Salaried Route

Our two-year part-time programme enables you to gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), while continuing to work and live in your local community.

• Year 1: Study 60 credits at Level 6 (equivalent to the final year of an undergraduate degree).
• Year 2: Study 60 credits at Level 7 (Master’s level).

This flexible course is delivered online and includes:

• Structured, self-paced study materials
• Live seminars with subject-specific Curriculum Tutors
• Support from an in-school mentor throughout your placement

All course content is accessible via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), which includes:

• Textbooks, videos, and audio resources
• Interactive learning activities
• Discussion forums to engage with tutors and fellow students

You’ll also benefit from dedicated, ongoing support from our Wales PGCE Team, who will guide you throughout your training journey.

What is the Salaried Endorsed Route?

If someone is working in a mainstream state school as a teaching assistant or in a non-teaching role, they can apply for your school to endorse their studies.

To do this, the school must:

• Apply to become a Partner School
• Provide a PGCE Endorsement Letter for the applicant

The school will be responsible for paying the applicant’s salary. The applicant must have agreement from their school before applying.

They will study for their PGCE alongside their current school duties as part of full-time employment. Study costs are covered by a training grant from the Welsh Government.

Recruitment Requirements

1. Applicants must apply to the programme on their own merit and pass the selection process.
   Note: Places are limited and competitive. School endorsement does not guarantee a place.
2. The school must apply for Partner School status and meet entry criteria.
   Some schools may not qualify (e.g. if under special measures or not mainstream).

Please note: We cannot process an individual’s application unless the school has submitted an Endorsement Letter.

Support a Salaried PGCE Student

Secondary schools can express interest in supporting a new employee through the PGCE Salaried Route.

Subjects available:

• Science
• Maths
• Welsh
• English (Drama or Media options)
• Design and Technology
• Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)
• Computing/ICT

We help match eligible applicants with interested schools. Applicants may complete a short profile to assist schools in assessing suitability.

Note: Demand for salaried placements often exceeds availability.

What Schools Need to Know

• Schools must employ the trainee as a staff member.
• If no placements are available locally, we aim to notify candidates by the end of June.
• In some cases, a place on the part-time PGCE route may be offered (subject to availability).

Important: This route is only available for the secondary teaching pathway.

The OU Partnership offers tailored strategies to support secondary school recruitment. Contact the Wales PGCE Team for support.

Welsh Government Salary Grant Scheme

Recent updates have made the PGCE Salaried route more accessible:

• ✅ Welsh-medium secondary schools: 100% salary grant for eligible subjects
• ✅ English-medium secondary schools endorsing Welsh teachers: 100% salary grant
• ✅ Other priority subjects in English-medium schools: 50% salary contribution
• ✅ Language transition category schools: 100% salary grant (subject to terms)
• ✅ Primary schools (English and Welsh-medium): 50% salary grant for endorsed students

Practice Learning Overview

All student teachers spend time learning in a school setting—this is called ‘Practice Learning’. It’s a core part of any PGCE in Wales and must meet accreditation rules set by the Education Workforce Council and Welsh Government.

Examples include:

• 120 days of school experience (statutory requirement)
• Experience in two different school settings
• Teaching across age phases

While in school, students complete activities designed to bridge their academic study with practical experience. Practice Learning is supported by a structured mentoring programme that gradually develops teaching skills.

Second School Experience

The Second School Experience is a mandatory requirement and forms part of the OU ITE Partnership’s accredited PGCE Salaried route to which we must adhere. It is a beneficial aspect of the programme, supporting the student teacher to further develop their skills in a different school context.  Students on the Salaried route will attend a Second School Experience for a 25-day full-time block in another Partner school during June and July of year 1.

We cannot, under normal circumstances, support requests to complete the SSE at an alternative time. Arranging student teacher placements is a complex process and we must consider many aspects.

Our Partnership team work closely with schools to build relationships, understand plans and capacity to agree placements. Whilst there may be a Partner School close to a student’s geographic location or closer than their allocated school, it may not always be possible to place them there. Students may be required to travel up to an hour, as is the case for all student teachers. It is very important to note that the Second School Experience is not a quid pro quo arrangement where placements are ‘swapped’.

Important Notes

• We cannot support requests to complete the SSE at a different time.
• Placement arrangements are complex and depend on school capacity and planning.
• Students may need to travel up to an hour (90 minutes in exceptional cases).
• There is no ‘swap’ system—placements are not exchanged between schools.

Students will study a range of online interactive materials via the OU website. It’s not just reading! There will be bespoke video materials to watch and activities to complete as they go. We will provide a helpful study planner to help keep studies on track. .

Students will have access to a subject site which gives an overview of the PGCE and a module site to access learning materials, online teaching sessions and the discussion forums. They’ll be able to reach out to other student teachers across Wales to share experiences.

Students will attend live online seminars with an OU tutor in the evening and learn alongside peers across Wales, so they’ll need a computer and a decent internet connection. Students will be expected to have a high level of attendance in online sessions. Sessions for subject or phase are usually held fortnightly, but there are also other learning sessions that they will need to attend from time to time.

For Schools:

To host a student teacher, your school must first apply for Partner School status.
Complete the Partner School Application Form 

Your application will be reviewed by the Partnership Committee, which includes Local Authority ITE Leads for endorsement.
If your school would like support with recruitment or attracting aspiring teachers, we’re here to help. Email us at wales-pgce@open.ac.uk to request a call with our team.

For Student Applicants:

Apply for the PGCE programme using our online application form:
Apply Online Here

If your application is successful, you’ll be invited to an online interview.
Please note: placement at your chosen school is only possible if the school holds Partner School status.