Hello dear New School Educators,


Before I proceed to proffer an answer to this salient and trending debate topic, I feel it would do you a lot of good to first understand the UK educational structure - then we will use the revelation as a premise for a more robust answer to the question above.


You see, when we talk about the UK, we're talking about a nation that is made up of four constituent countries inside of it:


✔️England

✔️Scotland

✔️Wales

✔️Northern Ireland


The interesting thing about these socio-economic diversities is that each of the countries have their individual philosophies towards educating their learning communities at different cadres.


Of course, it is either you sought out your teaching career yourself in the UK through applying to private schools or the government engages you with the state funded schools (ie. public schools).


So, when the UK government says it will now allow more international teachers to apply for their QTS, it means once granted that accreditation, you can be deployed to work in any of the countries mentioned above.


In fact, getting the QTS does not interpret to automatic employment into the UK schools; it only makes you employable for the UK schools terrains.


To be employed, after the QTS, you'll still need to apply to be registered into the database of an agency known as TRA. We'll talk more on this as we proceed.


Now, one of the hallmarks of having a blissful teaching career in the UK is that there are lots of governmental and private educational agencies striving to align their territorial education policies; and with which educators can align with in order to be taken seriously for a teaching appointment.


For instance, only for the UK alone, below are a few collated list of educational agencies:


✔️England:

-Department for Education

-Ofsted

-Qualifications and Curriculum Authority

-Skills Funding Agency


✔️Wales:

-Welsh Government

Estyn

-Qualifications Wales


✔️Scotland:

-Scottish Government

-Education Scotland

-Scottish Qualifications Authority


✔️Northern Ireland:

-Department of Education

-Education and Training Inspectorate

-Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment


From the above list, one can easily conclude that working as a teacher in any of the UK countries is a big deal.


Now, talking about necessary credentials to be armed with as a teacher in the UK edusphere, the Qualified Teacher Status (i.e QTS) remains a stringent priority.


In fact, it's safe to say that there is no other universally acceptable educational endorsement for the UK teaching job route other than the QTS - although, the degree of strictness to compliance varies for individual countries.


I presume that earlier before now you ought to have heard about the UK's Qualified Teacher Status (ie. QTS). 


The credential is very reverend and most-sought-after amongst others by all UK's educational agencies and stakeholders. 


It acquisition is a very crucial step for anyone who desires to work as a teacher in any of the UK state-funded schools; especially for England and Wales (but not as serious with Scotland and North Ireland).

 

Of course, the QTS is the mother of all educational qualifications in the UK. The qualification is considered as an essential prerequisite to secure employment with the UK's primary, secondary, and special schools - but for Scotland and Northern Ireland, they seem to be custom approaches to teacher recruitment (in addition to the QTS).

 


The QTS credential can come from different but specific organizations based on individual countries;


✔️For England, the Department for Education (DfE) 

✔️For Wales, Qualifications Wales 

✔️For Scotland, the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) 

✔️For Northern Ireland, the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI)

 

These organisations work closely with their country's Teaching Regulations Agency. The TRA is specifically responsible for managing the process of applying for and earning the Qualified Teacher Status.


𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙨 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙊𝙗𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙍𝘼(𝙌𝙏𝙎) 𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙨 𝘼𝙣 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚;


1️⃣ Completing an approved teacher training program: this can include a university-based initial teacher education program or a school-based training program. (Hint: you may tick this if you already have degrees in the caliber of a B.Ed, BA.Ed, B.Sc (Ed), or PGDE)


2️⃣ Passing a professional skills test: (Hint: you may tick this too if you have a TRCN(PQE) but hope for a waiver or exemption - though very unlikely).


3️⃣ Completing a period of induction: this typically involves working as an unqualified teacher under the supervision of a qualified teacher. (Hint: you can tick this if you have teaching experience of more than four years and hope for a waiver or exemption - though very unlikely).


4️⃣ Applying for the TRA(QTS): You will need to complete an online application form and provide evidence of your qualifications and teaching experience.


5️⃣ Attend an interview: If your application is successful, you will be invited to attend an interview with a panel of experienced teachers. This will give you the opportunity to discuss your teaching experience and demonstrate your teaching skills.


6️⃣ Obtain a visa: If you are successful in obtaining the TRA(QTS), you will need to obtain a skilled worker visa.


7️⃣ Register with the Teaching Regulation Agency: Once you have obtained the TRA(QTS) and a visa, you will need to register with the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA). This will allow you to work as a teacher in state-funded schools in England.


Most schools will only consider hiring teachers who have obtained the credential because it is seen as an emblem of professional competence and is highly respected by employers and other education stakeholders.


As mentioned above, aside from the TRA(QTS), there are other equivalent credentials that can earn one a waiver but are not as popular.


Nevertheless, across the four regions of the UK, there are some exceptions to the TRA(QTS) requirement for international teachers. 


For example, if you are a qualified teacher from another country and wish to teach in a state school in the UK, you may be able to do so if you can demonstrate that your qualifications (ie. TRCN as for Nigeria) is equivalent to the TRA(QTS).


Now the argument on several teachers' hangouts is whether or not there is a correlation between the TRCN(PQE) and the TRA(QTS); and if the TRCN would be of any relevance for the UK teaching application.


The truth is, even though the specific requirements for obtaining TRA(QTS) and TRCN(PQE) differ, both are regulatory bodies offering professional accreditation to teachers who have met certain laid down industrial standards with an ascertained fitness to teach. 


This is a more reason why securing an exemption for writing another skill test for the TRA(QTS) is possible yet unlikely; but since the process is the same with the PQE - and except the TRA feels uncomfortable with the TRCN(PQE) processes - if not, a conversion policy might be introduced instead.


The approval of whether an international credential should be recognised and is comparable or not in the UK is handled by the National Recognition Information Centre. The UK NARIC offers a range of services, including the evaluation of foreign qualifications for the purpose of immigration, employment, or further study in the UK. 


As to teaching experience, it is possible for an individual's teaching experience in another country (say Nigeria) to be considered during the TRA(QTS) induction session - which is a period of supervised teaching practice that is required for all newly qualified teachers. 


During this period, the new teacher is expected to demonstrate skills and abilities as a teacher, and to receive support and guidance from a mentor or supervisor.


If an individual has previous teaching experience in another country outside the UK, they may be able to use this experience as part of their induction period. 


However, it is ultimately up to the school or educational institution where the individual is completing their induction to decide how their previous teaching experience will be taken into account. 


It is important to note that the TRA(QTS) induction session is not waived or exempted based on previous teaching experience, and all newly qualified teachers must complete this period of supervised teaching practice. 


Again, it is likely to have a waiver if one has been teaching for a comfortable period of years even outside the UK.