QTS

Understanding how Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) works is important. Integrity Education has taken the time to get to pull together information relating to how it all works so that overseas trained teachers (OTT’s) know where they stand. Should you have any further questions please email info@integrityeducation.co.uk and we shall do our best to answer them.
 
The rules if your are an overseas trained teacher.
 
Firstly an overseas trained teacher (OTT) is allowed under the Education Regulations to teach in maintained schools in the UK for a period of up to four years without getting their QTS. In some circumstances this time frame may be increased where the teacher has taken maternity leave, statutory maternity leave, parental leave, paternity leave or has been taken time away for a pregnancy. There are no restrictions in relation to a teacher teaching in private schools, independent schools, technical colleges and or Further Education Insitutions, unlike maintained schools these institutions are not legally obliged to ensure an OTT has QTS within four years of their arrival.
 
Q: When was the first day you began teaching in the UK, was this less than four years ago?
 
A: Yes – great you still have time to get your QTS.
A: No – you should not be teaching in a maintained school. See above.
 
Q: Do I need to get my QTS by 30th August 2008?
 
A: If by the 30th of August 2008 four calendar years will have expired since you first taught in the UK you must have your QTS to continue teaching in a maintained school. In all situations you must get your QTS before four calendar years pass since the day you first teach in a UK maintained school.
 
Originally the government was going to ensure adherence by all LEA’s in the UK to the requirement for OTT’s to gain QTS within four years by August 30 2007. The result of this would have been mass sackings as many people were working towards QTS. Due to the severe impact this would have had on education in the UK this was extended to August 30, 2008. This means that after this time, those OTT’s who have been in the UK and more than four years has passed since the first day they taught, will not be allowed to teach in maintained schools. The four year rule applies regardless in that no one may teach in a maintained school if they have taught for more than four years without getting QTS, it is expressly against the law.
 
Where someone has taught in the UK for more than four years and they do not have QTS then it is unlawful for them to be employed as a teacher in a maintained school. They may only be employed as an “instructor” under special circumstances, the criteria for this is quite strict and it is not a loophole which will allow teachers from overseas to be employed under the guise of instructors.
 
Q: Four years teaching experience fast approaching ? Not got your QTS ?
 
A: If you want to continue teaching in maintained schools you will need to get it before four years expires. If you do not you may only teach in independant schools.


Aquiring QTS – How to do it and what does it involve ?

There are a number of routes available to achieving QTS and depending upon your circumstances there may be a number of routes you can take. Give us a call today for a chat about your options. Call us on 0207 370 6860.