Teacher Training offer guidance

What's next?

Accept your offer

If you haven’t already, it’s really important to accept your offer as soon as possible as places are limited.

> Review: carefully read the details of your offer and any conditions specified by your partner in the 'Offer management' section of My Teacher Training.

> Accept your offer: click to accept the privacy policy at the bottom of the offer page and then click the green ‘Accept offer’ button.

If you used the DfE’s ‘Apply’ service to submit your application, please also log into your account and accept your offer there. Ambition Institute are unable to do this on your behalf.

If you have any questions in advance of accepting your offer, please contact your chosen partner.

Once you have accepted your offer, there are some actions you must complete before you start your training.

>Pre-programme checks – we recommend completing these as soon as possible to secure your place, please refer to the 'Pre-programme checks' tab for more information.

>Additional offer conditions – we would advise you to complete these as soon as possible, especially if you’re completing a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) which can take up to 28 weeks.

Pre-programme checks

Once you’ve accepted your offer you will need to complete the standard pre-programme checks. These apply to anyone who is seeking a career in teaching and are non-negotiable requirements.

Proof of eligibility documentation

If you haven’t already done so, upload the following proof of eligibility documents to My Teacher Training for review. You will need to submit each relevant document as outlined below. Our system allows you to update them in separate sessions, i.e. you can submit your passport now if you have it available and at another time upload your qualification documents.

Passport or other suitable form of ID
UK work visa (if applicable*)
GCSE English certificate/s (or equivalent**)
GCSE Maths certificate (or equivalent**)
GCSE Science certificate/s (or equivalent**) (Primary only)
Undergraduate (Bachelor’s) Degree certificate (or equivalent) showing your degree class
ENIC statement of comparability – if your degree or GCSEs were issued outside of the UK
English language proficiency certificate - you may need to provide an English language proficiency certificate depending on your qualifications. Please check if you need one of these by referring to your 'Offer checklist'. You can access your checklist by logging in to My Teacher Training .

Additionally - If you did not show the original copies of the documents above at your interview, please make sure you arrange a date and time with your training partner to present them in person for verification.

* By the start of the training successful candidates must have permission to work in the UK, full-time, and for the duration of the programme. Find out how to apply for a work visa.

If you have a UK work visa, we need your share code to verify this. Find out more about how to get a share code. Please note a code is only valid for 90 days so if you have already uploaded your share code document but it is older than 90 days you will need to request a new one and upload it.

**Not everyone will have a UK GCSE so if you have an alternative qualification please upload the certificate for the qualification you have, this is the one you entered on your application form.

Where to do this: My Teacher Training via the 'My application' menu button - then refer to the ‘Pre-programme checks’ section.

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

All entrants to the teaching profession as a ‘regulated activity’ must, by law, undergo an Enhanced DBS to ensure their suitability to work with children.

DBS checks will be completed from June 2026 onwards as they must be carried out as close to the start of the programme as possible. We will be in touch with you regarding your DBS in early June with more information, you do not need to do anything before we contact you.

You will need to pay for your Enhanced DBS and ID check. You can contact us for more information about this.

IMPORTANT - Even if you have a current DBS, or are on the update service, a new one will be carried out for our Teacher Training programme. A DBS is non-transferable and so a new one is needed for every placement, training programme, or job/role.

Overseas criminal records check

If you have spent 90+ consecutive days in any country other than the UK since the age of 18 you will need to provide an overseas check for each country you have lived in, in addition to your DBS check. You will need to upload a copy of your overseas police clearance, also known as a 'Criminal Clearance Certificate' or a 'Certificate of Good Conduct'.

Find out more information and guidance on how to apply for your overseas check.

Where to do this: My Teacher Training via the 'My application' menu button - then refer to the ‘Pre-programme checks’ section.

English Language Proficiency

As part of the conditions of your offer, you may need to meet an English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) mandates this to ensure international students can communicate effectively and avoid entry issues. Liverpool Hope University also includes this as part of its admission policy, and you can find out more information about it here.

You can see if you need an English Language Proficiency on your ‘Offer checklist’ in your My Teacher Training account.

The English Language Proficiency must meet specific standards and have been obtained within the two years before your programme start date.

We can accept any UK degree as proof of English Language Proficiency, including an undergraduate degree, Master's, or PhD. We can also accept a UK English GCSE or equivalency test.

If you already have an English Language Proficiency you need to upload it to the ‘Pre-programme checks’ section in your My Teacher Training account.

If you don’t yet have an English Language Proficiency you will need to obtain this before the start of your programme.

Where to do this: My Teacher Training via the ‘My application’ menu button – then refer to the ‘Pre-programme checks’ section.

Occupational health

Occupational health assessments are a way providers of Teacher Training ensure that trainees possess the health and physical capacity to train to teach and perform their duties without putting children and young people at risk.

The results of the assessment will determine whether any reasonable adjustment(s) are required to support you in completing the training programme. To give your teacher training provider the best chance to support your needs, you must respond accurately and honestly.

You will receive an email from Corazon Health, the email will be sent from [email protected], requesting you to complete an occupational health assessment. Please keep an eye on your inbox for this email and complete the assessment as soon as possible once you receive it.

Work history

You need to let us know about your previous work history for two reasons:

1) For us to review your previous employment experience and ask for further information or details where needed.

2) To confirm any gaps in employment to ensure we’re compliant with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023.

If you haven’t already done so, complete your work history by inputting details of each job you’ve held since the age of 18, this should include both part-time and full-time work. If you applied via the DfE, you will not have to redo this section.

Once you complete this, you will need to tick the box to confirm the information is correct and press save. If you don’t have any previous work history you won’t need to enter any information, but you will still need to tick the box to confirm this.

Completing your work history is compulsory, if you’d also like to upload your CV you can do this in the upload file section.

Where to do this: My Teacher Training via the 'My application' menu button - then refer to the ‘Pre-programme checks’ section.

Online tests

There are several online tests and courses that you must complete once you’ve accepted your offer.

The tests and courses you need to complete are:

Online Literacy test
Online Numeracy test
Online subject test - if you’ve accepted an offer for a secondary school subject
Safeguarding Children (Level 2) Training
Prevent Duty Training
Keeping Children Safe in Education

You can find out more about each one below.

Online tests

Online tests for Literacy and Numeracy are mandatory for every applicant to complete before they start the programme. If you have been offered a place for a secondary school subject, you’ll also need to complete a subject-specific online test.

The multiple-choice online tests are designed by Ambition to gauge your level of understanding of Literacy, Numeracy, and the subject you want to train in, if applicable, and used by your chosen partner to provide any extra support or training needed to set you up for success in your teacher training year.

If you haven’t already done so, please complete the following online tests as soon as possible:

Literacy
Numeracy
The subject you are applying to teach (if applicable)

Where to do this: My Teacher Training via the 'My application' menu button - then refer to the ‘Online tests' section.

Mandatory safeguarding courses

As part of your offer conditions, you must complete three mandatory online safeguarding courses. We recommend completing these as soon as you can.

You will be given access to iHasco, a training platform, where you will complete your compulsory safeguarding and prevent training.

You will receive an automated email from [email protected] with guidance on how to log in.

Once logged in you will be able to complete your statutory training courses.

Subject Knowledge Enhancement

A SKE is a course that your partner may have specified you need to complete before you start your teacher training as a condition of your offer, to help you improve your subject knowledge and learn the fundamental building blocks of each topic in preparation for teaching.

Courses are often online, and lengths usually range from 8-28 weeks and are 25 hours per week. You may be eligible to receive a bursary to help you while you study.

More information can be found here on courses available, how to apply, and any bursary you may be eligible for.

How to apply for your secondary subject SKE

> Step one

To select a SKE provider, please use the national course directory of SKE providers here, pick the one that works best for you.

>Step two:

Register for the course as directed by your chosen SKE provider. Please follow the link on the right-hand side of this tab to show you all the details you need for your SKE application.

>Step three:

Log in to My Teacher Training and go to your offer tracking page. Tick the ‘SKE tracking’ box and add your SKE provider name

>Step four:

Start your course and be sure to keep on top of your studies as per the timelines set by your SKE provider.

>Step five:

Once you have completed the SKE course in full, upload a copy of your SKE certificate of completion onto My Teacher Training.

Where to do this: My Teacher Training in the ‘Pre-programme checks’ section, available from the homepage.

How to apply for your primary SKE

The Primary SKE content has been designed by Ambition for you to work through independently to help you feel confident in Primary English and Maths before you start your teacher training.

>Step one: Follow this link to access your Primary SKE materials. Be sure to check out the ‘An introduction to primary subject knowledge enhancement’ guidance document before you begin.

>Step two: You’ll find two folders, one for Primary Maths and one for Primary English. Your partner may have signposted you to one in particular, but feel free to complete both should you wish to do so.

In each folder, there are videos to watch and a workbook for you to complete.

>Step three: Once you’ve completed all of the material, let your chosen partner know you have completed the course, because you won’t receive a certificate to upload for the primary SKE.

References

References are an important part of any check when taking on a new role, especially when you will be working in a school environment. They are used to confirm your previous work experience, and importantly, that there is no reason that you couldn’t or shouldn’t work with children (Keeping Children Safe in Education).

You must provide a minimum of two references and you may add up to five.

You must request references from the following places of work or study if you meet the below criteria.

University

If you graduated with your undergraduate degree in the last five years, or if you are currently studying, you must request a reference from your academic tutor.

If you're unable to obtain a reference from your academic tutor directly, you can request a reference from an alternative university employee who can confirm your attendance.

Working with children in an education setting (UK-based)

- If you are currently working in an education setting (a nursery, school, or college), you must request a reference from the headteacher. If you have previously worked in an educational setting, you must request a reference from the most recent headteacher.

- If you worked in an education setting through an agency, you must request a reference from each agency you have worked at and the headteacher of the school/s.

- If you worked in an education setting as part of a previous teacher training course, you must request a reference from the teacher training provider, but you do not need to request a reference from your placement school/s unless you wish to.

Working with children (non-education setting)

If you are currently working with children in a non-educational setting, you must request a reference from your employer. If you have previously worked with children in a non-educational setting, you must request a reference from the most recent employer.

Most recent employer - not working with children

Your current or most recent employer, if not covered by 'Working with children in an education setting' or 'Working with children (non-education setting)'.

Working overseas in an education setting

If you have worked or volunteered in an education setting (nursery, school or college) outside the UK, you must request a reference from the headteacher or equivalent leader at each of these workplaces.

Volunteering experience

You must request a reference from someone in a senior position at the organisation you volunteered with if it was working with children and you have not provided any more recent experience working with children in 'Working with children in an education setting' or 'Working with children (non-education setting)'.

To add in your references, you can go to: My Teacher Training in the ‘Reference’ section, available from the 'My application' button.

Each reference type will show as 'outstanding'. You must click into each reference type and tick the statement that applies to you, to help confirm whether you need this reference type. If you do meet the criteria, the status will stay as 'outstanding' until reference details are provided. You should provide these at your earliest convenience.

Once you have either provided reference details or confirmed you don't meet the criteria for each reference type, and have provided details of at least two referees, you may submit your references by clicking the 'Submit reference requests' button at the bottom of the screen. This will send an email to each referee, asking them to complete a reference for you.

If you applied via the DfE and entered details for your references on your DfE application you do not need to submit them again. You will need to confirm that you have provided all the required references.

Where to do this: My Teacher Training in the ‘Reference’ section, available from the 'My application' section.

Student finance

The tuition fees for your Teacher Training programme are £9,790 for full-time and £7,335 per year for part-time.

For the schedule of payments please refer to your trainee contract.

You may be eligible to apply for student finance to cover your course tuition fees and you can do this here.

You can find all the information you need to complete your student finance application in the ‘Funding’ section of your My Teacher Training account.

In the ‘Funding ’ section you can find information on the following:

How to complete your finance application including course title and course code
If you are eligible to receive a bursary
How to apply for a scholarship
If you can apply for a maintenance loan
How to complete the funding questionnaire

Where to do this: My Teacher Training via the ‘My application’ menu button – then refer to the ‘Funding’ section.