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Our Programmes

Primary Teaching Apprenticeship

'Grow your Own'

Red Kite Teacher Training now offers the Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship (PGTA) with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) route giving schools the chance to upskill graduate staff with a trusted provider.

Your school can access funding from the government’s apprenticeship levy to make training your staff more financially achievable.

Red Kite Teacher Training are not able to provide employing schools for apprentices. The apprentice should have secured employment in a school who would support the application and agree to pay the applicant as an unqualified teacher, scale point 1, for the duration of the apprenticeship.


At a glance

Course duration

13 months

Start date

2nd June 2025

End date

17th July 2026

Age range options

3-7, 5-11, 7-11

Salary

Full pay on unqualified teacher pay scale 1

Fee

No fee for training; funded through the apprenticeship levy

Trainee


Introduction

Primary apprentices can choose to train in three age ranges or choose a ‘with SEND’ option:

  • Primary 3-7 specialises in Early Years and Key Stage 1, teaching you how to give children the best possible start to learning in a fun and creative way, with a focus on early maths and phonics.
  • Primary 5-11 provides a broad range of teaching experience across Key Stages 1 and 2.
  • Primary 7-11 specialises in teaching Key Stage 2, developing children’s social skills and academic knowledge to a high level in Year 6.
  • Primary with SEND is designed for entrants to the teaching profession who aspire to teach in special schools or to become Special Educational Needs Coordinators in mainstream schools. 

All routes are full time and lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The cost for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is not covered by the apprenticeship levy however, apprentices can choose to top up and fund this separately.

All apprentices are urged to consider the PGCE as it is an internationally recognised qualification, which offers 60 credits towards a masters and gives a better understanding of educational research and theory.


Overview of the programme

Apprenticeships


Course Components

Apprentices follow the same high-quality ITT curriculum as the postgraduate fee funded route. An apprentice must have a minimum of 20% training when they are considered ‘off the job’ and not in school. Apprentices will be supported to develop their teaching through attendance at Professional Development Days (Training Base, Subject and the University of Leeds), alternative school visits to partnership schools, as well as through their Teaching Impact Studies. A distinctive feature of our programme is our evidence-based approach, which supports apprentices to critically evaluate their teaching using recent and relevant theories from wider reading and research. Apprentices work alongside expert colleagues in schools who advise them when applying their knowledge and skills in the classroom.  


Teaching Percentages

Most training happens at the end of the week so schools can create a timetable for classes at the beginning of the week. The total amount of teaching time builds up across the year and RKTT provides a detailed overview of the training programme and materials to support the work of both the apprentice and the school.

To meet the Teachers’ Standards, apprentices must have a sustained period with a class so they can demonstrate progression through sequences of lessons. They must demonstrate they can teach the age range for which they are trained. 3-7 apprentices would need time in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. 5-11 apprentices need time in Key Stage 1&2. 7-11 apprentices would need time in years 3 to 6.

Teaching Apprentices must not perform more than 80 per cent of the teaching duties normally required of a full-time qualified teacher.


Red Kite 2021 (11)


Support

The school will need to provide a school-based mentor to support on the job training and provide feedback, guidance and support. This includes lesson observations and a weekly mentor meeting. RKTT provides training for the mentors, which they will need to attend at key points throughout the year. It is essential that mentors attend the training in order to effectively support the apprentice.


Benefits

For the school

For the apprentice

  • ‘Grow your own approach’ to staff development
  • Gain QTS in one year
  • Open for primary, secondary and specialist schools
  • Training fees are funded by the apprenticeship levy
  • You will be assigned a RKTT Early Career Leader
  • Gain QTS in one year
  • No fees for training
  • Earn a salary during the training period
  • Gain a level 6 apprenticeship qualification
  • Train to teach with a trusted outstanding provider
  • Access to a support network including trained mentors and Early Career Leaders

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Hold a first degree from a United Kingdom higher education institution or equivalent qualification (A first degree comprises 300 HE credit points of which 60 must be at level 6) 

To have achieved GCSE Grade C (4) in English, mathematics and a science subject. (Equivalency tests are accepted for science)

Have the right to work in the UK and have lived and worked in the UK for over 3 years

To meet the requirements of the Department for Education (DfE) with regard to mental and physical fitness for entry to teacher training

That we receive from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), a satisfactory ‘Enhanced Disclosure’ including a check of the barred lists. 

Certificates of Good Conduct must be provided if you have spent more than 3 months abroad in any one country in the last 10 years while aged 18 years or over.

Suitable references

If you would like to apply to the apprentice programme or wish to speak to someone, please email teachertraining@rklt.co.uk

Apprenticeship logo collection

Red Kite Education

Red Kite Teacher Training is part of Red Kite Learning Trust, a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 7523507, registered office address: Red Kite Office, Pannal Ash Road, Harrogate, HG2 9PH