4-Year Teacher Degree Apprenticeship

Ripley ITT’s Teaching Degree Apprenticeship (TDA) is a 4-year course designed for those who already are working in a primary school and would like to qualify as a teacher but don’t hold a degree. The programme enables employees to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) whilst achieving a degree through Northumbria University.

• GCSE grade 4/C or above in English and mathematics or functional skills level 2 and a risk assessment to establish English and/or mathematics is of a GCSE grade 4/C or above standard.
• GCSE grade 4/C or above in science or an equivalent qualification.
• 104 UCAS points, e.g. B, C, C.
• Employing school able to access levy funding.
• Employing school willing to support this route.

• You will gain recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) – this is the qualification required to teach in England.
• You will gain an Honours Degree through Northumbria University.
• Your off-the-job training will take place two days per week, one day for QTS training and another day to study towards your degree.

• The course will be structured over 4 years.
• The course will begin in September and run until July the following year.
• You will be in your employing school Monday – Wednesday. This may change each year to allow you to experience different days in your school setting.
• Your teaching allocation for the three days will build up incrementally over the 4 years:
• Year 1 – Foundations: group work and classroom support.
• Year 2 – Emerging: emerging confidence with group work and support with some team teaching.
• Year 3 – Developing: developing whole-class teaching, sequencing and delivery.
• Year 4 – Secure: sequencing lessons and teaching an 80% timetable.
• In Year 1, you will receive centre-based training towards QTS on Thursdays and work towards your degree with Northumbria University on Fridays.
• You will complete a four-week placement in another school during Year 3.

• The cost of training is covered by the apprenticeship levy funding so is free to the apprentice.
• You will be paid as a full-time unqualified teacher for the duration of the programme by your employing school.

• You are paid full time over the school year and will be expected to complete learning tasks during some school holiday time.
• You will be entitled to your substantive role at the end of the apprenticeship should you decide not to teach or if there is no suitable teaching role available.

• The apprentice must be released for ‘off the job’ training each Thursday and on Fridays for work towards a degree. This may change in subsequent years to allow the apprentice to experience different days in the school setting.
• A suitably qualified mentor must be available to attend mentor training and support the apprentice’s progress over the four years. The responsibilities of the mentor will  build gradually over the four years as the teaching allocation increases.

• You should first discuss the possibility of an apprenticeship with your headteacher or a member of SLT.
• You should then contact Ripley ITT to discuss the possibilities.
• All applications are done through the DfE’s ‘Apply‘ website.