FAQs

School Centred Initial Teacher Training.

A SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training) programme places trainee teachers in a school setting for the vast majority of their training. This allows them to be fully immersed in the school environment as they learn, practise, and develop the skills of the teaching profession.

Training through a SCITT programme offers a highly practical and immersive route into the teaching profession, while also developing a strong understanding of the theory behind teaching and learning. Trainee teachers engage with up‑to‑date educational research to build their theoretical knowledge, and they benefit from extensive opportunities to apply this theory directly in the classroom.  Key benefits of training with a SCITT include:

1. Hands‑on experience from the start

SCITT trainee teachers spend the majority of their time in schools, learning directly from experienced teachers and becoming part of the school community.  This practical approach helps build confidence and competence.

2. Personalised mentoring and support

SCITT trainee teachers receive continuous guidance from trained mentors who work alongside the trainee teacher in the classroom.  Feedback is immediate, specific, and tailored to your needs, ensuring rapid professional growth.

3. Strong employment prospects

SCITT programmes are run by school partnerships, therefore trainee teachers often secure teaching roles within the same partnership.  Schools value the readiness and practical experience SCITT trainee teachers bring.

4. Integration of theory and practice

Although school‑based, SCITT programmes still include high‑quality training on pedagogy, subject and curriculum knowledge, adaptive teaching, assessment, and professional behaviours—with the option to gain a PGCE alongside Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

5. A real sense of belonging

Being placed in schools from the start helps trainee teachers feel part of a team, build relationships with learners, and understand the day‑to‑day life of a teacher.

PLS is committed to ‘Training teachers to be and inspire tomorrow's leaders’. 

For more information on PLS please look at ‘About Us’ page.

All applicants must meet the following entry requirements:

Degree 

You must hold a bachelor’s degree with honours class 2.2 or above from a UK Higher Education Institution (HEI), or an equivalent qualification. UK ENIC, recognition and evaluation of international qualifications, can provide advice and a statement of comparability on the equivalence of overseas qualifications. For secondary programmes, at least 50% of the degree content must relate to the secondary subject applied for. If an applicant does not hold a degree in the training subject, they must have an A Level or equivalent in that subject. However, applications falling outside these criteria may still be considered on a case-by-case basis.

GCSE

English (Language or Literature), Maths and Science (primary programmes only) or equivalent qualifications at grade C/4 or above. A full list of accepted GCSE equivalent qualifications can be found here. We also accept equivalency tests from A Star Equivalency or BCU Equivalency Tests.

Additional information regarding entry requirements is:

Health and physical capacity to teach 

All PLS training places are offered on a conditional basis, subject to a successful Fitness to Teach check. Successful applicants will be required to complete a fitness questionnaire before commencing the programme.

DBS 

All PLS training places will be offered conditionally subject to a successful DBS check.

Non UK Qualifications 

Prospective PLS teachers will need to provide a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability for GCSE, A Level examinations and degrees which will measure the candidate’s understanding of the required subject to the appropriate level.

No, however school experience is valuable and we actively encourage prospective PLS teachers to gain school experience by visiting the ‘Get Into Teaching’ website regarding the School Experience Programme. 

On the other hand, if prospective trainee teachers are unable to find school experience, please do contact PLS and subject to a DBS check, we will be able to organise school experience in one of our partnership schools.

Yes, PLS offer both primary and secondary routes into teaching. 

Yes, however a prospective PLS teachers will need to provide a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability for qualifications, GCSE, A Level examinations and degrees which will measure the candidate’s understanding of the required subject to the appropriate level.  This will ensure that all the criteria of eligibility are met.

This is dependent on the teacher training route.  

For school direct salaried and postgraduate teaching apprenticeships, the programme begins in July with a two-week induction curriculum ensuring the PLS teachers on this route are ready for a September start in their employing school.

For tuition fee, the programme begins in September.

This is dependent on the teacher training route chosen, please look at our ‘Routes at a Glance’ page for further information. 

There are bursaries and scholarships available, however for limited subjects.

This is dependent on the teacher training route chosen, please look at our ‘Routes at a Glance’ page for further information. However, note that all our routes lead to QTS, Qualified Teacher Status.  PLS teachers have the option of completing a PGCE, Postgraduate Certificate in Education, alongside the QTS.