RECRUIT, TRAIN AND RETAIN THE BEST GRADUATES AS HOME-GROWN TEACHERS USE YOUR APPRENTICESHIP LEVY TO TRAIN EXISTING EMPLOYEES TO GAIN QUALIFIED TEACHER STATUS

1. RECRUIT, TRAIN AND RETAIN THE BEST
GRADUATES AS HOME-GROWN TEACHERS
USE YOUR APPRENTICESHIP LEVY TO TRAIN
EXISTING EMPLOYEES TO GAIN QUALIFIED
TEACHER STATUS
WITH COMMUNITY FIRST ACADEMY TRUST
WWW.CFAT.ORG.UK

2. WHY PARTNER WITH US?
Community First Academy Trust has been involved in School Direct training for many
years and been TWICE judged an outstanding provider of both Primary and
Secondary initial teacher training by Ofsted, 2015 & 2012.
We believe that every success story starts with a great teacher and great teachers start at
Kingsbridge. We are a dynamic teacher training provider with a proven track record of
excellence.
Every lesson shapes a life through Kingsbridge Teacher Training

3. ABOUT THE TEACHER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME
The Teaching Apprenticeship Programme (TAP) makes it easy for schools to use their apprenticeship levy
to train their existing support staff and unqualified teachers to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). It
is an alternative to a traditional full-time university course, offering a postgraduate-level qualification, no
tuition fees, and the opportunity to earn while you learn.
Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeships are available for prospective primary and secondary school
teachers in England.
In 2018, Community First Academy Trust was successfully added to the register of approved apprentice
training providers.
During our apprenticeship programme, the apprentice will successfully complete the Kingsbridge ITT
programme, leading to the recommendation for QTS. This will typically be at the end of the third term.
The apprentice will then go on to complete an end-point assessment in early September. An assessor
from an end-point assessment organisation (an accredited ITT provider who has been separate from the
training process) conducts the assessment.
Community First Academy Trust was successfully added to the register of end-point assessment
organisation in April 2019.

4. RECRUITMENT
Responding to year on year reductions in the
number of UCAS applicants to Initial Teacher
Training AND increased numbers of qualified
teachers leaving the profession, the Teaching
Apprenticeship route empowers schools to
proactively attract, recruit and train graduates as
trainee teachers. We believe this is the way
forward for our partners to retain higher numbers
of teachers for future generations.
We are looking for people who have the determination to succeed, a commitment to working
hard and the ability to work with others. To be a successful apprentice with us, you will need
excellent interpersonal and communication skills. You will be able to show enthusiasm for your
subject and demonstrate a strong desire to work with children and make a difference in their
lives. You will be willing to listen to advice and act on it in order to continually improve and
develop as a teacher. In addition, you will need to have a good understanding of what working as
a teacher involves and an awareness of the rewards and challenges that a career in teaching
involves

5. USING YOUR LEVY TO PAY FOR TEACHER TRAINING
The 1-year programme sees schools employ Teaching Apprentices utilising apprenticeship
funding for initial teacher training (ITT). After 3 terms the graduate will achieve QTS and then
complete their End-Point Assessment to pass the apprenticeship.
The training is funded via one of two routes:
Route 1. Employers that pay into the apprenticeship levy
will be able to use up to £9,000 of funding from their
apprenticeship service account to cover the cost of
training and assessing the apprentice.
Route 2. Employers that do not pay the levy, or who have
insufficient funds in their digital account, can access
funding to support the training and assessment of an
apprentice. The government will pay 95% of the costs of
training and assessment for the apprenticeship (up to the
£9,000 apprenticeship funding band maximum).
Schools can also reduce their staffing cost for existing employees as you can apply
for a School Direct Teaching Apprenticeship grant towards their salary cost.

6. EMPLOYEE ELIGIBILITY
The equivalent to a
grade 4 in GCSE English
and mathematics. If you
intend to teach primary
aged pupils, you will
also need a grade 4
GCSE in a science
subject.
A degree awarded by a
UK higher education
provider, or a
recognised equivalent
qualification.
Willingness to
successfully complete
the professional skills
tests in numeracy and
literacy.

7. EMPLOYEE APPLICATIONS
Applications for the Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeships are made through
the UCAS Teacher Training portal. Before applying, check our entry criteria and the
subjects we offer.
As part of your application, you will need to write a personal statement. You will also
be able to add as many examples of school and work experience to the UCAS form
as you like. This can include work placements and observations, as well as any paid
and unpaid work. Supplying references is a compulsory part of the application
process, and you will not be able to progress without them. Visit Get Into
Teaching and the UCAS Teacher Training portal for full advice on the UCAS
application process.

8. GET IN TOUCH AND USE YOUR APPRENTICESHIP LEVY TO TRAIN
EXISTING EMPLOYEES TO GAIN QUALIFIED TEACHER STATUS
WITH COMMUNITY FIRST ACADEMY TRUST
Community First Academy Trust
Platt Bridge Community School,
Rivington Avenue,
Platt Bridge,
Wigan,
WN2 5NG
Telephone: 01942 487973
Email: kingsbridge@cfat.org.uk