Post Graduate Catholic Teacher Apprenticeship

Train new Catholic teachers from within your own school community

This school-based Initial Teacher Training route helps Catholic schools and MATs develop high-potential graduates into qualified teachers.

Delivered in partnership with Best Practice Network, the programme combines in-school experience with expert-led training, resulting in Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a teaching career rooted in the Catholic ethos.

Apply before 15th July

HR Support for Catholic Schools

Who is this for?

The Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship is an ideal training pathway for individuals who hold a degree in any subject and are looking to become a qualified teacher.

This programme is ideal for:

Graduates working in Catholic schools as teaching assistants or support staff
Catholic MATs wanting to grow their own teaching workforce

What is the Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship?

The Teacher Apprenticeship is a school-based training programme. This pathway is completely free for the learner, as it is funded through the Apprenticeship Levy.

Learners will be employed by their school and receive a salary on the Unqualified Teacher Pay scale whilst they learn.
Successful completion of this programme will be awarded Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a Level 6 Teacher Apprenticeship Qualification.

What’s covered

Apprentices will:

Gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) over 12 months + End-Point Assessment
Train 4 days a week in your school, with 1 day of online or Face-to-Face learning
Access dedicated support from an in-school mentor, personal tutor and wellbeing champion
Apply best practice in pedagogy, classroom management and curriculum
Reflect on how Catholic values shape their teaching and vocation

Catholic identity is woven throughout the course, preparing trainees to contribute fully to the spiritual and academic life of your school.

The Teacher Apprenticeship is a structured training programme that covers all aspects of teaching, including pedagogy, assessment and classroom management. It is a great way to develop your graduate TAs!”

Sian Marsh: ITT Programme Director

Programme format

Duration: 12 months + End-Point Assessment
Format: School-based training completed over 12 months, with one day a week (20% of student teachers' timetable) dedicated to off-the-job training delivered by Best Practice Network
Delivery: Delivered in partnership with Best Practice Network. Student teachers will train predominantly in your school, with a 6-week contrasting school placement taking place in Term 2
Support: In-school mentor, personal tutor, and wellbeing champion
Assessment: After completing your practical training, student teachers will present their portfolio to demonstrate their readiness for QTS. They’ll also complete an End Point Assessment, including a lesson observation and professional discussion, with the chance to achieve a distinction

Programme structure

Induction

First day of learning activity
Pre-programme reading and tasks

Term-by-Term Breakdown

Term 1

School-based training
Begin core taught content

Term 2

School-based training continues
6-week contrasting school placement

Term 3

Return to school-based training
Summative assessment recommendation for QTS
Complete Professional Development Module 6

Term 4

Tripartite Gateway meeting
End Point Assessment (EPA) activities

What’s Included Throughout

Taught Programme of Study

12 core training days
Intensive training & practice weeks
Online & in-person subject-specific workshops

Curriculum Enhancement Webinars

Delivered in line with national priorities

Independent Learning

Online study packs, reading, and research

Personalised Support

5 tutor visits and observations
Monthly contact with your apprenticeship tutor

Why choose this programme?

Grow loyal, values-led teachers from within your setting
Strengthen your long-term recruitment pipeline
Reduce reliance on agency or external routes
Retain talented graduates by offering clear career progression
Embed the Catholic ethos from day one of their training
Access a high-quality QTS programme at no cost to the school or apprentice

Entry criteria

Applicants must hold a UK bachelor’s degree (2:2 or above)
GCSEs (Grade 4/C or above) in English, maths, and science (if primary)
Must not already hold QTS or a Level 7 qualification in teaching
Must be employed in a suitable role in a school for the duration of the programme
Must have held residency in the UK for the past three years

Funding and salary

Fully funded by the Apprenticeship Levy, or
100% government-funded for smaller, non-levy paying schools
Schools must pay a salary (unqualified teacher rate) — no tuition fees apply
Apprentices earn while they learn, removing financial barriers to entry

What is the Apprenticeship Levy?

Employers that pay the apprenticeship levy can use up to £9,000 from their apprenticeship service account to cover the cost of training. 

The Apprenticeship Levy is paid by large employers with a wage bill of over £3 million. These employers pay 0.5% of their total annual pay bill into the levy. Most state-maintained schools and multi-academy trusts pay into the levy.

The levy is designed to create long term sustainable funding for apprenticeships and to give employers more control to provide their staff with a range of training opportunities.

Apprenticeship funded training is designed for both new and existing staff members.

If your school is not an Apprenticeship Levy payer or has exhausted its Apprenticeship Levy funds, the government will pay 95% of tuition fees with your school paying the remaining 5%.

Grant Funding - Supporting Apprentice Teacher Salaries

The Department for Education gives grants to Best Practice Network to contribute to the student teacher's salary. We will ensure that all grant funding designated to support salary costs, reaches the employing school so that it can be used for its intended purpose.

Grants are paid on a per trainee basis. For 2025 to 2026 , there will be grants of:

£29,000 for chemistry, computing, mathematics
£26,000 for French and Spanish (no other languages)
£17,000 for biology and geography

Why choose Best Practice Network for your teacher training?

Ofsted Outstanding for teacher development - We’re a top-rated provider on the Department for Education’s progression pathway — supporting your journey from Initial Teacher Training right through to executive leadership.
Over 20 years of trusted experience - We’ve been delivering teacher training and qualifications for more than two decades — across all phases, roles, and settings.
Train with subject and phase-specific peers - Join a national network of trainees grouped by your chosen specialism, so your learning is relevant, focused and collaborative.
High-quality local placements - Benefit from our network of 500+ partner schools, giving you access to school-based experience close to home.
Support for your wellbeing and workload - Our QTS-only route is built to support your capacity and wellbeing as you transition into teaching — with flexibility and care.
Nationally recognised, award-winning provider - Proud to be named Education Apprenticeship Training Provider of the Year two years running.