Teaching in Wales

To become a teacher in Wales, you will need to gain qualified teacher status (QTS) by completing a programme of initial teacher education (ITE) through an ITE partnership.  This is a partnership between a university and schools who work together to deliver teacher education.  

If you already hold an undergraduate degree, you can apply for:

•  a full time year-long Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in either primary (ages 3-11) or secondary (specialising in a curriculum subject), through one of the ITE Partnerships listed below
•  a school-based salaried PGCE in either primary or secondary through The Open University in Wales
•  a part-time PGCE, aimed at those seeking to work whilst they study, through The Open University in Wales.

The school-based salaried PGCE is a two-year employment-based route that combines full-time work as a teaching assistant (or in another non-teaching role linked to learning) with part-time study for the PGCE qualification with QTS. You can apply for this route if you’re already employed in a mainstream state school which is happy to endorse you. You can also access it if you’re not currently working in a school but would like to become a secondary school teacher within a shortage subject. In this instance, the Open University can help you to find a school that is willing to endorse you. 

The part-time PGCE (also lasting two years) is a self-funded route that allows flexibility around your current job or other commitments. It includes 120 days of school placements over the two years. 

For more information on the salaried and part-time routes see The Open University. 

If you do not hold an undergraduate degree, you can complete a full-time undergraduate teacher training course. For more information see Initial Teacher Education (ITE) | GOV.WALES.

What qualifications do you need to train as a teacher in Wales?

As a minimum, candidates must hold:

• a standard equivalent to GCSE Grade C or above in mathematics or Mathematics-Numeracy
• a standard equivalent to GCSE Grade C or above in either English language or Welsh language
• a standard equivalent to GCSE Grade C or above in a science subject, for teaching in primary schools only.

Applicants who don't have the required maths and English grades can sit equivalency tests. See individual course providers for further details and information on equivalent qualifications accepted.

Individual providers will have literacy and numeracy tests that you need to pass to be accepted on their course. These are usually administered during the interview process. You may also be asked to take a digital competency test by some providers.

Each teacher training provider will have different requirements, so it's worth checking your educational background with them before applying. Normally, you will need a 2.2 or above, but a 2.1 is essential for some PGCE courses. It is expected that a proportion of your degree will be in the subject you wish to teach for secondary PGCEs, with flexibility on the amount depending on subject. For primary teaching, you should have some education relevant to one of the school curriculum subjects in Wales - such as an A level or degree.

All students are required to undertake an enhanced disclosure check by the Disclosure and Barring Service .

Do you need to speak Welsh to teach in Wales?

No, you don't need to speak Welsh to apply to teach in Wales, unless you wish to teach Welsh as a second language at secondary level or teach in Welsh-medium education.

However, all student teachers training in Wales will undertake some Welsh language learning as part of their course. As well as being a core curriculum subject, compulsory until the age of 16, incidental Welsh (such as greetings and commands) is used around the classroom in both primary and secondary schools across Wales.

The initial teacher education partnerships in Wales that offer teacher training courses

• CaBan (Bangor University)  
• Cardiff Partnership (Cardiff Metropolitan University)
• Swansea University Schools’ Partnership
• University of South Wales ITE Partnership
• University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD)
• The Open University in Wales
• The Athrofa Professional Learning Partnership (APLP)

How and when do you apply for teacher training in Wales?

Applications for entry the following September are made through the UCAS Undergraduate scheme. It is important you check individual ITE Partnership provider websites and courses for application deadlines.  Deadlines vary depending on subject and age group, with primary being a popular route. 

To apply for the school-based salaried route or part-time PGCE you need to apply directly through The Open University in Wales.

Funding for teacher training in Wales

As a trainee teacher, you may be able to access funding and support while you are training. This will vary depending on the subject you are training to teach, where and how you train, as well as where you normally live and your personal circumstances. To find out what you are eligible for, contact Student Finance Wales , or contact your home funding body if you reside elsewhere in the UK.

Grants are available to some students depending on your circumstances and the course you are doing. For 2024/25 these include:

• Initial Teacher Education Priority Subject incentive: this awards a £15,000 grant, which you may be eligible for if you are on a postgraduate ITE programme in a specific priority subject. You’ll typically need to have a 2.2 or above. Find a list of current priority subjects and eligibility criteria.
• Iaith Athrawon Yfory incentive: this awards a £5,000 grant to postgraduate ITE students who are either going to teach through the medium of Welsh or who want to teach Welsh as a subject. It is open to both full time and part time students. Find out more about eligibility for the grant. 
• Ethnic Minority Initial Teacher Training (ITE) incentive: awards a £5,000 grant to Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic students. The aim is to create a more diverse learning environment for pupils by increasing the amount of ethnic minority teachers. It’s available to both full time and part time students. Find out more about eligibility requirements.

The Welsh curriculum

Schools in Wales broadly follow the same national curriculum - which can be delivered in English, Welsh, bilingually or in a faith setting.

All subjects are taught from a Welsh perspective and have a Welsh dimension. A new curriculum and assessment framework for pupils aged 3 to 16, Curriculum for Wales 2022, is being rolled out in schools across Wales. It is expected to be used throughout Wales by 2026. For the latest information on the rollout of the new curriculum see the Curriculum for Wales .

How and when do you apply for teaching jobs in Wales?

Once you have completed your ITE you will need to register with the Education Workforce Council and you will complete a comprehensive induction as a newly qualified teacher (NQT). The induction period is three full school terms, or equivalent. If you are working part time or on short-term supply contracts, you will need to complete a minimum of 380 sessions. NQTs (including those on supply) are entitled to support from a trained induction mentor.

You will need to keep an eye out for vacancies from January in the year that you qualify with QTS. It is common for trainee teachers to apply directly to schools they are interested in. Some local education authorities recruit directly from their databases of NQTs. Vacancies are also advertised through:

• Educators Wales
• eTeach
• Tes Jobs
• FE Jobs: Teaching in Wales
• Find a Job
• Fish4Jobs: Jobs in Wales
• Welsh Language Jobs Board
• Local authority websites

Also, search teaching related recruitment websites in the location you’d like to work in.

Future demand for primary, secondary and related jobs is high compared to other jobs in Wales. In previous years, positions in primary schools in Wales have been competitive, with recent graduates starting on temporary contracts (or carrying out supply work) before obtaining their first permanent post. 

Teachers qualified in Wales should be able to apply for registration as a teacher in other parts of the UK. Contact the Teaching Regulation Agency (England) , The General Teaching Council for Scotland or the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland for further information.

Qualifying to teach in further education in Wales

To work as a further education (FE) lecturer you will usually need to hold at least a level 3 qualification in the subject you wish to teach and relevant vocational experience is also useful. Lecturers may also hold an undergraduate degree or a relevant professional qualification in their subject area.

You don’t need to have a teaching qualification to get a job as an FE lecturer but you will typically be required to complete one once in post. Many employers support this training alongside your job. Available qualifications include: 

• Professional Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) in Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET)
• Professional Certificate of Education (PCE) in PCET.

Both the PGCE and PCE qualify you to teach in the further, adult and vocational education sectors (16+ years). Entry requirements and recommendations for the PGCE and PCE vary between providers, but a key different is the PGCE is designed for students that have a degree and the PCE is for students with a level 3 qualification. 

PCET qualifications at PGCE and/or PCE level are offered by the following institutions:

• Cardiff and Vale College
• Cardiff Metropolitan University
• Wrexham University
• University of South Wales
• University of Wales Trinity Saint David (Swansea Campus) 

As an FE lecturer you are also required to register with the Education Workforce Council and are encouraged to follow the Professional Standards for further education teachers, work-based learning practitioners and adult learning practitioners in Wales. 

Digital awareness is an important skill for FE lecturers. For more information about the Welsh government’s digital priorities for the post-16 sector, see Digital 2030.

You will also need to undergo an enhanced disclosure check by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

There are 13 FE colleges in Wales. Find a list at GOV.Wales.

Written by Joanna Harris, Cardiff University, July 2024

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