Employment Based Pathways to Teaching

Employment based pathways that lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) are recognised in England and Wales as approved initial teacher training programmes.

Some examples are:

  • Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP)
  • Registered Teacher Programmes (RTP)
  • School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT)

Many teachers who complete an employment based pathway such as the GTP/RTP do not graduate with an academic award from an accredited institution at the completion of the programme.  The New Zealand Qualifications Authority, New Zealand's qualifications evaluation service, is therefore unable to assess the study of such a programme, and this means the independent assurances of academic rigour and levelling on qualification frameworks are unable to be determined.  While these programmes may lead to Qualifed Teacher Status (QTS), this is a status and is not an academic award or qualification.

Employment based pathways that do not lead to an academic award are not recognised by a number of other registration authorities in countries such as Australia, Scotland and Canada. 

More information regarding this can be read in the Director's message of July 2007 and December 2008:

http://www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz/news/director/dir200707.stm   

http://www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz/news/director/dir200812.stm

The Teachers Council does have a discretionary pathway for consideration of applications for registration, called Track 2.  A teacher who completed an employment based pathway to teaching where no academic award was issued could apply through these provisions.

The other option for such applicants is to complete an approved initial teacher education programme which is recognised by the Teachers Council, such as the Graduate Diploma of Teaching (offered by many providers in New Zealand).

Alternatively applicants may complete an overseas teaching qualification which results in an academic award.  The study needs to have sufficient depth and appropriate coverage to be assessed as comparable to a recognised New Zealand teaching qualification by NZQA.  Applicants would be more likely to gain comparability to a New Zealand teaching qualification by completing a programme such as a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in the compulsory education sector.