Non PGCE routes to QTS?

[VinegarDrinker]

Apologies for invading your forum, I'm not a teacher but asking on behalf of DH.

He is currently essentially an "unqualified" teacher. His background is as a professional musician (with a BA, then MMus) and he has gradually done more and more teaching and less playing. He's now pretty experienced in this role and is currently employed as a music specialist in a primary school.

He loves his job but the problem is he is already on the top of the TA/unqualified teacher payscale and without QTS he can never be paid more than this despite his postgraduate qualifications, many teaching courses/workshops attended and years of experience.

For him to go the PGCE route though would involve quitting the job he loves, and losing his income for a year, and then having to do at least one year of general primary teaching as an NQT before looking again for primary music jobs (which are not exactly common).

Is there any other way he could gain QTS?

Any advice much appreciated.

Official advice is all here: www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/faqs/becoming-a-teacher/qualified-teacher-status

Good luck to your DH :-)

Thanks very much

Try Cumbria University, they do QTS assessment route
www.cumbria.ac.uk/Courses/SubjectAreas/Education/TeacherTraining/QTSDirectScheme/Home.aspx

Are there any prep schools near you? They pay better than maintained schools, usually have music specialists and their key requirement is excellent teaching, the PGCE/QTS is irrelevant.

I think Open University possibly do Music PGCE as distance learning?

There is also a thing called 'Assessment Only' where a university teacher training dept will come and assess you on the job, but they keep it awfully quiet so you'll have to be persistent.

There is also a PGCE at Buckingham designed for teachers already in jobs.

School direct?

He can apply for a position as a teacher where he learns on the job, but learn methodology within his field at a nearby uni? Some of these are salaried.

I did my pgce part time year one in the evening, year 2 on day release. Does your local university have this option. It took 2 years and dragged on a bit, but I continued in my job through it.