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Teacher Training Programme Apprenticeship Route

Using the Apprenticeship Levy

Many schools are able to utilise their Apprenticeship Service Account to cover some of the costs of training and assessing a graduate on the Teacher Training Programme (up to £9000). Taking the apprenticeship route to the Teacher Training Programme will affect some of your responsibilities and obligations as a partner school of the Programme.

We’re here to help you choose the best option for the context of your school’s training needs.

How is the apprenticeship route different?

Timing

  • The flexible nature of Phase One of the Teacher Training Programme will remain exactly the same for all schools and candidates, regardless of whether the candidate is an apprentice.
  • Apprentices will be required to begin Phase Two 12 months from when your school needs them to begin working as a solo NQT in order to meet the Apprenticeship Funding Rules.
  • (For example, if you want a candidate to begin solo teaching as an NQT in January, your apprentice will have to start Phase Two in December.)

Employment

  • To utilise the apprenticeship funds, your school will be required to transfer the trainee to a permanent contract for the duration of Phase Two. Your school will then have responsibility for meeting the legislative requirements and costs of employing a new member of staff. (e.g. National Insurance and pension contributions.)
  • For schools who opt not to take the apprenticeship route, Engage is the employer of trainees until the end of Phase Two when schools become able to employ the new teacher full time at no extra cost.

Support

  • For schools who decide not use the apprenticeship route of the Teacher Training Programme, Engage will continue to provide support to trainees via our Partnership & Development team during Phase Two.
  • For schools who opt to use the apprenticeship route, support from the team (i.e. CPD sessions, one-to-one support) will stop after Phase One.
  • The support received from University of Coventry’s School of Teaching and Education will remain the same for both routes.

Not sure which route to take?

Book a consultation call with the Teacher Training team, and we will be happy to walk you through your options.

Book a meeting

FAQ

  • What is the Apprenticeship Levy?

    Most schools pay funds towards apprenticeship training through a 0.5% charge of their annual pay bill called the Apprenticeship Levy. This might be paid directly by a School, Trust, or Local Authority. The funds collected via the levy can be used to pay for apprenticeship training and assessments.

  • How can I use the Apprenticeship Levy towards the cost of the Teacher Training Programme?

    If you're a school who pays the Apprenticeship Levy, you can use up to £9000 of funding from your apprenticeship service account to cover the cost of training and assessing the graduate trainee teachers enrolled at your school on the Engage Teacher Training Programme. If you decide to use Apprenticeship Levy funding towards the cost of training and assessing a trainee graduate in your school via the Engage Teacher Training Programme, you will have some further responsibilities and obligations as an employer.

  • Will trainees receive the same qualifications if I take the apprenticeship route?

    Trainees on the Programme will receive the same modular training and PGCE materials on both routes, for the qualification of a PGCE and QTS.