained and friendly admin team will consistently support you from your first enquiry, to graduation and beyond

YOUR WELLBEING

From the outset, we support our applicants in making sure they are in a good position to start their training.

Our Success

98% of our teacher training graduates gain employment, the majority in one of the schools they trained in, making a smooth and successful transition from trainee to ECT.

Want to know more about Teaching London: LDBS SCITT?

We’re always happy to discuss any aspect of our teacher training in London.

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Home / How To Apply / Apply Now

Welcome to our step-by-step application guide! If you’re considering a rewarding career in teaching, applying for a teacher training course in the UK is your first major step. This page is here to guide you through every stage of the application process, from understanding the entry requirements and choosing the right course, to filling out your application form correctly. We’re here to make this process as straightforward as possible, so let’s get started on your journey towards becoming an inspiring educator.

If you’re considering a rewarding career in teaching, applying for a teacher training course is your first major step. We’re here to make this process as straightforward as possible, so let’s get started on your journey towards becoming an inspiring educator…

• Checked that you meet the entry requirements
• Selected the best course for you
• Drafted your personal statement
• Identified your two referees
• Gathered a portfolio of all your examination certificates to date

How do I make a course application?

Access the government ‘Apply’ website using the button below for our 2024-25 initial teacher training courses. Select Essex and Thames SCITT as the training provider. All courses have a specific code that you will need. You can find this on the ‘Apply’ website and our handy list of courses .

Alternatively, you can directly apply to us using the below button for the  2025/26 and 2026/27 courses 

Below, you will also find a button to our assessment-only route page to check that you qualify and to access the application form.

Discover some great tips here when writing your application and personal statement .

APPLY for 24-25

APPLY directly to us

Assessment Only

"Opportunities to reflect on what they have learned with mentors and tutors ensure trainees apply this new knowledge into their teaching."

If you would like some more information about Essex & Thames SCITT, or would like us to contact you, please complete all your details in the form below:

• Name * First
• I consent to Essex & Thames SCITT collecting and storing my data from this form
• I consent to receiving marketing material from Essex & Thames SCITT
• Email This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

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Teacher Training Application Process

Teacher Training Application & Information

The Deepings SCITT is a Lead Partner of the Lincolnshire SCITT for 2024/25 applications. Select us by choosing the Lincolnshire SCITT provider. Teaching Applications are now open – apply now.

Or for more information, get in touch with us.

How To Apply For Teacher Training

Successful applicants for the teacher training programme should share our passion for enhancing the future of children and young people, empowering them through the transformative power of learning.

It is essential that you demonstrate the level of commitment and resilience required to become a highly effective teacher and lifelong learner.

The Deepings SCITT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of children and young people. We implement safer recruitment procedures, and all successful applicants will be subject to pre-training checks including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal records check, including a check of the children’s barred list.

Tax-free teacher training bursaries of up to £28,000 (2024/25) are available in a range of subjects to support the cost of your training. For more information click the link below or visit our Funding page

For 2024 to 2025 Secondary Applicants may be eligible for bursaries of: • £28,000 In Chemistry, Computing, Mathematics and Physics • £25,000 In Biology, Design and Technology, Geography and Languages • £10,000 In Art and Design, English, Music and RE

Additional qualities we look for throughout the application process are:

Commitment to the train to teach programme

An aptitude and readiness for teacher training

A strong passion and subject knowledge for teaching and learning specific to age range and subject

A strong sense of moral purpose (linked to the CLF Heart Values)

Effective communicative and interpersonal skills

The ability to reflect, be responsive and pro-active

The Application Process:

Eligibility.

Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria.

Select the course which best suits you and your circumstances.

Have a look at the courses we offer, and note down the course specific code to use later on in your application.

Once you have found the course you want to apply for, click on the apply button. You will be taken to the gov.uk teacher training site where you can locate the course code and apply through the 'Apply' system.

As part of your application process you will need to write a personal statement. Please go to the Get Into Teaching website for useful application tips.

Provider shortlist and invite to an online interview (phase 1).

Online Interview

Online interview (phase 1).

School Visit

If successful in phase 1, candidates will be asked to undertake a host school visit.

Offer Made If Successful

If you are successful you will be sent a conditional offer. If unsuccessful you will be given the opportunity to receive feedback on your application.

Take the first step on your teaching journey

Ready to Get Started?

If you have the passion for enhancing the future of children and young people, empowering them through the transformative power of learning then teaching could be your calling.