Measures announced to ensure talented trainees get into teaching

Aspiring teachers across the country are set to benefit from a number of changes designed to allow them to begin training, and make a difference in the classroom, more quickly.

On 12 February 2018, the government announced that thousands of would-be teachers are now eligible for three attempts at the professional skills tests they must pass to begin Initial Teacher Training (ITT) before they incur any cost, rather than one.

On top of this change - worth up to £77 per candidate - the government has removed the lock-out period that previously prevented candidates from re-taking tests for two years if they had been unsuccessful in two re-sits.

The changes follow feedback from the teaching profession and remove financial and administrative barriers - ensuring capable trainees do not give up on their hopes of becoming a teacher while they wait to retake the tests.

Since the government introduced the more rigorous skills tests in 2012, the entry requirements to teacher training have remained unchanged so that only the very best and brightest enter the profession.

The measures announced were effective from 15 February, but are relevant to all applicants who applied on or after 24 October 2017 - with refunds offered automatically. Candidates still need a degree for graduate training and all assessment criteria for Qualified Teacher Status remain unchanged.

In full, the announced changes are:

• The removal of a lock-out period that previously prevented aspiring teachers from re-taking tests for two years
• No limit on the number of tests, and the first three tests are free of charge to all candidates
• Refunds for anyone who has already paid for tests in this year’s recruitment cycle - on or since 24 October 2017.