Teacher Degree Apprenticeship vs Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship

The main difference is straightforward. A Teacher Degree Apprenticeship is designed for people who do not already have a degree, while a Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship is for people who already have one.

Both allow you to work in a school, earn a salary and train towards Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), but the qualifications you gain and the length of training are different.

Here is what you need to know when deciding which route could suit you.

What Is a Teacher Degree Apprenticeship?

A Teacher Degree Apprenticeship, often shortened to TDA, allows you to gain an undergraduate degree while training to become a qualified teacher.

You do not need to have a university degree before you apply.

Instead, you are employed by a school while completing a combination of academic study and practical teacher training. You earn a salary throughout the apprenticeship and your training fees are funded, so you do not pay university tuition fees in the same way as a traditional undergraduate student.

By the end of the programme, you will have gained a bachelor's degree and Qualified Teacher Status.

This route can be particularly suitable for:

• School or college leavers

• Teaching assistants who want to progress into teaching

• People who do not already have a degree

• Career changers without a university qualification

• People who prefer to learn through a combination of work and study

Because you spend a large part of your apprenticeship in a school, you gain practical classroom experience throughout your training.

What Is a Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship?

A Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship, or PGTA, is a salaried teacher training route for people who already have a bachelor's degree.

Rather than completing another degree, you train towards Qualified Teacher Status while employed in a school.

Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeships usually involve spending around four days each week training and working in a school, with dedicated time for training through an Initial Teacher Training provider.

The apprenticeship must last for at least nine months, although exact course structures vary between providers.

You receive a salary while you train and do not pay training fees. However, because it is a salaried apprenticeship, you cannot usually receive teacher training bursaries, scholarships or student finance alongside it.

A PGTA can be a good option if you already have a degree and want a school-based, salaried route into teaching.

Teacher Degree Apprenticeship vs Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship

The easiest way to compare the two routes is to look at where you are starting from.

	Teacher Degree Apprenticeship	Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship
Do you need a degree before applying?	No	Yes
Do you earn a salary?	Yes	Yes
Do you pay apprenticeship training fees?	No	No
Do you gain QTS?	Yes	Yes
Do you gain a degree?	Yes, as part of the apprenticeship	You already need a degree before starting
How long does it take?	Depends on the programme	At least 9 months
Best suited to	People without a degree	Existing graduates

There can also be differences in additional qualifications.

QTS is the professional status required to teach in most maintained primary, secondary and special schools in England. A PGCE is a separate academic qualification.

Some teacher training programmes include a PGCE alongside QTS, while others lead to QTS without one. It is worth checking exactly what each provider offers before applying.

Which Route Should You Choose?

For many applicants, your existing qualifications will make the decision clear.

If you do not have a bachelor's degree, a Teacher Degree Apprenticeship gives you a route to gain both a degree and QTS while working in a school.

If you already have a bachelor's degree, a Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship is likely to be the more relevant option because you do not need to complete another undergraduate degree first.

Your preferred style of learning matters too.

Both routes involve spending significant time in a school. If you like the idea of learning through practical experience, working with pupils and receiving feedback from experienced teachers as you develop, an apprenticeship can be a strong fit.

You should also think about the workload. An apprenticeship is paid employment, but you are training and studying at the same time. You will need to manage classroom responsibilities, assignments, training sessions and your own professional development.

Primary Teaching Degree Apprenticeship in Essex with Catalyst

For people who do not already have a degree, Catalyst Academies Trust offers a Primary teaching apprenticeship in Essex.

The 36-month employment-based programme allows you to work in one of Catalyst's primary schools in Thurrock while gaining the qualifications needed to become a primary school teacher.

Apprentices earn £24,000 per year and have no tuition fees to pay.

During the programme, you will work towards:

• A BA (Hons) in Primary Education

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

• A PGCE qualification

The apprenticeship is delivered in partnership with the University of Brighton.

From Monday to Thursday, you will work in a Catalyst Academies Trust primary school, building classroom experience and developing your teaching skills.

Friday is set aside for university-directed study, with around 75% delivered online and 25% face to face. The programme also includes three weeks of university-based training at the University of Brighton.

You will receive mentoring and structured support throughout the apprenticeship, with your teaching responsibilities increasing as your skills develop.

In Year 2, you will also complete a six-week placement in a contrasting school within the Trust. This gives you experience of a different setting and helps broaden your understanding of primary education.

Catalyst schools are based in Thurrock, Essex, including Grays, South Ockendon and Aveley.

What Are the Entry Requirements?

For Catalyst's Primary Teaching Degree Apprenticeship, applicants must be aged 18 or over.

You will also need:

• Grade 4 or equivalent in GCSE English, mathematics and science

• A minimum of Grade C in three A levels

Applicants with lower A-level grades can still be considered where they have relevant experience working in a school.

Approved BTEC qualifications can also be considered, as can applicants who have gained the required GCSE standard through an A Star equivalency test.

You do not have to be coming straight from school or college. The apprenticeship is also open to career changers who want to move into primary education.

What If You Already Work in a School?

Both apprenticeships can be particularly relevant if you already work in education.

For example, a teaching assistant without a degree could use a Teacher Degree Apprenticeship to work towards becoming a qualified teacher while continuing to gain school experience.

If you are a teaching assistant or unqualified teacher who already has a degree, a Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship may provide a shorter route towards QTS.

Having school experience can also help you understand whether teaching is the right career for you before committing to a training programme.

Is an Apprenticeship the Right Route Into Teaching?

There is no single route into teaching that works for everyone.

A Teacher Degree Apprenticeship can make sense if you need to gain a degree and want to earn while you study. A Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship is aimed at graduates who want to complete their teacher training through salaried employment.

Whichever route you consider, look closely at the qualifications you will gain, the training structure, the support available and how much time you will spend in school.

If you do not have a degree and want to train as a primary teacher in Essex, Catalyst's programme offers the chance to gain a degree, QTS and a PGCE over 36 months while earning £24,000 per year and paying no tuition fees.

If you meet the entry requirements and want to take the next step, you can Apply Here.