CHECK-CIRCLE Teach your subject across the 11-16 age range with post-16 enhancement
CHECK-CIRCLE Achieve QTS in 1 academic year
CHECK-CIRCLE Expert mentoring and support
CHECK-CIRCLE Local secondary placements
Thinking of becoming a secondary school teacher? Our teacher training programmes offer a practical and supportive route to Qualified Teacher Status and a rewarding career in education.
Whichever path you choose, you'll gain real classroom experience, receive high-quality support and achieve a nationally recognised qualification.
At Best Practice Network, we believe that every child, regardless of their background, deserves an excellent education. We work with schools, education professionals and the Department for Education to deliver high-quality training and qualifications, supporting you to make a lasting difference to children and young people.
• 20+ Years of Experience – delivering training for teachers, leaders and support staff
• 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
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computing • English • Maths
• Geography
• French
• Spanish
• German & French
• German & Spanish
• Spanish & French
We offer two high-quality routes into secondary teaching. Use this guide to find the one that suits you best..
• Ideal if you’re not yet working in a school
• Local school placements arranged for you
• Access student loans to cover training costs
• Bursaries and scholarships are available to eligible applicants
• 10-month programme
• Awards Qualified Teacher Status
More information on page 4
Our Secondary Curriculum has been carefully designed to enable student teachers to develop expertise in all areas of the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF) which will prepare them for a lifelong career as a secondary teacher and subject specialist.
The curriculum is built around three core areas which are delivered through a mixture of live webinars, in-school training and self-study:
• Behaviour Support & Classroom Management
• Curriculum Delivery
• Teacher Development
You’ll attend 10 online core training sessions during the programme which have been carefully designed to teach the core body of knowledge, skills and behaviours that define great teaching.
• Ideal if you’re already employed in a school
• Train in your current school
• Fully funded via your school’s Apprenticeship Levy
• Salaried route (you are paid on the Unqualified Teacher Scale)
• 10 months + Apprenticeship Assessment
• Awards Qualified Teacher Status + Level 6
Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship
More information on page 6
In addition to Core Training, you’ll also attend 10 online subject-specific training sessions led by a specialist Subject Lead which will equip you with the knowledge and skills required to teach your subject across the 11–16 age phase.
You’ll also take part in four ITAP weeks which focus on developing your understanding of evidence-based theory and teaching practice. These weeks will give you the chance to see expert practice in action helping you embed new strategies into your own teaching.
At the end of your training, you will be able to confidently teach an 80% timetable.
Fee-Funded Initial Teacher Training route is perfect for recent graduates or career changers who are looking to begin a rewarding career in teaching and are not yet employed in a school.
CHECK-CIRCLE Achieve Qualified Teacher Status in just 11 months (18 months part-time)
CHECK-CIRCLE Access to student loans and bursaries/ scholarships to cover training costs
CHECK-CIRCLE Train 4 days a week in a local school, with 1 day of expert training
CHECK-CIRCLE Support every step of the way from your subject lead, mentor, personal tutor and our wellbeing team
CHECK-CIRCLE Once qualified, start on a salary of £31k–£38k (dependent on location)
“I am a mature student who had a career as a nurse when I left school, it's never too late to switch careers!”
Am I eligible for this programme?
To apply you'll need:
• A minimum 2:2 bachelor’s degree in any subject
• GCSE grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths
• The right to work and study in the UK
If you’re unsure about your qualifications, contact us for guidance.
The fee-funded route at Best Practice Network combines practical, in-school training with high quality centre-based training delivered by subject and phase experts. This means that student teachers are exposed to expert teaching and immersed in school right from the start of the programme.” Chloe Dolphin, Head of Secondary
the
Pre-programme reading and tasks.
You’ll train in two schools, your main placement in a local school, plus a six-week contrasting placement in a different school. Our Level 6 programmes give you QTS without a PGCE, which isn’t required to teach in English schools.
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.”
Student
The Teacher Apprenticeship is a fully-funded training route designed to help those currently working in schools to take the next step and become qualified teachers.
Programme highlights
CHECK-CIRCLE Achieve Qualified Teacher Status in 10 months + Apprenticeship Assessment
CHECK-CIRCLE Fully funded training – no fees, no student loans
CHECK-CIRCLE Train 4 days a week in your current school, with 1 day of expert training
CHECK-CIRCLE Support every step of the way, access personal tutors, mentors & wellbeing team
CHECK-CIRCLE Earn a salary while you train
“My favourite part of the training has been seeing myself grow in confidence as an educator. It’s incredibly rewarding to look back and see how far I’ve come!"
Student teacher 24/25
To apply you'll need:
• To be employed in a school
• A minimum 2:2 bachelor's degree in any subject
• GCSE grade 4 (C) or above in English, maths and science
• At least 3 years residency in the UK
If you’re unsure about your qualifications, contact us for guidance.
Apprenticeship induction; First day of learning activity.
Pre-programme reading and tasks.
You’ll train in two schools, your main placement in your current school, plus a six-week contrasting placement in a different school. Our Level 6 programmes give you QTS without a PGCE, which isn’t required to teach in English schools.
Meet Laura. She’s training through our Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship, specialising in Secondary Maths for pupils aged 11–16.
Before starting her teacher training, Laura worked as a Learning Tutor at her current school where she found her passion for teaching Maths.
Laura spends four days a week fully immersed in her employer school. She began by observing experienced teachers, then gradually started teaching herself. Her mornings begin with tutor time, followed by teaching maths lessons across years 7 to 11, from Pythagoras’ Theorem to GCSE preparation.
She also spends time planning lessons, attending school CPD sessions and meeting with her mentor. Regular observations and personalised feedback help Laura grow as a confident teacher.
She’s an active member of the maths department, and networks with other student teachers and Early Career Teachers to share ideas and reflect on her practice.
Fridays are for centre-based training. Laura joins live online webinars covering behaviour
management, teaching methods and subjectspecific pedagogy. Some weeks include guest speakers or small group work with peers nationwide, all designed to support her classroom teaching.
Depending on location, Face-to-Face training days may be available.
Once a month, Laura attends a full-day online Core Training session focusing on key themes like adaptive teaching, assessment or curriculum planning. These interactive sessions offer expert training and valuable peer-to-peer collaboration.
To help balance work and life, training sessions run from 9:30am to 3:00 pm, making it easier to manage school runs or family time.
Over the duration of the programme, Laura is turning her real-world experience into a full teaching qualification, all while staying in the school she loves.
• 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
• Scholarships and bursaries available (up to £29k, subject to eligibility)
Best Practice Network requires student teachers to pay using one of the following methods:
• Apply for a full tuition loan through Student Finance England
• Apply for a partial tuition loan and self-fund the remaining balance
• Self-fund the entire tuition fee upfront or via an instalment plan
• Use scholarships or bursaries to cover tuition fee costs
• Course fee: £0 – fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy
• Salary: Earn a salary on the Unqualified Teacher Pay Scale while you train
• No tuition costs: Your training is fully covered, so there’s no need for student loans or upfront payments
Have a question?
Book a call with our friendly team.
For the latest info on financial support, bursaries and scholarships, visit our website or contact our team: teach@bestpracticenet. co.uk
Training to become a teacher is a big step, but you won’t be doing it alone. At Best Practice Network, our dedicated team of experts is here to support and guide you every step of the way. From arranging your school placements to providing personalised wellbeing support and application assistance, we’re committed to helping you succeed.
Phase and subject experts deliver the centre-based training sessions to develop your subject knowledge, teaching skills and professional behaviours. They also monitor your progress on the programme and provide support to you and your mentor to ensure that you succeed.
Our placement team works behind the scenes to secure and coordinate your school placements, ensuring you gain valuable, relevant classroom experience.
Your personal tutor supports you and your mentor throughout your training, visiting your school for observations and check-ins to ensure you’re well supported.
Your mentor meets with you weekly, guides your learning, observes your teaching, and helps set development targets. They’re your main contact for school-based support.
If you’re finding things tough, you will have access to a dedicated wellbeing lead, who is here to provide informal support during your training.
The programme team processes applications, organises interviews and supports you with any queries throughout your training journey.
Need help applying? Book a call with our expert team here.
Whether you’re applying for our fee-funded Initial Teacher Training (ITT) or the Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship, here are the key steps to make your application a success.
You’ll need:
• Right to work, study and live in the UK
• Resident for 3+ years (Apprenticeship)
• Resident for 1+ year (Fee-funded ITT)
• Proof of ID: passport or UK birth certificate
• Immigration/Right to Work codes (if applicable)
Name files clearly.
Respond promptly to emails to keep your application moving.
• Documentation if your name has changed (e.g. marriage certificate)
Upload one document (dated within the last 3 months), such as a council tax letter or a UK driver's licence
You’ll need:
• GCSE English & Maths grade 4 (C) or above (or equivalent)
• Bachelor’s degree (Level 6 or higher)
For overseas qualifications:
• ENIC Statement of Comparability required
Equivalency tests are available for missing GCSEs Tips Make sure documents are clearly scanned/photographed.
• You may need to complete equivalency tests if you studied in another language
route only)
Your school must confirm their support of your training. We’ll send them:
• Employer Declaration Form (needed before interview)
• Employer Details Form (for funding, not needed for interview)
Submit your application, even if some documents are missing. You’ll have time to upload later.
Scan here to find out more
With the right support in place, there are no limits as to what you can achieve."
Amanda Marsden | SENCO at Best Practice Network
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