Initial Teacher Training

There are opportunities across Wales to train as a teacher if you already have a degree.  

The name of the programme is: Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), which leads to achieving ‘Qualified Teacher Status’ (QTS). The Status must be achieved to teach in schools in Wales.   

Usually, you follow the course on a full-time basis. You will study at university for part of that time, and the other part in schools.  

However, if you wish to follow the course on a part-time basis, or while you work, it is possible to do that over the course of two years.  

These courses are run by a partnership of universities, schools and regional consortia. The Open University offers the part-time courses and those you can undertake while you work.   

The Welsh-language PGCE course is available across Wales. And every partnership that offers PGCE provides support for you to develop Welsh-language skills as part of your course.  

Your bilingual skills will be extremely beneficial when you look for a job. Every area, subject and sector across Wales needs more teachers with Welsh-language skills.  

Remember also that it’s possible that more grants will be available to you if you choose a course that prepares you to teach through the medium of Welsh, or to teach Welsh as a subject.  

The Welsh Government currently offers three different grants, which are: 

• Iaith Athrawon Yfory: for students who undertake the secondary school postgraduate PGCE programme, which then means that they can teach through the medium of Welsh or Welsh as a subject  
• Initial Teacher Training Incentive Scheme for priority subjects: for students who follow the secondary school postgraduate Initial Teacher Training programme in a priority subject; remember, these subjects can change from year to year. 
• Ethnic Minority Initial Teacher Training Incentive: for students who follow a secondary or primary Initial Teacher Training programme in Wales, full time or part time and identify as an ethnic minority student.

Dysgu'r Dyfodol - mentoring scheme for students who want to know more about a career as a teacher

Dysgu’r Dyfodol is a scheme that provides mentoring sessions and work experience to university students who may be interested in a career as a schoolteacher (every subject except BA Education).