From Teaching Assistant to Teacher

If you're currently working as a Teaching Assistant (TA) and keen to explore routes into teaching, we can help you find the right path.

Have you ever thought about becoming a teacher, but decided against it as you are already in employment and don't want to give that up?

We have different routes available to Teaching Assistants who want to become teachers, with pathways that allow you to continue to work while you study and gain your Qualified Teacher Status. Many of our courses offer blended delivery of between four and six sessions a year on campus, with the remainder of content delivered through online sessions and independent study.

Regardless of your existing qualifications, if you want to become a teacher, we can help you find your way.

If you're currently working in a Primary school...

If you have a degree, you may consider our two year Primary PGCE part-time blended route. This course is delivered via blended learning with training usually taking place one day a week. Usually six sessions in each academic year are delivered on campus, with the remainder of taught content delivered through a mix of online sessions as well as independent study.

If you don't yet have a degree, choose our Foundation Degrees in Primary Teaching Studies, Education in Practice, or Early Childhood Education in Practice. Once you've gained a Foundation Degree, there are a few options available to you. You could enrol in our Primary Teaching Studies Top Up Degree with QTS. Alternatively, you may want to consider a full degree in Education in Practice or Early Childhood Education in Practice. These qualifications open doors to further opportunities such as Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

If you're currently working in a Secondary school...

If you have a degree, have a look at our PGCE Secondary in various specialist subjects. Studying part time allows you the flexibility to learn while you continue to work as a TA. Through this route, you may also be eligible to a bursary of up to £28,000.

If you don't yet have a degree, choose one of our Education in Practice Foundation Degrees followed by our Education in Practice Top Up Degree. Then, you'll be able to study our PGCE Secondary in your specialist subject area.

These routes provide a flexible path to gaining QTS, allowing you to combine your existing work with academic study.

Why study at BGU?

Our history

Here at BGU, we're incredibly proud of our long and established history of teacher training - over 160 years, in fact! So it will come as no surprise to you that we offer a wide variety of routes to allow you to fulfil your ambitions to be a teacher. With a range of part-time and blended pathways, there's no need to give up your teaching assistant job while you gain your QTS.

Get to know us

We offer regular, online Routes into Teaching events. If you're keen to start or progress in your teaching career, come along to one of our drop in sessions to have an informal conversation about the various options available to you. Find our next session here.

Funding

There may be funding available to support you in your studies, depending on your personal circumstances and your study route. For instance, if you enrol on our PGCE Secondary course, you could be eligible for a tax-free bursary of up to £28,000. On all our teaching courses, you may also be entitled to funding through Student Finance England.

Our support

We believe that access to higher education should be available to everyone who is capable of making use of the opportunity. But we're also aware that you may feel there are barriers in the way stopping you from taking the next step. Maybe you've not been a student for a while, and find returning to education a little bit daunting. Or perhaps you're the first in your family to consider going to university, and you're not sure what to expect.

We understand. That's why we're proud to provide award winning* student support, whatever guidance you need. While you're training to be a teacher, you'll have your own personal tutor who will be their to offer mentorship throughout your entire studies.

Our CELT team (Centre for Enhancement in Learning and Teaching) is made up of staff dedicated to learning development, digital learning, and student engagement, who will support you with your academic work and study skills.

If you're looking for non-judgemental advice and higher education expertise, our Student Advice team are on hand to help. They can offer support in a wide range of areas, including: housing, financial matters, employment, legal issues, and much more.