School Direct

Train to teach through School Direct at UEL

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Train to teach through School Direct at UEL

School Direct

School Direct allows you to train in a school while working towards a recognised teaching qualification, with support from both UEL and partner schools.

What is School Direct?

School Direct is a school-led teacher training route. You will spend most of your time in the classroom, developing your teaching skills with support from experienced teachers and university tutors.

You will learn through practical experience while gaining a recognised qualification.

Train in real classrooms

You will gain hands-on experience in schools from the start of your training.

  • Learn from experienced teachers
  • Develop your classroom practice
  • Build confidence in real teaching environments

As part of your training, you should also complete a short placement in a primary school.

Work with our partner schools

We work in partnership with a wide network of schools across east London and beyond. 

These partnerships help prepare you to teach in diverse, multilingual and urban school settings. 

You will benefit from: 

  • Support from experienced school mentors
  • Opportunities to learn in different school environments
  • Experience of teaching pupils from a range of backgrounds

Participating schools

You can train in a range of partner schools, including:

Newham

Chingford Foundation School (E4 7LT)

Elmhurst Primary School (E7 8JY)

Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre (E12 5PB)

St Angela's Ursuline School (E7 8HU)

  • Website: https://www.stangelas-ursuline.co.uk/
  • Subjects: Computer science; Modern languages; Religious education; Geography; History; Physics; Chemistry; Biology; Mathematics; English
  • Programme: School Direct (salaried, QTS only)

St Edward's Catholic Primary School (E13 9AX)

Website: https://st-edwards.newham.sch.uk/

Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Primary 

Programme: School Direct (QTS only) School Direct (salaried, QTS only)

Tower Hamlets

Old Ford Primary School (E3 5LD)

Stepney All Saints School (E1 0RH)

  • Website: https://stepneyallsaints.school/
  • Subjects: Religious education; History; Geography; Physics; Modern languages; Mathematics; English; Computer science; Chemistry; Biology
  • Programme: School Direct (salaried, QTS only)

Redbridge

Seven Kings High School (IG2 7BT)

  • Website: https://sevenkings.school/
  • Subjects: Primary; Computer science; English; Mathematics
  • Programmes: School Direct (QTS only); School Direct (QTS plus academic award); School Direct (salaried, QTS only)

Valentines High School (IG2 6HX)

Harrow

Shaftesbury High School (HA3 6LE)

Croydon

West Thornton Primary School (CR0 3BS)

Website: https://www.westthornton.croydon.sch.uk/

Subjects: Primary 

Programme: School Direct (QTS plus academic award); School Direct (salaried, QTS only)

Waltham Forest

Whitefield School (E17 4AZ)

Website: https://www.whitefieldschool.org.uk/

Subjects: Mathematics; Chemistry; Primary; English; Physics; Physical education; Computer science 

Programme: School Direct (QTS plus academic award); School Direct (salaried, QTS only)

Willowfield School (E17 6HL)

  • Website: https://www.willowfield-school.co.uk/
  • Subjects: Chemistry; Modern languages; Physical education; Music; Mathematics; History; English; Design and technology
  • Programme: School Direct (QTS plus academic award)
    Information for applicants

    We partner with a number of schools and school alliances to deliver School Direct courses. 

    You will need to visit individual school websites to find out more about their wider partnerships and where you could undertake your training. 

    In England, you should register and apply through the Department for Education's teaching training portal.

    If you're looking for programmes in Wales and Scotland, you'll need to use  UCAS' search tool, or for Northern Ireland, use UCAS' guide for training in NI.  

    If you have any further queries, please email: teacheradmiss@uel.ac.uk.

    Information for Schools wanting to become School Direct providers

    The School of Childhood and Social Care works in partnership with local schools to support teacher development and can support you at every stage of the School Direct journey, helping you deliver high-quality training that meets your staffing needs. 

    If your school would like to be involved in School Direct and find out more about how we can work with you, including our models of provision, please contact us. 

    School Direct allows schools to grow their own staff by sharing training and/or employment across a group of schools, supported by UEL as the accredited initial teacher training (ITT) provider. 

    We have extensive experience in teacher training, with over 500 new teachers graduating each year. 

    School Direct programmes can include a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), with two Master ’s-level modules integrated into the training year and designed to be practice-based. 

    Trainees on School Direct salaried programmes are paid at least the lowest point of the unqualified teacher scale, with funding from the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) to support salary and/or training costs.

    Self-funded School Direct Salaried programme

    Self-funded training is usually paid for by the school, with applications made directly to UEL by the school on behalf of the candidate.

     For enquiries from potential applicants and for new or current applications (UK only), our team is available Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm. 

    You can contact us by telephone on +44 (0)20 8223 3333 or via live chat by selecting the icon in the bottom right of the screen.

    Start your application

    Ready to apply for School Direct?