If you’re considering a career in teaching in Wales you will need to get qualified teacher status (QTS) by studying on a programme of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) accredited by us, through our ITE Accreditation Board.

ITE programmes provide professional education and development of student teachers. They prepare them for work in schools in Wales and provide the foundation for career long professional learning. These programmes are based on learning that is rigorously practical and intellectually challenging, and try to make sure that teachers are committed to excellence, professionalism, and high quality teaching.

Programmes available from 2019/20

Primary: undergraduate

Primary: postgraduate

Secondary: postgraduate

Programmes available from 2020/21

Primary: undergraduate

 
Secondary: undergraduate

 
Alternative routes 

Programmes available from 2021/22

Primary: undergraduate

 
Primary: postgraduate

 
Secondary: postgraduate

Programmes available from 2022/23

Primary: postgraduate

Monitoring ITE programmes

All ITE programmes offered by partnerships in Wales are assessed, evaluated, and monitored against the Welsh Government’s Criteria for the accreditation of initial teacher education programmes in Wales.

The  monitoring guidance outlines the approach before, during and after any monitoring activity.

Estyn and the EWC will share information provided by the partnership for inspection or accreditation/monitoring, to both minimise unnecessary burden for the partnerships, and to inform and drive improvements within the sector. Representatives from both EWC and Estyn will form part of the feedback sessions for accreditation, monitoring and inspection visits. Both organisations are also informed of the outcomes of these sessions in line with our information sharing protocols. Information is shared in this way to both help improve the quality of Initial Teacher Education provision and minimise unnecessary burden for partnerships.