Frequently Asked Questions

The differences between PGCE routes can be confusing.

Here are some answers to common questions.

What is QTS and is that different from a PGCE?

QTS stands for Qualified Teacher Status.

It means that you have met the statutory requirements (Teachers' standards 2020) for teaching in England.

Our PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate of Education) includes QTS, but is also an academic qualification recognised around the world.

Our PGCE can also give you 60 course credits towards achieving a Masters in Education.

What are the differences between University-led and our Delivery Partner programmes?

All programmes deliver the same curriculum and you will spend roughly the same amount of time in a school setting. However, the key difference is that with our delivery partner pathways, you will undertake your school experience in schools that are linked with your specific delivery partner.

How much time do you spend training in school and how much University teaching is involved in each of the routes?

The number of days spent in school-based training are virtually identical for each route – all trainees spend around 120 days across the year in the classroom.

Are the entry criteria different across the various age phase specialisms?

They are a little different.

For all the routes to entry, you will need a degree and at least a GCSE Level 4/Grade C in maths and English.

If you intend to teach in a Primary school, you will also need a science subject at GCSE Level 4/Grade C.

You will need to attend an interview day, sometimes these are held in school, sometimes at university.

If you do not have the required qualifications for entry right now, Leeds Trinity University can support you in taking top-up and equivalency qualifications that will enable you to apply for the right course for you.

Where can I do my placement?

Leeds Trinity University has partnership schools across the entire Yorkshire region, Tyneside and Teeside and has links with schools in Manchester, Lancashire, Lincolnshire and County Durham.

While in exceptional circumstances we can arrange University-led placements at distance, experience shows that it is easier to support trainees in schools within a two-hour journey radius from the Leeds Trinity campus.

University tutors visit trainees during placement and being within reasonable travelling distance makes this much easier to do.

Can I teach in either Primary or Secondary schools?

Our Secondary course focuses either on the 11-16 age range (for most of our subjects) or the 14-19 age range (for Business Studies or Social Sciences).

For Primary education, you can choose to specialise in either Early Years (ages 3-7) or Later Years (5-11) during your PGCE year.

However, once you have QTS at the end of your course, you can apply for work teaching any age phase.

Glossary of teaching terms and acronyms

QTS – Qualified Teacher Status
PGCE – Post Graduate Certificate in Education or Professional Graduate Certificate in Education
ITT – Initial Teacher Training
PGDE – Post Graduate Diploma in Education
SBT – School-based Training