GovWire

Guidance: Apply to provide international qualified teacher status

Department For Education

November 21
13:43 2023

Applications to provide an international qualified teacher status (iQTS) programme from September 2024 are now closed. The application window will open again in 2024 for delivery from academic year 2025 to 2026.

Overview

The iQTS is a new international teaching qualification. It is recognised by the Department for Education (DfE) as equivalent to qualified teacher status (QTS) in England. Further information is available in the introducing iQTS policy paper.

The iQTS pilot ran from September 2022 to summer 2023. The first year of the wider roll-out started in September 2023. The second year will start in September 2024.

There are already 14 providers delivering iQTS and an additional 4 providers approved to start delivering from September 2024.

There is no cap on trainee numbers in the wider roll-out phase, but providers must seek additional permission from DfE if they wish to recruit more than 200 trainees.

NoDfEfunding is available for the delivery of the iQTS programme. Providers participate at their own risk.

We expect providers to set their own course fees, which should be affordable in a number of global settings, so that the iQTS programme is an attainable qualification worldwide.

Providers must deliver a training programme that meets the:

  • needs of candidates and providers
  • quality-control standards set by English ITT providers and DfE
  • practical, logistical and financial requirements to scale the training

Eligibility

To apply for the next iQTS approvals round, providers must already be accredited by DfE to deliver ITT leading to QTS in England. Providers must have been successful in the reaccreditation process that took place as part of the ITT market reforms. Approval to deliver iQTS is an extension of ITT accreditation.

We will only accept applications from accredited providers that have an inspection rating of 1 (outstanding) or 2 (good) for their primary or secondary QTS provision.

We are unable to accept applications from recently accredited ITT providers that have yet to be inspected.

Providers that have taken part in the pilot year or the first or second years of wider roll-out do not need to apply again for approval.

What approved providers need to do

Approved providers must:

  • sign an agreement of mutual expectations
  • create a programme incorporating the iQTS version of the Core Content Framework (CCF) that meets the requirements in the iQTS criteria and allows trainees to meet the iQTS Teachers Standards, including the requirements that will come into force from 2024 in response to the ITT market reforms
  • produce a vision or mission statement for their programme
  • develop training for in-school mentors to support trainees
  • ensure trainees can feed back on the programme to raise any concerns, and share information on successes and challenges with DfE
  • award iQTS to all trainees who meet the iQTS Teachers Standards at the end of the course, and submit data accordingly to DfE

Security of data

DfE expects providers to treat and protect iQTS personal data in the same way as ITT data, in line with UK GDPR requirements. You will need to provide a copy of your security plan, if requested. It is agreed that statutory and other constraints on the exchange of information will be fully respected, including the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and the Human Rights Act 1998, and any successor or amended legislation to the same.

Providers will be required to submit candidate data to DfE through the register trainee teachers service.

Withdrawal of iQTS approval

Approved iQTS providers must comply with the iQTS criteria and supporting information.

In all but the most serious cases of non-compliance, we will give providers the opportunity to address the problem before we start the formal process of withdrawing iQTS approval.

DfE may withdraw approval, if:

  • the provider loses their domestic (English) ITT accreditation
  • the provider fails to adhere to any DfE guidance relating to iQTS
  • provision is non-compliant with one or more of the specified iQTS criteria
  • the provider fails to comply with DfE data and reporting requirements
  • the provider ceases to offer provision
  • the provider fails to deliver the requirements they have set out in their submitted application
  • DfE has been presented with proof of non-compliance with a providers submitted application from a third party
  • the provider receives a grade 4 at iQTS inspection and subsequently fails the iQTS reinspection

Evidence of non-compliance might include:

  • DfE monitoring and evaluation
  • inspection feedback
  • feedback from schools, trainees, or providers themselves

In all but the most serious cases of non-compliance, DfE will give providers the opportunity to address the problem before we start the formal process of withdrawing your iQTS approval status.

Process for withdrawal

The timeline for the withdrawal of iQTS approval status is:

  1. We will contact you to tell you we have been presented with evidence of non-compliance and we are starting the withdrawal process.

  2. You will have 2 working days to acknowledge receipt of the email and advise us if you intend to ask for the decision to be reviewed. If you do not respond to this email, we will assume that you do not intend to challenge the decision.

  3. You will have an additional 5 working days to submit your grounds for the review. This must directly address the evidence of non-compliance we have been presented with and include any evidence you would like us to consider. You should email your evidence to

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