Suffolk and Norfolk School Centred Initial Teacher Training offer the Assessment Only programme as a route into teaching.

The programme is designed for those candidates already teaching in schools who could be eligible to gain Qualified Teacher Status without undertaking a full initial teacher training programme.

If candidates are successful through selection, they move straight into the assessment process. 

The assessment period of a candidate, from starting the Assessment Only programme and being awarded QTS, must be successfully completed within three months.

Who is the Assessment Only Route designed for?

The Assessment Only Route is suitable for you if you are working as an instructor in the primary; secondary or post 16 sector and are doing the following:

• have whole class responsibility for lesson planning, teaching and learning for a minimum of two years full-time or the equivalent
• are already a highly competent classroom teacher (clear evidence to show this)
• will be employed in a teaching role for the duration of the assessment period at a school where you can meet the full requirements of the Teachers’ Standards
• are in a school which will fully support you through the application and assessment process
• can show evidence of teaching in two schools across the two key stages in either primary or secondary
• meet the application/entry qualification requirements
• do not require additional training as need to be working at the level of a successful newly qualified teacher

What qualifications are needed at time of application?

• Applicants must be a graduate and have a degree of 2:2 or above at time of application
• Hold GCSEs in English and Maths at Grade C/4 for secondary teaching and additionally Science at Grade C/4 at time of application
• Have evidence of completion of skills tests in Numeracy and Literacy until April 2020 at time of application

Assessment Only candidates must also have the following at time of application:

• Have evidence of a clear DBS check
• Be teaching in a school where they have the opportunity to demonstrate that they meet all the Teachers' Standards for QTS
• Have taught and been accountable for pupils' learning for at least two years or the part time equivalent.
• Have evidence that they have taught across two key stages in either primary or secondary
• Have taught in two schools in the age ranges in which they are going to be assessed
• Possess the appropriate qualities, attitudes and values expected of a qualified teacher
• Be able to communicate clearly and accurately in standard English
• Meet the requirements for health and physical capacity to teach

What next?

If you think you meet the requirements for the Assessment Only Programme then please contact Gill Riley, the Assessment Only Course Leader and she will send you the documents you need to complete the recruitment process.

Please note that there is a cost to your employing school for training on the AO programme and that information will be shared with you in our Assessment Only Handbook which can be emailed to you.

Selection and assessment process

If you meet all the entry requirements and you submit an application form then the following stages will take place:

• An initial assessor from the AO programme will contact your school to discuss arrangements for a selection interview and will also meet the AO candidate.
• Within five working days of the initial visit, the candidate will be informed if they have been accepted onto the AO programme
• The candidate is registered and then the three month assessment period begins
• A Support Assessor from the SCITT programme is allocated. The Support Assessor will visit the AO candidate within the first week to ensure all are clear about expectations and requirements of the three month programme. This Support Assessor will also carry out an Interim Visit half way through the programme and be the main point of contact for the AO candidate.
• A range of evidence is coolected for the portfolio. This is all detailed in the AO Handbook
• A Subject Knowledge for teaching visit will be arranged by a subject specialist. The Subject Knowledge Assessor is verifying that subject knowledge and pedagogy is sufficient for a newly qualified teacher.
• The Final Assessment Visit will take one day and must take place within three months of the agreed date of starting the programme.
• The Final Assessor will make a recommendation for QTS for consideration to the Moderators along with a written report
• Within 2-3 weeks of the Final Assessor's visit the AO candidate will awarded QTS and informed of this outcome.

Pre-Assessment Only Programme

We are also offering a pre-Assessment Only programme for those candidates who would like to undertake the Assessment Only programme but the candidate or their employing school do not feel they are quite ready at this stage for various reasons.

It may be that the candidate has not quite completed the two year requirement or the period of time for working in a second school etc.

Therefore, we are offering the pre-AO programme to those schools and candidates who might wish for some more guidance and support to become ready for the AO programme into the future as we can offer online training and access to resources and lesson observations by our SCITT assessors as part of the pre-AO programme.

There is no time restriction between engagement with the pre-AO programme and enrolment onto the full AO programme.

If you would like more information about the pre-AO programme then please contact Gill Riley as the Assessment Only Course Leader.