Support the next generation of teachers with Best Practice Network
Explore pathways to Qualified Teacher Status for your school
AT A GLANCE
CHECK-CIRCLE Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship
CHECK-CIRCLE Initial Teacher Training
CHECK-CIRCLE Train qualified teachers in 1 academic year
At Best Practice Network, we believe every school deserves passionate, skilled teachers who are ready to make an impact from day one. By working in partnership with schools like yours, we’re helping to shape the next generation of educators across Primary, Secondary and SEND.
With a strong national presence and deep local connections, we provide flexible training pathways — from fee-funded Initial Teacher Training (ITT) to salaried Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeships (PGTA). Our programmes are practical, school-based and designed around your setting’s needs.
Together, we can inspire more people into teaching and give schools the staff they need to thrive.
• 20+ Years’ Experience – delivering training for teachers, leaders, support staff and early years
• Tailored Training – subject and phasespecific groups across our national network
• Local Placements – 500+ partner schools offering high-quality, in-school training
• Wellbeing Focused – QTS-only route designed for a smooth transition into teaching
• Award-Winning – Education Apprenticeship Training Provider of the Year (twice!)
• Proven Success – 90% of 2024/25 graduates secured teaching roles for September
• Our Promise: A national provider with the personal touch of a local partner.
Two high-quality routes to develop your school workforce. Choose the one that fits your needs.
• Ideal for recruiting new teachers who are not yet in a school
• Our placements team supports in arranging placements
• Training costs covered via student loans, no cost to your school
• Unsalaried route
• 11 months
• Awards Qualified Teacher Status
More information on page 4
Our curriculum is designed to develop confident, classroom-ready teachers. It blends evidence-based theory with hands-on experience, ensuring student teachers make an immediate impact in your school.
Training is built around three core areas:
• Behaviour Support & Classroom Management
• Curriculum Delivery
• Teacher Development How the programme is delivered:
• Mentor-led school sessions – Learn directly from experienced teachers in your school.
• Live webinars – Focused training on key skills and current educational research.
• Self-study – Independent learning to deepen knowledge and understanding.
• Core training days – 10-12 days delivered online or face-to-face at a local centre.
• Ideal for developing existing staff within your school
• Student teachers train while remaining in their current classroom
• Fully funded via your school’s Apprenticeship Levy
• Salaried route (Unqualified Teacher Scale)
• 10 months + Apprenticeship Assessment
• Awards Qualified Teacher Status + Level 6 Teacher Apprenticeship
More information on page 8
In addition, student teachers take part in four ITAP weeks. They focus on key teaching skills and get to observe expert practice in action, helping embed new strategies into their teaching. The ITAP weeks align with the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF). They must be released from the timetable for ITAP weeks.
At the end of training, student teachers should be able to teach 80% of the class timetable confidently.
The Fee-funded route at Best Practice Network is similar to the apprenticeship – trainees are immersed in school right from the start of the programme meaning they can become accustomed to the school environment, culture, and routines early on.”
Vanesa Sawyer, Head of Primary ITT
Course
11 months (full time) or 18 months (part time)
Flexible learning
Train 4 days in school, 1 day online or Face-to-Face learning
This
Primary SEND Secondary
Fee-Funded Initial Teacher Training is perfect for recent graduates or career changers who are looking to begin a rewarding career in teaching but are not employed in a school.
Awards Qualified Teacher Status in just 11 months
School-based learning: student teachers spend 4 days a week teaching in your classrooms, with 1 day dedicated to expert-led training
Comprehensive support: personal tutors, school mentors and a wellbeing team will guide student teachers every step of the way
“I
am a mature student who had a career as a nurse when I left school, it's never too late to switch careers!”
Student teacher 24/25
Successful applicants must hold:
• A minimum 2:2 bachelor's degree in any subject
• GCSE grade 4 (C) or above in English, maths and science
• Right to work and study in the UK
• Previous school experience is not mandatory for this programme but is highly recommended
If you’re unsure about your qualifications, contact us for guidance.
Introduction to the ITT programme.
Pre-programme reading and tasks.
Student teachers will train in two schools, their main placement, plus a six-week contrasting placement in a different school. Our Level 6 programmes award QTS without a PGCE, which isn’t required to teach in English schools.
Schools across the country are facing significant capacity challenges, making it harder for aspiring teachers to gain the hands-on placement experience they need to start a career in teaching.
To tackle this, we are asking schools to support a student teacher placement (either as their host or contrasting placement) —at absolutely no cost to your school.
By hosting a placement, you’ll gain:
• A supernumerary extra pair of hands in the classroom
• £1,450 for each full placement you host (host + contrasting)
• £1,072 grant for every mentor you train
• Hassle-free admin (we handle the paperwork)
• Dedicated placement coordinator support
Interested? Scan here to find out more and register your interest
The Teacher Apprenticeship played a pivotal role in developing my skills as a teacher. This pathway offered a unique blend of practical experience and structured learning. Allowing me to grow both personally and professionally.”
We know the importance of expert mentors and their impact on the development of student teachers. That’s why we’ve created flexible mentoring models to support schools of all sizes.
Our bespoke mentor curriculum, underpinned by the latest research, ensures that mentors refine their skills and build a certified professional portfolio with opportunities for career progression.
Mentor development is supported through scaffolded session plans, making it easy to deliver effective weekly 1:1s with student teachers. This approach reduces capacity pressures and encourages more schools to take part in teacher training.
Mentors should typically:
• Be experienced teachers (minimum 3 years’ teaching)
• Have strong subject knowledge in their phase
• Provide structured support, including:
– Regular classroom observations
– Weekly progress meetings
– Timely feedback and developmental targets
You will receive a grant for each mentor you train
Our Flexible Solution
We understand that capacity is a challenge for many schools. That’s why Best Practice Network offers a remote mentoring option – ensuring you can host a student teacher placement even if staff capacity is limited.
• No additional cost to your school
• Remote mentoring delivered by BPN’s expert mentors
• In-school observations carried out by your classroom teachers
• Student teachers will continue to receive high-quality, consistent support
This unique model removes barriers and makes it possible for all schools to play a part in developing future teachers.
Book a call with our expert team to find out more
The Teacher Apprenticeship is a structured training programme that covers all aspects of teaching, including pedagogy, assessment, and classroom management. It is a great way to develop your graduate TAs!”
Sian Marsh | Head of Early Years and Education
Course duration 10 months + Assessment
Flexible learning
Train 4 days in school, 1 day online or Face-to-Face learning
This programme awards
Qualified Teacher Status and Level 6 Teacher Apprenticeship
Cost to student teacher
£0 with Apprenticeship Levy funding
The Teacher Apprenticeship is a salaried, school-based route designed for staff already working in education, such as teaching assistants, HLTAs or unqualified teachers, who want to qualify as teachers while continuing to contribute to their school.
Awards Qualified Teacher Status in 10 months + Apprenticeship Assessment
Fully funded via your school’s Apprenticeship Levy
School-based learning: student teachers spend 4 days a week teaching in your classrooms, with 1 day dedicated to expert-led training
Comprehensive support: personal tutors, school mentors and a wellbeing team will guide student teachers every step of the way
Student teachers earn a salary while they train (Unqualified Teacher Pay Scale)
Successful applicants must hold:
• Employment in a school
• A minimum 2:2 bachelor's degree in any subject
• GCSE grade 4 (C) or above in English, maths (and science if applying for primary)
• At least 3 years residency in the UK
If you’re unsure about your qualifications, contact us for guidance.
Student teachers will train in two schools, their main placement, plus a six-week contrasting placement in a different school. Our Level 6 programmes award QTS without a PGCE, which isn’t required to teach in English schools. Tripartite Gateway meeting. Assessment activities Primary SEND Secondary
Apprenticeship induction; First day of learning activity.
Pre-programme reading and tasks.
Aidan Jenkins is Director of Teacher Development at The Futures Trust and shares his valuable insight about his experience supporting a student teacher placement.
"We decided to take on an apprentice student teacher, not because it was in a shortage subject, but because we knew this individual had a lot to offer the department, school and profession.
While it is just as seamless to support a student teacher who may not have prior school experience, we chose to upskill one of our current staff members. They were in a non-teaching role but had the potential and ambition to become a qualified teacher.
Training a teacher within the school, with the support of our team and Best Practice Network, proved far more holistic than the traditional university route.
The sense of belonging was immediate, for both the student teacher and the school. Their prior understanding of our ethos, coupled with the continuity of pupils seeing a familiar face, accelerated progress for everyone involved.
Today, the apprentice is a fully qualified teacher, embedded in the fabric of the school, and ready to take the next step by undertaking an NPQ to continue their professional development."
Training a teacher within the school, with the support of our team and Best Practice Network, proved far more holistic than the traditional university route."
Meet Mollie. She’s currently completing the Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship, specialising in teaching primary across the 3–7 age range.
Before starting her training, Mollie worked as a Teaching Assistant in the very school where she now teaches. Supporting children across all subjects gave her a real insight into the rewards and challenges of the classroom. It was here she realised that teaching was the career she wanted to pursue.
Mollie spends four days a week teaching in her current school, leading lessons in phonics, maths and reading. She works closely with her in-school mentor, who observes her teaching, gives feedback and helps her set development goals. Each day blends whole-class teaching, small group work, and play-based learning for her 3–7-year-olds.
Fridays are dedicated to live, expert-led webinars covering key topics like behaviour management, curriculum planning and subjectspecific pedagogy. Mollie learns alongside student teachers from across the country, with plenty of opportunities for discussion and idea sharing.
Depending on your location, you may have the opportunity to attend Face-to-Face training days instead.
Once a month, Mollie attends a themed Core Training Day focused on the Primary ITT curriculum. These interactive sessions include practical activities, group work and expert guidance, helping her translate new strategies straight into her classroom practice.
Over one academic year, Mollie is transforming her school-based experience into a full teaching qualification, without stepping away from the job she already loves.
At Best Practice Network, we make it simple for schools to train and upskill teachers through both Fee-Funded Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and the Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship (PGTA).
• Full-time course fee: £9,535 (subject to change)
• Part-time course fee: £7,145 per year (18-month programme, subject to change)
• Student loans: Eligible candidates can apply for government-backed loans to cover tuition fees and living costs
Payment options: full tuition loan, partial loan + self-funding, or fully self-funded (upfront or instalments).
Have a question? Book a call with our friendly team.
• Bursaries are tax-free payments available to student teachers in certain subjects. If eligible, student teachers automatically receive a bursary through their training provider. No application is needed and payments do not need to be repaid.
Scholarships are awarded by subject associations and professional bodies. Alongside tax-free funding, they often provide additional benefits such as specialist mentoring, subject-specific resources and networking opportunities. Unlike bursaries, scholarships require a direct application to the provider.
Student teachers cannot receive both a bursary and a scholarship, and these funding options are not available for salaried teacher training routes.
I would advise any school who is thinking about upskilling staff, or has someone who's really keen to develop into teaching role, why don't you look at using your Apprenticeship Levy fund? It won't come out of your school budget and it's already there and paid for."
• Course fee: £0 – fully funded through your school's Apprenticeship Levy. Funding options vary depending on your school’s Apprenticeship Levy status:
If your school contributes to the Apprenticeship Levy:
• Use your Levy contributions through your Apprenticeship Service Account to fund apprenticeship training
If your school does not contribute to the Apprenticeship Levy:
• You pay 5% of the training cost, with the remaining 95% funded by the government through co-investment
Apprenticeship Levy Transfer
Employers with unspent funds can transfer up to 25% of that contribution to another employer. This means you can benefit from the Apprenticeship Levy contributions of a different organisation to cover the full costs of an apprenticeship for your setting.
Through the Apprenticeship route, a student teacher will be employed at your school and will be paid a salary on the Unqualified Teacher Pay Scale.
The Department for Education provides grants to Best Practice Network to help contribute to student teacher salaries. We ensure that all grant funding designated for this purpose reaches the employing school, so it can be used exactly as intended.
Grants are paid per trainee and vary depending on the subject. For the most up-to-date information on available grants and eligibility, please visit our website: bestpracticenet. co.uk/initial-teacher-training-apprenticeshipITT-QTS-schools
We know that training to become a teacher is a big step. That’s why every school and student teacher is backed by a dedicated support network, designed to reduce pressure on staff while ensuring consistent progress.
A student teachers support network includes:
Our expert facilitators lead the core training, while subject specialists deliver webinars to help student teachers develop their teaching knowledge and skills.
The placement team works behind the scenes to arrange and coordinate placements at your school, ensuring that student teachers gain valuable, relevant classroom experience without adding administrative burden to your team.
A personal tutor will support both student teachers and mentors, visiting your school for observations and check-ins to ensure they are well supported.
Your designated mentor meets with the student teacher weekly, guides their learning, observes their teaching and helps set development targets. They act as the primary point of contact for all school-based support.
Should any challenges arise, the student teacher has access to a dedicated wellbeing lead who provides informal guidance and support, helping to safeguard both the student teacher and your school environment.
The programme team manages applications, organises interviews and handles any queries, ensuring that all candidates are fully vetted and ready to teach before they start the programme.
Together, we can grow the next generation of teachers
At Best Practice Network, we know that great teacher training only works when schools and trusts are at the heart of it.
That’s why our Partnerships Team works side by side with schools across the country –designing tailored training solutions that build staff capacity, develop future teachers, and ease the pressures on your workforce.
• Primary, secondary and SEND schools
• Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs)
• Local Authorities
• Dioceses
• Teaching School Hubs
• Independent schools
Tailored solutions to meet your local workforce needs
Flexible models that reduce in-school capacity pressures
National programmes delivered with local expertise
A trusted team that listens, supports and adapts
Our partnerships team will help you design the right solution for your school or trust.
Interested? Contact our team via email at partnerships@bestpracticenet.co.uk
Need help applying? Book a call with our expert team here. Scan to book a call with our partnerships team
Partnership, for us, isn’t just about delivering training. It’s about trust. It’s about understanding what your school or organisation needs and making sure our programmes genuinely add value.”
Chris Ludlow | Director of Partnerships
You can contact our ITT Enquiries team at teach@bestpracticenet.co.uk for advice on eligibility, programme structure and funding.
For information on placements or hosting a student teacher, please contact placements@bestpracticenet.co.uk
For the latest programme information, please visit: bestpracticenet.co.uk/teacher-training
+44 (0) 117 920 9428
teach@bestpracticenet.co.uk
bestpracticenet.co.uk