Entry requirements

Applicants must possess qualifications as follows:

• A standard equivalent to grade 4 or above (e.g. grade C or above) at GCSE in English language and mathematics (or overseas equivalent);
• A degree (2.2 or above) of a United Kingdom higher education institution (or overseas equivalent), at least 50% of which should be directly related to your chosen teaching subject.  If your degree is not a good match with your chosen teaching subject you will need evidence of significant work experience in a relevant field.
  
  

Where candidates are presenting overseas qualifications, it is the applicant’s responsibility to apply to UK ENIC (formerly UK NARIC) for a letter of comparability for the relevant GCSE and degree level qualifications, and to bring the UK ENIC letter along with certificates to their interview.

Please note that if you do not have GCSE or equivalent qualifications in English or mathematics at grade 4 or above (or overseas equivalent certified by UK ENIC), you should contact A* Teachers to find out more about their equivalency tests. For English, as an alternative to the A* Teachers’ test, candidates may present an IELTS Test Report Form dated within the last two years, with an overall score of 8. 

These programmes are covered by part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent English is an essential requirement for the role of a trainee teacher.

Languages applicants

The ability to teach a second language is desirable. We offer French, German, and Spanish as second languages. Applicants without a second language will be asked to start learning one via an SKE course prior to starting their training.

All applicants - criminal record disclosure and fitness to train to teach

All KEC schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all trainee teachers to share this commitment. An Enhanced Disclosure Check is required for entry into initial teacher education and training.  Applicants are also expected to disclose all cautions and convictions even if they are spent, unless they are protected cautions and convictions.

Successful applicants will also be required to take a health check to confirm their fitness to train to teach.

References

Applicants will need to provide details* of two referees.

• If you are still at university, or gained a degree within the last five years:

- One reference must be from someone at your university who can comment on your academic ability and potential as a teacher;

- The other reference can be from your most recent supervisor/line manager at work (this could include voluntary work) who can comment on your character and potential to be a teacher. For safeguarding purposes, if this reference relates to work you did in a school the reference must come from the Principal/Headteacher.

•  If you are applying for the School Direct (salaried) route:

- One reference must be from your current or most recent employer (supervisor/line manager). For safeguarding purposes, if you are working in a school the reference must come from the Principal/Headteacher;

- If you left university more than five years ago, you can choose two referees (supervisor/line manager) from work who can comment on how suitable you are for teaching. You can still use an academic referee if you think it is suitable.

*For safeguarding purposes, we will not accept references sent from private accounts e.g. hotmail, gmail. Please ensure that referees send references from business/institution email accounts.

Leaders’ processes for recruiting trainees are robust. They check applicants’ motivation for wanting to become a teacher carefully.

Ofsted, 2021