Assessment Only
Assessment only route to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
Assessment Only is a work-based pathway to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). There is no training or face-to-face teaching element. The programme is solely an assessment of a range of evidence to support achievement of the Teachers’ Standards.
The AO route is for experienced unqualified teachers without QTS and is designed to meet the AO requirements as specified by the DfE/TRA. The programme is regularly inspected for compliance and included within external moderation samples.
The route is designed to assess the ability of AO candidates to teach across the assessed age range and demonstrate that they have met the Teachers’ Standards. The assessment period does not exceed 12 weeks.
Assessment can take place in an independent, mainstream or special school.
AO candidates recommended for the award of QTS will have been assessed as meeting the Teachers’ Standards for QTS across one of the following age ranges:
| Ages 3 – 11 (primary) | Ages 7 – 14 (middle) | Ages 11 - 18 (secondary) |
|---|---|---|
| Typically, 3 – 7, 3 – 9, 5 – 11 or 7 – 11 | KS2 and specialist subject for 11 - 14 | Typically, 11 – 16 or 11 - 18 |
