Assessment Only Route

The Assessment Only Route (AOR) is an employment-based route for experienced teachers who do not yet have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). It can lead to the award of QTS in England and is governed by legislation set out by the Department for Education (DfE).

What you need to know:

The AOR is not a shortcut to QTS. It is not an alternative to formal initial teacher training (ITT). Instead, it recognises substantial in-school teacher training and teaching experience gained over a considerable period in place of an ITT course.
You need at least two years' teaching experience to apply for the AOR.
ITT may be more appropriate for some applicants. If you are an unqualified teacher or are considering entering the teaching profession, an ITT course such as a PGCE, School Direct or BA may be the most appropriate way to gain QTS.
The AOR is not a training programme. Candidates who are offered a place are not considered students of UEL. The route consists of two stages: the Advisory Stage and the Final Assessment Stage.
Your school must support your application. The AOR is a partnership between you and your school. Your school must agree that you are a good teacher, do not require further teacher training and are already meeting the Teachers' Standards.

Information for applicants

Start dates

Flexible: You can apply at any time.
You can start and complete the Assessment Only Route (AOR) at any point during the academic year, subject to the availability of UEL AOR assessors.
Depending on your experience, you may be able to complete the AOR in as little as one term.

UEL school

School of Childhood and Social Care

Attendance

There is no attendance requirement at UEL and there are no taught sessions on campus.
The AOR is an on-the-job assessment that takes place at your school.

Length of the AOR
The AOR is flexible and personalised to your individual circumstances. You can spend as much time as you need onStage 1 before completing the formal assessment in Stage 2.

Stage 1: Advisory visit – This takes place at your school and sets out the requirements you need to meet to progress to Stage 2.
You can take as long as you need to meet all the requirements for Stage 1.
Stage 2: Final Assessment visit – This takes place at your school.
There is usually a minimum of one term between completion of Stage 1 and completion of Stage 2.

Entry requirements

You must meet all of the following requirements to apply for the Assessment Only Route (AOR) at UEL.

Teaching requirements

Be currently teaching as an unqualified teacher in a school in London or within a reasonable distance of the M25. The AOR at UEL is not available to applicants teaching overseas.
Have a current teaching role in a school and teach at least 0.5 FTE of a timetable.
Have at least two years of teaching experience. This can include teaching experience gained overseas.
Have the support of your school. Your school must agree that you are already a good teacher who meets the Teachers' Standards and does not require further teacher training.
Understand that you cannot proceed without your school's support.

Academic requirements

Have GCSE English Language and GCSE Mathematics at grade 4/C or above. If you are applying for primary teaching, you must also have GCSE Science at grade 4/C or above.
If you do not have these GCSE qualifications, you may be able to take an equivalency test. Fees apply and the equivalency test provider is independent of UEL.
Functional Skills, Key Skills, A-levels and Level 2 qualifications in numeracy or literacy are not accepted by UEL as GCSE equivalents.
Have a bachelor's degree from a UK higher education institution or an equivalent qualification from overseas. A master's degree may also meet this requirement if it includes a bachelor's degree as part of a four-year taught course.
Provide your original certificates for verification.
If you hold qualifications from overseas, provide a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability. This confirms how your qualifications compare with UK qualifications.

Other requirements

Provide photographic proof of identity, such as a passport or driving licence.
Provide evidence of any change of name, such as a marriage certificate or deed poll, if your documents show different names.
Understand that these entry qualifications are mandatory. They are legal requirements set out in legislation and are not subject to discretion.

Fitness and safeguarding checks

Meet the Secretary of State's requirements for physical and mental fitness to teach. Your employing school is responsible for assessing this.
Have completed the appropriate criminal record and other safeguarding checks to establish whether there is any criminal background that could prevent you from working with children or young people or working as a teacher. Your employing school is responsible for these checks.

Fees and funding

Each stage of the Assessment Only Route (AOR) is charged separately.

Stage 1: £850
Stage 2: £1,500
Total cost: £2,350
Your school will be invoiced in the month following each stage visit.
As the AOR is delivered in partnership with your school, UEL will invoice the school directly.
If you intend to self-fund the AOR, you will need to agree with your school how the payment will be managed. This could include a salary deduction or an invoice from the school to you.
There are no bursaries available for the Assessment Only Route (AOR).

Learning and assessment

The Assessment Only Route (AOR) can begin and end at different points during the academic year, subject to the availability of UEL AOR Assessors. Depending on your experience and progress against the Teachers’ Standards, the assessment process can be completed in approximately one term.

Before you apply

Your school must:

Support your application for the AOR.
Agree to pay the AOR fees, or agree with you how the fees will be managed if you are self-funding.
Confirm that you do not require further teacher training to meet the Teachers’ Standards.

To apply, you must complete the AOR application form, including the reference from your current Headteacher, and return it to UEL by email.

Once UEL has received your application, we will assess your suitability for the AOR. If you are considered suitable, we will arrange a Stage 1 Advisory Visit at your current school.

Stage 1 Advisory Visit

The Stage 1 Advisory Visit will take place at the school where you are currently teaching. The visit will include:

A check of your original documentation.
A discussion about the evidence required and how to prepare your portfolio.
A discussion about accessing evidence from a previous school, or whether a placement may be required.
A lesson observation.
A brief meeting with a senior colleague, usually your mentor.
A feedback and next steps session.

You are not expected to have a complete portfolio of evidence at Stage 1.

Following the Stage 1 Advisory Visit, UEL will provide you and your mentor with a Stage 1 Advisory Visit Report and Support Plan (AVRSP), outlining any requirements that remain to be met.

Stage 2 Final Assessment

A date for the Stage 2 Final Assessment will be agreed with you and your school.

Before the Stage 2 Final Assessment, you must:

Prepare a detailed portfolio of evidence demonstrating that you meet the Teachers’ Standards.
Take and pass the Professional Competency Tests for Teachers.
Complete a self-reflection questionnaire.
Obtain two completed Mentor/Senior Colleague feedback forms.
Prepare a Summary Index for your portfolio.

One week before the Stage 2 Final Assessment Visit, you must submit the required documentation to your UEL Assessor.

During the Stage 2 Final Assessment Visit, your assessor will assess your evidence against the Teachers’ Standards. This will include:

A lesson observation.
A feedback and next steps session.
A brief meeting with a senior colleague, usually your mentor.
A review of your portfolio of evidence.

Following the assessment

If you successfully meet the requirements of the Assessment Only Route, UEL will recommend you for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). UEL will update the relevant government records to confirm that you hold QTS and will issue you with a Teacher Reference Number (TRN).

Your future career

Once you gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you can work as a qualified teacher in England. This includes teaching in state schools, such as academies and free schools, as well as independent schools.

Early Career Teacher (ECT) induction

After gaining QTS, you will become an Early Career Teacher (ECT) and undertake ECT induction. During this period, your school, local authority or Appropriate Body (AB) will support you in continuing to meet the Teachers’ Standards.

ECT induction is normally a two-year entitlement and includes:

A reduced teaching timetable to support your development.
A dedicated mentor.
Ongoing training, support and professional development.

In some circumstances, the length of your ECT induction may be reduced. This may be possible where your Headteacher considers a shorter induction appropriate and you wish to waive your entitlement to the full two years.

Any reduction in the length of your ECT induction will need to be discussed and agreed between your Headteacher and the Appropriate Body (AB) responsible for your induction.

Apply and get more information

Get more information

Download the UEL Assessment Only Route (AOR) Guide.
Download the presentation
Email the AOR Team: assessmentonly@uel.ac.uk

Apply

Apply directly to UEL by downloading an application.

Useful links

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