For employed teachers, in English / IB curriculum pre-primary, primary, or secondary schools, who seek a professional teaching qualification.

Individuals who:

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

Earn Qualified Teacher Status (England) through an EA portfolio development support programme leading to enrolment on our accredited partner Assessment (AOQTS) scheme and recommendation for QTS - the qualification required to teach in England.

AOQTS Focus

The primary focus of the AOQTS process is on the QTS characteristics of effective educators, and ability of candidates to model them in their teaching.

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 to:

1. Set high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge pupils
2. Promote good progress and outcomes by pupils
3. Demonstrate good subject and curriculum knowledge
4. Plan and teach well structured lessons
5. Adapt behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe learning environment
6. Fulfill wider professional responsibilities

Teachers are also 'expected to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct'.

Summary of AOQTS Requirements

Entry Criteria

• Teaching age 3 – 11: English, Mathematics, science
• Teaching all other ages: English, Mathematics

Assessment Criteria

• Demonstrated meeting all QTS standards
• Demonstrated meeting QTS standards across two or more consecutive age ranges
• Received positive assessment of practical teaching

Offer experienced teachers opportunity to earn Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) through an assessment only portfolio development process enabling them 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.

Become a recognized professional educator with opportunities for employment worldwide.

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.

The DfE skills test requirement can currently only be completed in England, France, Germany or Spain. Until this requirement is changed, the university assessment of all AOQTS candidates will be completed in England during a two or three-week placement, unless special arrangements are agreed to by EA prior to admission to the AOQTS programme. This school placement will be arranged by EA in conjunction with the candidate and can include completion of the skills test, second school requirement, and university assessment.

We and our AO partners understood that the skills test requirement was to stop by the end of this month. Today we received notice from the Depathe skills tests in English and numeracy which are only available in England. The DfE has removed the skills tests as a requirement for achieving QTS effective September 30, 2019. There is no need to travel to England to complete this on-line test as in the past.

For those candidates who need a second school experience this can be completed near where you are teaching. Alternatively, if you would like the opportunity to teach in a school in England, EA will work with you to arrange a placement during which you can also complete the assessment.

EducatorsAbroad fully supports the teaching profession. To encourage talented educators to remain in the profession in the midst of a global teacher shortage and to further develop their careers, EducatorsAbroad is offering a reduced cost for the AOQTS programme.

The EA charge for this AOQTS programme is UK GBP £3,600 or USD $4,500 for prospective candidates who have been admitted to the programme and paid the initial fee by December 31, 2023. This fee covers:

1. Personalized EA portfolio development support through two school terms (up to three school terms through special arrangements).
2. Preparation for the final assessment that is provided by an EA partner institution.
3. Fees for the assessment process that includes admission to the partner AO programme, their online procedures for portfolio review and 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 £3,600 or USD $4,500 programme fee that can be made in one payment, or two instalments as follows:

1. UK GBP £2,000 or USD $2,500 following review of the application and admission to the EA portfolio development support process.
2. UK GBP £1,600 or USD $2,000 prior to admission to the EA partner online assessment process that follows submission of all required documents, payment of the programme fee, and determination by an EA supervisor that a portfolio is complete and ready for assessment. Assessments are normally scheduled within six weeks after all materials are submitted.

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 when a placement to fulfil the second school requirement is required.
• Charges for extra support by EA colleagues or assessors if required.

Notes:

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

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.

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.

EA England (UK) & Wisconsin (USA) teacher licensure options