Academy QTS requirements

New legislation requires all teachers in academies to have or be working towards qualified teacher status by 1 September 2027. Here’s all you need to know about the new requirements, including what’s changed, who is exempt and what it means if you’re already teaching in an academy.

Two teachers stood side by side. The one on the left wears a rosette with 'QTS' on it, and the one on the right wears a graduation cap

Academy teacher qualification requirements – what's changed?

The has introduced new legislation that means all teachers in academies need to have or be working towards qualified teacher status (QTS) by 1 September 2027. 

This means that like local authority maintained schools, all teachers in academies are now required to be qualified teachers, and academies can no longer hire unqualified teachers. 

How can I get QTS?

Illustration of a teacher holding a QTS certificate, stood with four pupils around them

Qualified teacher status in academies: do academy teachers need QTS?

In short, academy teachers now need to have QTS. However, if you are an unqualified teacher already teaching at an academy, you can keep your current role – but you can’t take up an academy teaching role with a new employer. 

There are some other exemptions, such as if you trained as a teacher overseas or have special qualifications or experience. 

Exemptions to QTS rules

Illustration of a teacher with images around them showing a school, QTS, graduation cap, and them teaching a pupil

Routes to QTS

  • Assessment Only

    Get independently assessed against the English Teachers’ Standards and gain QTS without leaving your current school.

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  • Straight to Teaching

    Prepare for QTS assessment via our Assessment Only route while you continue to work at your current school.

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  • Straight to Teaching SEND

    Our Straight to Teaching course for unqualified teachers and teaching assistants working in SEND settings.

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  • Initial Teacher Training

    A school-centred ITT route leading to QTS, with the option to add a PGCE awarded by our partner university – the University of East London.

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  • Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship

    Gain a nationally recognised teaching apprenticeship that leads to QTS and enables you to earn while you learn.

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Learn more

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Exemptions to the academy QTS rules

You’re exempt from the new QTS requirement in academies if you:

  • Have special qualifications or experience

    For example, if you’re a sports coach, you could teach PE lessons even if you don’t have QTS.

  • Teach a vocational course

    You don’t need QTS if you have the relevant qualifications or experience to teach a vocational course.

  • Trained as a teacher overseas

    Academies will still be able to recruit teachers who trained overseas, but you need to undertake a route to QTS (you are allowed 4 years to do this).

  • Are on an employment-based teacher training scheme

    You can work at an academy while working towards QTS on an employment-based ITT course or getting QTS through the Assessment Only route.

  • Work under the supervision of a qualified teacher

    You can teach in an academy without QTS as long as a qualified teacher oversees the quality of teaching and learning children are receiving.

  • Have Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status

    Since April 2012, teachers with QTLS status and professional membership to the Education and Training Foundation have QTS.

  • Work at an academy that’s exempt

    16-19 academies, academy nurseries, University Technical Colleges, City Technical Colleges and Studio Schools are not subject to the new requirements.

FAQs