Trainee Teacher

About United Teaching

The United Teaching teacher training programme is ambitious, flexible, and designed to prepare you for the challenges and rewards of 21st-century teaching. Whether you're interested in primary or secondary teaching, we have a place for you in over 100 schools across the country. 

This is an excellent opportunity for a graduate to train to be a teacher with an Ofsted-rated Outstanding provider. Designed to create the teachers of tomorrow and the education leaders of the future, our course brings out the best in your teaching skills quickly, professionally, and comprehensively. 

Our organisation has a vision of providing an excellent education to all pupils, regardless of their background, to bring out the best in each and every one.

What We Offer

As a United teaching Teacher Trainee, you’ll receive a range of support to aid your development as a teacher as well as professional qualifications and real teaching exposure so you can enter your Early Career Teacher years with confidence. Every trainee will work to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), with the additional option to work towards a PGCE with 60 master’s level credits. 

Teach from day one: Our national network offers diverse teaching environments. From day one, you're immersed in real classroom experiences, and responsible for lesson planning and delivery. This hands-on approach, distinct from a standard university-led PGCE, allows you to spend more time in the classroom ensuring you are qualified and job-ready in 12 months.  

Ambitious, high-quality, and research-informed training curriculum: United Teaching offers a comprehensive and ambitious training programme, preparing you for the dynamic demands of modern teaching. The emphasis on rigorous training sets us apart from others and our curriculum is underpinned by an expertly designed, research-informed, subject or phase-specific approach. 

Outstanding support and wellbeing: Your wellbeing is our priority. Weekly training sessions foster robust support networks. Every United Teaching teacher trainee is supported by a subject and a professional mentor who will guide you through lesson planning, lesson observations, behaviour strategies and career guidance. Wraparound support is provided by a pastoral leader, dedicated lead mentor and we have a system of both face-to-face school visits and virtual meetings to offer support throughout the training year.  

Job ready: The success of our trainees speaks volumes. In our latest cohort, 98% of apprentices achieved distinction in their end-point assessments. Over 80% of our trainees are offered a job in their main placement school. United Teaching trainees smoothly transition into the Early Career Teacher phase. 

Funding options

Salaried

As a salaried trainee, you’ll be in the classroom from day one on an unqualified teacher’s salary (see above), and your tuition fees will be paid by United Teaching. The salaried vacancies are limited as they are dependent on the availability of your preferred subject in your chosen region. Core subjects (Maths, English, and Science) are likely to be more readily available, likewise other subjects might be available in some regions over others. Please enquire accordingly. 

Of course, we hope you get placed on your desired route, however, should this not work out we will work with you to find the best alternative. 

Self-Funded

The self-funded route is the most popular among our trainees. On this route, you are responsible for paying your own tuition fees, but you are entitled to apply for a student loan to cover tuition and maintenance fees. If you choose to study towards the PGCE along with the QTS, then your fees will be £9,250, otherwise it’s £7,250. On this route, you’ll start in September with a timetable of around 30% of a fully qualified teachers, which will gradually rise to 60-80% by Term 3. 

As a self-funded trainee, you will also be eligible to apply for government bursaries and external scholarships for specific subjects. Please see our website for more information on the funding available to you. 

About You

We are looking for individuals who: 

• are eager to make a positive, lasting impact on the lives of the young people.
• are committed learners who are dedicated to developing.
• are fair but with very high standards and expectations.
• are passionate and inspiring about their subject.
• have excellent active listening skills.
• are kind, caring and supportive.

Entry Requirements: 

• English Language, Mathematics and Science GCSE Grade C+ (Science applicable to Primary course trainees only).
• Minimum Grade B A Level in the subject you wish to teach.
• A degree in the subject you wish to teach, 2:2 or above.
• Evidence of experience working with young people.
• A Level grade combination of at least BCC.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our students and staff.

All staff, including United Teaching trainees are expected to share this commitment.

Every successful applicant will be required to undergo thorough pre-employment checks. These include: a Children’s Barred List, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, a Medical Questionnaire, and a Prohibition Order check. All prospective employees will be expected to provide the names of two professional referees who will be able to provide acceptable recommendations.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion 

We are working hard to become a more diverse organisation – which is key to our commitment to bringing out the best in everyone. We welcome applications from everyone committed to this ethos and would particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates, who are currently under-represented in the Group as a whole. We always appoint on merit, and we are open to discussing flexible working options.