Can you become a primary school teacher through an apprenticeship?

What is a primary teaching degree apprenticeship?

A primary teaching degree apprenticeship is an employment-based route into teaching. Instead of studying at university full-time, you are employed by a school or trust and complete your training alongside employment.

Over the course of the programme, you will:

• Gain a BA (Hons) in Primary Education

• Achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

• Complete a PGCE qualification

• Train in line with the national Core Content Framework
   

You develop your classroom practice gradually, taking on more responsibility each year as your confidence and expertise grow.

Do you still need a degree?

Traditionally, you must hold a degree before training to teach. However, a degree apprenticeship allows you to earn your degree as part of the programme. This means you do not need to already have a university degree to apply.

By the end of the apprenticeship, you will hold the same professional qualifications as someone who completed a university-led route.

How does the apprenticeship work in practice?

Primary teaching apprenticeships usually combine:

• Paid employment in a primary school

• Structured mentoring and classroom observation

• University study

• Assessed teaching practice
   

The structure ensures that theory and practice develop together. You are fully immersed in school life from day one, building practical skills alongside academic knowledge.

Primary Teaching Degree Apprenticeship with Catalyst Academies Trust

Catalyst Academies Trust offers a 36-month Primary Teaching Degree Apprenticeship in partnership with Brighton University, designed specifically for aspiring primary teachers in Essex.

You will be employed by the Trust and placed in one of our primary schools in Thurrock, Essex, including Grays, South Ockendon and Aveley. Apprentices earn £24,000 per year and pay no tuition fees.

The programme structure includes:

• Monday to Thursday in school, gaining practical classroom experience from the outset

• University-directed study every Friday, with 75% delivered online and 25% face to face

• Three weeks of university-based training in Brighton each year

• Dedicated mentoring from a school-based mentor, Brighton University tutor visits, and support from a Trust ITT Manager
   

In Year 2, you will complete a six-week placement in a contrasting school within the Trust to broaden your experience. Teaching responsibility increases gradually across the four years, helping you develop into a confident and capable primary school teacher.

Entry requirements include:

• Aged 18 or over

• Grade 4 or equivalent in GCSE English, Mathematics and Science

• Minimum Grade C or above in three A levels (candidates with lower grades will still be considered if they have relevant school experience) 

• Applicants who gain an equivalency using the A Star equivalency test will be considered

• Applicants with approved BTEC courses can apply
   

This apprenticeship is also open to career changers and individuals already working in schools who hold a Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification or equivalent.

Is an apprenticeship a good route into teaching?

For many people, an apprenticeship offers clear advantages:

• You earn a salary while training

• You gain extensive classroom experience

• You avoid tuition fees

• You build strong professional relationships within a school community
   

It is particularly well-suited to career changers and those who prefer practical learning over full-time academic study.

Taking the next step

You can become a primary school teacher through an apprenticeship. It is a recognised, structured route that leads to a degree, QTS and a PGCE while allowing you to earn and gain real classroom experience.

If you are ready to train as a primary teacher in Essex, the Primary Teaching Degree Apprenticeship with Catalyst Academies Trust offers a supportive and employment-based pathway into the profession.