Best Short Courses in Teaching & Education UK 2026

The most established QTS route — university-based with school placements, widely recognised in the UK and internationally.

The PGCE is a 1-year full-time postgraduate programme delivered by universities in partnership with schools. It combines educational theory and subject pedagogy at university with at least two school placements totalling a minimum of 24 weeks in school. The PGCE leads to QTS and a postgraduate-level academic qualification — most PGCEs are worth 60 credits at Masters level, which can be used toward a full Masters degree.

The DfE offers significant bursaries for PGCE in shortage subjects: for 2025/26, Physics, Computing, Chemistry, and Maths PGCEs attracted bursaries up to £29,000 tax-free — making PGCE financially viable even without working during training. Applications are through UCAS Teacher Training.

Train in a school — salaried route pays a teacher salary during training, fee-paying route attracts bursaries.

School Direct is a school-led ITT route where you are based primarily in a lead school, with additional placements at partner schools. It comes in two forms: the salaried route (competitive — schools select candidates who are employed as unqualified teachers on a salary during training) and the fee-paying route (similar structure to PGCE but school-led, with same bursary eligibility). Both lead to QTS and most School Direct programmes are run in partnership with a university, awarding a PGCE as well as QTS.

School Direct is well-suited to career changers who want intensive school-based learning. Salaried places are most common in shortage subjects and at secondary level. Applications via UCAS Teacher Training alongside PGCE applications.

Highly competitive — places graduates in challenging schools while earning a salary. Leads to QTS + PGCE.

Teach First is a selective 2-year programme that places high-achieving graduates in schools serving disadvantaged communities. Participants are employed as teachers from day one (full teacher salary), earn QTS after the first year, and complete a PGCE (60 Masters credits) over 2 years. Teach First has a highly regarded alumni network and is one of the most respected ITT programmes in the UK for graduates targeting educational leadership roles.

Teach First is competitive — applicants need a 2:1 degree and must demonstrate leadership potential in selection. The programme is available in specific subjects and regions. Participants receive a full salary, funded PGCE, and access to Teach First leadership development and alumni networks.

The highest TA professional status — covers classes, delivers lessons, and supports learning with greater autonomy.

HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant) status is awarded through assessment by an approved HLTA provider. It is not a qualification but a professional status that recognises TA competency against the HLTA Standards. HLTAs can cover classes in a teacher's planned absence, deliver specified work, and take greater responsibility for learning support.

HLTA is a valuable career step for TAs who want to progress in school settings without teacher training, and for those building experience before ITT applications. HLTA status is also valued by Cover Supervisor roles — another non-QTS position that covers classes under planned absence conditions. The HLTA assessment process involves preparing a portfolio of evidence and a school-based assessment, typically taking 3–6 months.

Teachers qualified overseas can apply for QTS recognition — expanded eligibility from 2023.

Since August 2023, the DfE expanded automatic QTS recognition for overseas- qualified teachers. Teachers who qualified in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US, and most European and Commonwealth countries can apply directly to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) for QTS, which is typically awarded without an assessment programme if eligible criteria are met.

Eligible overseas teachers must hold a teaching qualification from an approved country, have completed teacher training of at least one academic year, have no sanctions or prohibitions from teaching authorities, and meet English language requirements. Applications are made online through the TRA service. Once QTS is awarded, overseas teachers still need to complete the UK Early Career Framework (ECF) induction — a 2-year structured support programme for all newly QTS-awarded teachers.