EA - QTS Qualification

SeekTeachers Consultancy FZE is excited to partner with EducatorsAbroad Ltd. in providing employed teachers and classroom teaching assistants worldwide access to England and USA teaching qualifications through a portfolio development and assessment process.

1. Based on nationally accepted expectations of effective educators.
2. Individualized, builds on each candidate's unique talents and circumstances with guidance and resources provided by a team of professional educators to help assure the qualification sought is achieved.
3. Brought to each candidate wherever they teach with entry and completion whenever they are ready.

1. Earn Qualified Teacher Status (England) through an EA portfolio development support programme leading to assessment by an EducatorsAbroad  accredited partner and recommendation for QTS.
2. Candidates use the eight QTS standards associated with teaching and the standard of personal and professional conduct outlined in Teachers' Standards in England from September 2012 as the basis for demonstrating their abilities.

1. What Qualification is Required to Teach in England?
2. Teachers in England must hold a bachelor's university degree and have achieved Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to be recognized as having a valid teaching qualification and to be a certified teacher in England.

1. iPGCE, PGCE, and QTS - What is the Relationship?
2. The International Post Graduate CERTIFICATE in Education (iPGCE), offered by universities in England to students around the world, is just that – an ACADEMIC course that results in a certificate of completion of the course. iPGCE courses offered outside of the UK do not, and cannot, include Qualified Teacher Status (the qualification required to teach in England). If your goal is to be a fully qualified teacher, and are considering enrolling in an iPGCE course, you are advised to ask the provider of the course whether you will be a QTS qualified teacher by completing their course. And, then decide if you want to enrol. The Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is also an academic award. Teachers are not required, and it is not necessary, to have earned a PGCE to be qualified to teach in England. There are PGCE courses that include QTS and others that do not. A PGCE course that includes QTS offers a valid teaching qualification. A PGCE course that does not include QTS does not qualify a candidate as a teacher. PGCE courses with QTS are not available outside of England. QTS is offered without PGCE by selected schools in England through an employment based option. Graduates of the EA support and accredited partner assessment programme earn QTS without PGCE.

1. For employed teachers in English medium schools who:

   • Seek to be qualified to teach in any school that accepts an English teaching qualification.
   • Hold a bachelor's university degree from England or equivalent.
   • Have and/or can meet all prerequisite and programme requirements.
   • Demonstrate the highest expectations of educators responsible for the education of young people.

1. Enabled to teach in state-maintained and special schools in England and Wales; under the regulations on equivalence of qualifications across the European Union; and in independent and government schools in other geographic locations depending on school policies concerning acceptable qualifications of educators.
2. Become a recognised professional educator with opportunities for employment worldwide.

1. The EAAOQTS programme is brought to you in your school and integrated into your teaching responsibilities.You will be supported by an EA supervisor through Skype, email, and phone communication throughout the portfolio development process. The EA supervisor, who will most likely visit you on site, works closely with a qualified school-based mentor/observer with the goal of ensuring your success in achieving QTS. The former Skills Tests requirement has now been removed. However, candidates must now complete a short proforma identifying how Literacy and Numeracy are incorporated into classroom practice. Similarly, a placement in the UK is no longer required, but can be requested by AO candidates. The admission requirement of having experience of teaching in 2 schools can be met locally.

1. The EA charge for this AOQTS programme is UK GBP £6,000 or USD $7,500. This fee covers, a) EA portfolio development support through two school terms (up to three school terms through special arrangements) and preparation for the final assessment after registration with the university, and b) fees for the university assessment process that includes interview for entrance to the university (where required), AO programme, admission, portfolio review, observation/assessment, and recommendation for QTS if the candidate is successful.

   On admission to the programme, AO candidates will receive an invoice for the UK GBP £6,000 or USD $7,500 programme fee that can be made a) in one payment or b) in three instalments: UK GBP £2,000 or USD $2,500 following review of the application and admission to the EA portfolio development support process,UK GBP £2,000 or USD $2,500 on receipt of a progress report from the EA Supervisor (normally provided at the end of the first term of support), and UK GBP £2,000 or USD $2,500 when the portfolio is ready for assessment and prior to application for admission to the university assessment process.

   Candidates are responsible for all other expenses including those associated with:

   • Providing proof of qualifications.
   • Completion of all prerequisite and programme requirements.
   • Data gathering and submission of portfolio materials.
   • Cost for travel and accommodation where a UK school placement has been requested:
     • A two or possibly three-week school placement in England to fulfil the second school requirement (where requested) and/or university assessment, unless alternative arrangements are made prior to admission to the AOQTS programme.
   • Charges for extra support by EA colleagues or additional visits by assessors, if required, to assure the portfolio is ready for assessment.

   Notes:

   • Payments are non-refundable.
   • The EA charge for this AOQTS programme is subject to change for new candidates.

1. This Assessment Only QTS programme (AOQTS) is offered by EducatorsAbroad Ltd. (EA) in cooperation with our partner universities in England.

   As an organisation EA is committed to promoting teaching as a global profession. As a result, AOQTS candidates are expected to work effectively with students of different backgrounds, integrate experience and perspectives from instructional settings in other cultural contexts, and demonstrate ability to meet the unique needs of all students.

   Process

   Candidates demonstrate that they meet the standards for the award of QTS by:

   1. compiling and submitting a portfolio of evidence of their abilities as a classroom teacher, and
   2. through direct observation and assessment of their teaching.

   The portfolio development and candidate assessment process includes the following steps:

   Prior to Enrolling

   • Review all information on this AOQTS site. If a question, concerning your particular circumstance, is not answered, please ask. EA colleagues will provide guidance on submitting materials to NARIC, if needed, prior to payment of the initial programme fee.
   • Prospective candidate opens a registration page via the EA website to enable checking of qualifications and experience.
   • Prospective candidate determine whether to proceed following review of requirements and expectations outlined on all EA AOQTS www pages.
   • Prospective candidate completes and submits the EA AOQTS Prerequisites Clearance form along with required materials.
   • EA faculty review the application, conduct an on-line or on-site interview with the applicant, assure pre-requisite requirements are/will be met, determine potential for successful completion, and with the accredited partner decide to either:
     1. Approve admission to the AOQTS programme.
     2. Describe qualifications that must be demonstrated prior to admission and approve admission if requirements are fulfilled.
     3. Reject the candidate's application.
   • When admission to the EA portfolio development support process is approved the candidate submits the first instalment of the programme fee to EA.

   Upon Entry

   • EA confirms the school-based mentor/observer who will assist the candidate and make and report accurate judgments about the effectiveness of the candidate's teaching throughout the portfolio development process.
   • EA assigns an EA supervisor to support work of the school-based mentor/observer and candidate.
   • Candidate receives notice of having applied for the EA/accredited partner AOQTS programme.
   • Candidate shares with mentor and EA Supervisor, if allocated, plans to set goals and create a plan for portfolio preparation.
   • Candidate accesses resources to develop understandings and abilities and collects evidence for the portfolio.
   • At approximately the mid-point of this process, the second instalment of the programme fee is submitted to EA.
   • An EA faculty member will, where feasible, travel to the candidate's school to validate information, observe teaching, and provide guidance for completion of the portfolio.
   • Candidate finalizes their portfolio providing evidence of their understandings, abilities, and performance in line with QTS standards for their level of experience.
   • Candidate reflects on progress and shares current perspectives on their professional abilities with the school-based mentor and EA Supervisor.
   • When the school-based mentor, other observers, the EA Supervisor and candidate agree that the portfolio is ready for assessment, EA will contact the accreditation partner and arrange for the final assessment to take place.

   Ready for Assessment

   • The university interviews and admits the candidate to their programme and appoints an assessor.
   • The assessor reviews the portfolio, and arranges an on-site visit to confirm the validity and accuracy of the portfolio, observes the candidate teaching, and determine whether the candidate should be recommended for QTS.
   • The assessor's decision is moderated by the university following its procedures for AOQTS candidates.

   Recommendation for QTS or Reevaluation

   • Successful candidates are recommended by the university for the award of QTS. The formal letter awarding QTS status is issued to the candidate by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).
   • If the candidate is not recommended for QTS, the EA supervisor and candidate agree any further steps to resolve issues raised by the assessor and submission of requested evidence within the 12-16 week time frame for the AOQTS process.
   Note: No assurance is offered, and no presumption should be made, that a candidate who has been admitted to this AOQTS programme will satisfy requirements and be granted a QTS qualification.