Can you get into primary teaching with an apprenticeship?

How does the apprenticeship route work?

A primary teaching apprenticeship is an employment-based pathway into teaching. You are hired by a school or academy trust and complete your degree and teacher training alongside your role.

During the programme, you:

• Work in a primary school from the start

• Study towards a Bachelor’s (Hons) degree in Primary Education

• Achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

• Often complete a PGCE qualification
   

Your teaching responsibilities increase gradually as your confidence and skills develop.

Do you need a degree first?

Traditionally, a degree is required before starting teacher training. However, a degree apprenticeship removes this barrier. You do not need to already hold a university degree to apply, as you earn your degree as part of the programme.

By the end of the apprenticeship, you hold the same qualifications as those who followed a university-led route.

Who is this route suitable for?

Primary teaching apprenticeships are suitable for:

• School leavers who meet entry requirements

• Career changers moving into education

• Teaching assistants who want to progress into teaching

• Individuals who prefer practical learning over full-time study
   

It offers a financially accessible route into teaching while building four years of classroom experience.

Getting into primary teaching with Catalyst Academies Trust

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

Apprentices are employed within one of our primary schools in Thurrock, including Grays, South Ockendon and Aveley. You earn £24,000 per year throughout the programme and pay no tuition fees.

The structure includes:

• Monday to Thursday in school, gaining hands-on teaching experience

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

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

• Ongoing support from a dedicated mentor, university tutor visits and a Trust ITT manager
   

In Year 2, you complete a six-week placement in a contrasting school within the Trust to broaden your experience and strengthen your professional development.

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 route is also open to individuals already working in schools who hold a Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification or equivalent.

Is an apprenticeship a recognised route into teaching?

Yes. Primary Teaching Degree Apprenticeships are nationally recognised and lead to Qualified Teacher Status. Once you complete the programme, you are fully qualified to teach in state-maintained primary schools in England.

The qualification outcomes are the same as traditional routes, but the structure allows you to build your professional identity over a longer, supported period.

Taking the next step

You can get into primary teaching through an apprenticeship. It is a structured, employment-based pathway that leads to a degree, QTS and classroom experience while earning a salary.

If you are considering becoming a primary school teacher in Essex, the Primary Teaching Degree Apprenticeship with Catalyst Academies Trust offers a supported and practical route into the profession.