Qualify to teach community languages
Teaching in mainstream schools in England is a graduate profession, with teachers expected to hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). QTS is awarded at the end of an initial teacher training (ITT) programme or course to candidates meeting all 33 of the professional standards set by the Training and Development Agency (TDA); an increasing range of routes to QTS are available. The QTS award must then be ratified following an induction period, in most cases, of one year as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) working in a school.
Routes to QTS
The Qualify to teach community languages leaflet is a good starting point for any teacher of a community language considering teacher training in England. 
You will find inside information and guidance on:
- Recognition of existing qualifications
- Enhancing your suitability for training
- Background to teaching community languages in England
- Undergraduate routes:
o Bachelor degree with QTS / Bachelor of Education
o Registered Teacher Programme (RTP) - Postgraduate routes:
o Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
o School-centred initial teacher training (SCITT)
- Postgraduate routes (employment-based):
o Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP)
o Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (OTTP)
o QTS-only (Assessment-based Training) - Student finance
- Useful contact details
Download the Qualify to teach community languages leaflet (pdf, 260kb) or request a hard copy from the CILT Enquiry Service. Please note that information is liable to change, and individual applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis, so do check directly with the TDA, course providers and/or Student Finance England once you have identified a route appropriate to you.
Research into ITT provision
Two recent research reports highlight some of the barriers to teachers of community languages accessing ITT, as well as the opportunities:
- Every Language Matters (Ofsted, Feb 2008)
- Our Languages: Teachers in Supplementary Schools and their Aspirations to Teach Community Languages (IPSE, March 2008)
PGCE courses 2008-09
CILT Information Sheet 9 on training to teach languages in secondary education lists ITT courses in languages across the UK. The grid below supplements the Qualify to teach community languages guidance leaflet by detailing PGCE courses available in England in 2008-9 which focus on, or can include, one or more community language(s).
Please note that some courses only provide for community languages in a subsidiary capacity; i.e. a commonly taught language such as French may be required as the main teaching language. Contact individual institutions for more details.
Institution |
PGCE course |
Bath Spa University College |
PGCE Middle - Modern Languages |
University of Birmingham |
PGCE Secondary - Modern Languages |
University of Bristol |
PGCE Secondary - Modern Foreign Languages |
Edge Hill College of Higher Education, Lancashire |
Secondary PGCE Modern Languages |
University of Exeter |
PGCE Secondary Modern Foreign Languages with optional pathway for Primary |
Goldsmiths College, University of London |
PGCE (Secondary) Flexible Programme in Community Languages (Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Panjabi and Urdu) |
Keele University |
PGCE Secondary (Urdu with French) |
Leeds Trinity and All Saints College |
PGC Secondary Education - Modern Foreign Languages (Urdu T5X1) |
University of East London |
PGCE Secondary - Community Languages Q9X1 (Bengali) |
London Metropolitan University |
PGCE Secondary Modern European and Community Languages |
Middlesex University |
PGCE Modern Languages (incl. Turkish, Mandarin and other community languages) |
University of Sheffield |
PGCE Modern Languages |
Useful web links
You may find these shortcuts to web links in the Qualify to teach community languages leaflet useful.
- CILT Cymru (Wales)
- CILT – Enquiry service (email)
- CILT – primary pages
- Every Language Matters
- Finance information
- Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR)
- General Teaching Council
- Institute for Learning (FE and AE)
- Modern Language Extension/Subject Knowledge Enhancement courses
- NARIC
- Northern Ireland CILT
- Our Languages
- Our Languages: Teachers in Supplementary Schools and their Aspirations to Teach Community Languages
- Pre-QTS Teacher Training for community languages leaflet: Coming soon
- Primary Languages Training Zone
- Refugees into Teaching
- Scottish CILT
- Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE)
- TDA – EBITT providers
- TDA – GTP route
- TDA – OTTP route
- TDA – PGCE route
- TDA – QTS-only route
- TDA – RTP route
- TDA – SCITT route
- TDA Teaching Information Line (email)
- TDA – Undergraduate routes
- Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA)
- Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
- University of Gloucestershire (QTS-only route)
Financial support (2008-09)
Financial support is only available to students; i.e. to those on ITT courses who do not receive a salary. Eligibility restrictions may apply and further grants may be available. Figures given on this page below are based on data available in August 2008. Use the web links below to check the latest information.
Tuition fees
- ITT providers in England can charge variable tuition fees for undergraduate, PGCE and SCITT courses of up to £3,145 a year.
- ITT providers charging more than £2,835 in tuition fees may offer an additional non-repayable Bursary.
- Student Finance Direct offers additional Student Loans for Fees.
Maintenance support
- The Maintenance Grant (non-repayable) and Student Loan (repayable) help both undergraduate and postgraduate ITT students with living costs and are inter-linked; the greater the Grant, the smaller the Loan.
- The Maintenance Grant of up to £2,835 is partly dependent on household income (£1260 is non-means tested). Apply via your Local Authority (LA).
- Student Loans for Maintenance of up to £6475 are available. Loans do not have to be repaid until the ITT course is completed and salary reaches £15,000 a year. Apply via Student Finance Direct.
- The Special Support Grant (non-repayable) replaces the Maintenance Grant in certain cases. It is not inter-linked with Student Loans.
TDA Training Bursary
PGCE and SCITT trainees of Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) in England may be eligible for a non-taxable and non-repayable training bursary of up to £9,000 during training paid via the ITT provider.
Golden hello
Those completing a PGCE or SCITT course in MFL (currently a priority subject) and teaching languages as an NQT in a maintained school in England may be eligible to receive a one-off taxable payment of £2,500 after successfully completing induction.
