The Assessment Only route – a summaryThe Assessment Only (AO) route is an employment-based route for achieving Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) while working as a teacher. The AO teacher follows an individual assessment programme leading to the award of QTS.The Cambridge Partnership is the accredited provider with the Department for Education, responsible for delivering the AO programme. The Cambridge Partnership recommends successful applicants for the award of QTS to the Department for Education. As an accredited provider, The Cambridge Partnership is able to make its own particular requirements for its Assessment Only programme. Requirements for Assessment OnlyIn order to be eligible for assessment for QTS, AO applicants should
AO applicants should:
In addition, they must also:
There is a range of circumstances in which teachers do not have QTS but have significant experience working in maintained schools and academies, independent schools, or in further education. As a Provider, we must be confident that the AO applicant was responsible and accountable for children’s and young people’s learning for a period typically equivalent to two or more years full-time as a class teacher. All relevant teaching experience may be taken into account. Working in a supporting role such as a teaching assistant or cover supervisor does count towards the time required as the class teacher.
Overview of procedure Teaching Load and TimetableAs part of the preparation for the Assessment Only route to QTS, teaching experience should have been gained across one of the following age phases:
Applicants assessed for the 3-7 age phase must have evidence of the assessment of their teaching across the EYFS curriculum and Key Stage 1 curriculum, those assessed for the 5-11 age phase must have evidence of the assessment of their teaching across the primary curriculum both for ages 5-7 (key stage 1) and for ages 7-11 (key stage 2). Applicants on middle phase programmes must demonstrate that they have met the Teachers’ Standards for QTS across the relevant curriculum in the primary age range (7-11), and in their specialist subject in the secondary age range 11-14. Where AO applicants are not currently timetabled to teach across the relevant age phase and do not have evidence of the assessment of their teaching across that age phase, schools will need to make arrangements for their AO applicants to be gain experience teaching an amended timetable, or teaching in another school, and through this teaching be assessed that they have demonstrated that they can teach across the full ability range of their chosen age phase. The AO applicant must be able to provide evidence that they have sufficient experience of successfully teaching across their chosen age phase. Should schools be considering making special arrangements for an amended timetable or a placement in another school or setting in order to provide a prospective AO candidate with wider experience, it is essential that these arrangements are discussed with The Cambridge Partnership to ensure that they will meet the AO requirements. Teachers who have a part-time teaching timetable may be eligible for assessment through the Assessment Only route if they have accumulated the equivalent of 2 years’ full time experience. Teachers with a part-time teaching timetable must have a timetabled teaching commitment of at least 50% in the term prior to and during the assessment period itself in order for The Cambridge Partnership to be able to undertake a valid assessment against the Teachers’ Standards. AO applicants teaching part-time may also be required, as part of the overall assessment, to provide evidence of their capability of dealing with the increased demands of a greater teaching commitment. Qualified Teacher Status: Standards for Assessment The Teachers’ Standards may be found on the GOV.UK website at: |
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