What is AOR?

The Assessment Only Route is a 12-week assessment period for experienced teachers who do not have QTS. They must have taught for two years and in two schools and already meet the Teachers’ Standards and Assessment Only Criteria.

You can start the programme at any point in the academic year, once your application has been successfully assessed and approved by the Educate Panel and payment for the programme is made.

Why choose Educate?

Flexible start dates throughout the year
Competitive fees
Dedicated Assessment Only manager with over 10 years’ experience in AO and over 30 years in education who will provide bespoke and individual advice, support and guidance for candidates.
Clear, transparent process with no upfront fees/deposit for checking applications – payment only due upon acceptance of the offer
A team of assessors who are all qualified teachers with significant experience of teacher training, including being trained by Educate.

Assessment Only Route to QTS

Applications will be carefully assessed by the Programme Manager and if successful will be allocated an experienced QTS Assessor who will initially visit to interview the candidate (including a formal observation on their teaching) to ensure they meet the Teachers’ Standards and Assessment Only Criteria before they are registered with the Department for Education (DfE).

During the up to 12-week programme there will be another assessment visit (AV2), also involving a paired lesson observation, and then a Final Assessment Visit (FAV), which will involve two lesson observations. Candidates will also have their teaching formally observed by their supporting teacher during this time. At each visit the candidate’s portfolio of evidence will be discussed, formative guidance given, and a judgement made on the quality of evidence demonstrated.

By the FAV the portfolio of evidence will need to show candidates have evidence to meet the Teachers’ Standards and Assessment Only Criteria and the assessor and school agree this. Successful candidates are recommended to be awarded QTS.

Click here for the programme flowchart

Benefits:

A maximum of a three-month assessment period.
Flexible start dates.
No training required.
Move up the teachers’ pay scale.
Progress your teaching career.

To have your eligibility checked and if eligible receive an application invite letter please click here

Candidates that don’t immediately qualify for the Assessment Only Route (AOR) may be offered a Pathway to QTS (PQTS) development programme to support them to be eligible for the Assessment Only Route (AOR). Click here to read more about PQTS and how it can support your development to be ready for AOR.

Applying for Assessment Only.

To have your eligibility checked and if eligible receive an application invite letter please click here

Entry Requirements:

Extensive, recent, relevant, and successful teaching experience in at least two schools (in England or international schools with an English style Curriculum and within the age phase of either 3-11 (primary), 7-14 (middle) or 11-19 (secondary).
A minimum of two years’ teaching experience with full responsibility for the planning, teaching, and assessment of lessons.
Teaching experience will be substantiated by school testimonies signed by the head teachers on the Educate Testimonial Template.
Candidates must put themselves forward for assessment in a recognised secondary subject or primary (where all primary NC subjects will have been taught).
Candidates must have taught across the full age and ability range for the age range they want assessment in.
An undergraduate degree.
GCSE Maths and English language (or equivalent) at Level 4 (Grade C) or above.
GCSE Science (or equivalent) at Level 4 (Grade C) or above for a Primary Candidate.
If your qualifications are not of the required level, you can take our GCSE equivalence tests. Please email aor@educate-group.co.uk for information.
An enhanced DBS check for the child workforce, with a check of the children’s barred list.
Candidates must have a supporting school for the assessment period who signs up to our partnership agreement.
Cost: £2950 + VAT
Educate take safeguarding very seriously and we recognise the importance of a rigorous recruitment process to secure sufficient high-quality applicants onto our Assessment Only Route. We are committed to ensuring that the recruitment and selection of candidates is a fair and effective process. Each procedure will meet the requirements of the Secretary of State’s AO route to QTS criteria and shall align with Safer Recruiting and Safeguarding best practice. Please see our Assessment Only Recruitment and Selection policy here and please refer to the website section on Supporting You for the relevant polices and statements on GDPR, EDI and the ICO.