QUALIFIED TEACHER STATUS SKILLS TESTS

NUT Briefing for MEMBERS

JUNE 2010

INTRODUCTION

Since May 2001 all trainees seeking to qualify as a teacher in England must pass all three skills tests in numeracy, literacy and ICT before they can be awarded Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), register with the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE), and begin their induction period. Further information is available on the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) website at

REGULATORY CHANGES TO THE SKILLS TESTS

From 1 September 2008, trainees who have completed their ITT but not passed all the skills tests cannot be employed as teachers or start their induction as NQTs. This does not apply to those on employment-based routes into teaching, such as the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP), Registered Teacher Programme (RTP), Overseas Trained Teacher (OTT) and Teach First. These groups of teacher trainees will need to pass the skills tests and obtain QTS, however, in order to begin their induction period when they complete their school-based training programmes.

WHEN CAN THE SKILLS TESTSBE TAKEN?

Trainee teachers will only be eligible to take their QTS skills tests in their final year of study. Initial teacher training providers are required to provisionally register trainee teachers’ details with theGeneral Teaching Council for England (GTCE) a maximum of 28 days from thecourse start date. Trainees are able to register for the QTS skills tests when they have been provisionally registered with the GTCE.

Dependent upon which route you take into teaching,there may a slight variation as to when the skills tests can be taken. Post Graduate in Education (PGCE) students are eligible to take the QTS skills test as soon as their details have been provisionally registered with the GTCE. As a flexible PGCE trainee teacher, where courses can take two years to complete,the tests can be taken in the last five terms of training. Where courses take up to three or four years to complete, such as Bachelor of Education or Bachelor of Arts/Science,the tests can be taken in the final three terms of training.

HOW AND WHERE ARE THE TESTS TAKEN?

The QTS skills tests are delivered via the national network of Pearson Professional Centres (PPCs). Upon receipt of your Teacher Reference Number (TRN) you will be able to register for the skills tests electronically through the TDA website on Once you have selected the type of test you wish to book you will be prompted to enter the country you wish to book in, and the location you wish to test in. You will then be presented with a list of the five PPCs closest to your preferred location.

The tests are computerised and can be taken at any of approximately 50 test centres throughout England. It is advisable to check that the chosen centre has sufficient availability to accommodate bookings, particularly where all three skills tests would be taken on the same day.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN TAKING THE TESTS?

A pass mark of at least 60 per cent for each skills test will be needed to successfully complete QTS. The TDA website has provided information on what is expected from trainees taking the tests and offers practice materials to help prepare for and pass the tests. These materials can be found on Each test is structured differently with a time limit ranging from thirty five to forty eight minutes. Trainees are advised to familiarise themselves with the test structures before taking the tests.

The test centre will need to see two forms of identification from all candidates and the booking confirmation e-mail before the tests can be taken. It is advised that candidates should arrive fifteen minutes before the test starts to allow time to check documents and prepare the relevant tests.

TEACHING IN ENGLAND WITH QTS FROM WALES

Literacy, numeracy and IT skills tests are not a requirement for achieving QTS in Wales. The skills tests are also not a requirement where QTS has been gained in Wales and subsequently teachers wish to teach in England.

SKILLS TESTS AND TEACHING OUTSIDE OF ENGLAND

All three skills tests would need to be passed for QTS from Englandto be recognised in other parts of theUK. Trainee teachers wishing to teach in countries outside theUKmust check with the relevant country’s education authorities regarding their requirements for the award of a teaching qualification in that country. As the skills tests make up one of the QTS Standards, however, it is highly unlikely that this would be recognised unless you had passed all the tests.

NUT ADVICE

Any member who is a trainee teacher and who has yet to pass the test isadvised to take the steps set out below.

1. Obtain thesupport materials from theTDA website, including the interactive information and practice materials, which shouldhelp you prepare for and pass the numeracy skills test.

2. Book a place at the nearest test centre as soon as possible. Newly qualified and trainee teachers will beable to register for the tests via the Internet. Five options of the nearest test centres to specified locations will be given to make access as easy as possible. Any cancellations should be made at least 24hours before the test is due to take place. Where cancellations cannot be made in advance the helpdesk should be contacted on 0845 450 8867or who will advise the test centre on your behalf.

3. Ensure that any special arrangements, if necessary, have been requested at the time of booking the test. Further information about the special arrangements for student teachers and newly qualified teachers with special needs can be found on the TDA website.

4.In theevent that a test has been failed, make sure you feel ready and prepared to re-take the test before making another booking.

5.You must inform the school and local authority induction co-ordinator if you apply for or are appointed to a teaching post without having passed all three skills tests. The results and the number of times that trainees takethe test are available to the individual concerned and their training provider but not to their head teacher or employer. Details are also held on a centralregister, which is only accessible on a confidential basis by the TDA, current newlyqualified teachers and LA induction co-ordinators. There is no need for any headteacher to know how many times a new teacher hastaken the test.

6.Any trainee teacher concerned that failure to pass the test willjeopardise their employment within a school should contact the appropriateNUT Regional office for further support and advice.