School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) – Essential Guide

SCITTs (standing for School-Centred Initial Teacher Training) are school-based postgraduate teacher training programmes available in England. The SCITT differs from a university-led PGCE by being placed in the school from the first day and centring the learning there, but both lead to QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). SCITTs can lead to earning a PGCE at the end, but not all do. SCITTs cost around £9,000 and last for a year. You can get funding for SCITTs through postgraduate teacher training bursaries and scholarships, with amounts varying by subject demand (£29,000 for in-demand subjects).

While the name sounds like an insect of some kind (which skitters, presumably), SCITTs are a real form of postgraduate teacher training in England. While a university-led PGCE is the more common route, plenty of fine teachers started their careers through a SCITT programme. You get access to the same funding either way, and neither is better than the other, so it’s purely a matter of preference.

As for whether it’ll be your preference, that’s what this guide is for! I’ll go over some more essential information, entry requirements, what’s it’s actually like to study on a SCITT, and finally, the all-important funding. You won’t need to skitter down the page but you may receive bonus Morgan Points™ if you do (warning: not exchangeable for goods and services unless you bump into me at a cafe).

Oh, and if you’re ready to look at programmes, we do have SCITT opportunities hosted on this very website. I assume you’re also the kind of person who likes to click ‘Buy Now’ when shopping online (I respect it).

What is SCITT?

SCITT programmes are teacher training courses run by local groups of schools, giving graduates the opportunity to receive practical teacher training and to learn ‘on the job’. Most of these programmes – but not all – also allow trainees to gain a PGCE (or Masters-level credits towards an Education qualification).

As it’s a school-led course, you’ll spend most of your time on SCITT training at two or more schools, learning from experienced teaching professionals. You’ll have an extensive support network of mentors, teachers and peers, designed to help you find your feet and get the most out of each school you work at.

‘SCITT’ can also refer to the networks of schools that collaborate on school-led teacher training courses – for example, the Sheffield SCITT. I'd complain about this being confusing, but at least this means there’s not another teacher training acronym that sounds like you’re yelping after falling over (looking at you, EYITT).

What’s the difference between SCITT training and university-led teacher training?

If you decide to take the university-led route into teaching, you’ll be based at a university rather than a group of schools. Rather than being at a school from day one, you’ll learn the theory of teaching at university before having the chance to apply your knowledge in a minimum of two school placements over the course of at least 24 weeks.

By contrast, school-led teacher training places you in a school straight away. Of course, you won’t be dropped in at the deep end, so don’t worry about having to teach a class on your first day! Instead, you’ll benefit from a more hands-on approach to teaching, immersed in the everyday life of a school environment from the start.

Both routes into teaching usually give you the chance to earn a postgraduate qualification like a PGCE. SCITT training also offers the same opportunities for generous Government funding as university-led teacher training courses.

What’s the difference between SCITT courses and School Direct/ITT salaried?

While SCITT courses are always delivered by a network of schools – a local SCITT – School Direct/ITT salaried programmes are offered by groups of schools either in collaboration with a SCITT or a university.

The actual content and structure of both options is broadly similar, each providing school-based training. If you decide to take the ITT salaried route, you’ll need to decide whether you want your programme to be delivered in partnership with a SCITT or a university.

Of course, the biggest difference is that an ITT salaried programme is, surprise surprise, salaried. You'll need three years of work experience (in any area) to apply, and you won't have to pay tuition fees. On the other hand, you also won't have access to Government bursaries, which are tax free. With that in mind, if the bursary is generous for your subject, you may be better off not going for the paid route (unless you’re really keen on paying your taxes for some reason).

What are some of my options for studying School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT)?

What are the entry requirements for a SCITT course?

Entry requirements for SCITT training are broadly similar to those for PGCEs. You’ll usually need a 2:2 Bachelors degree in the subject you want to teach (if you studied a joint honours degree, at least 50% must be in your teaching subject).

If you studied a subject at undergraduate level that isn’t closely related to your desired teaching specialism, you may be able to complete a subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) course to boost your familiarity of the discipline.

You’ll need to hold the following qualifications (or their international equivalent):

• GCSE grade 4 / grade C in Maths
• GCSE grade 4 / grade C in English

If you want to teach primary age children, you’ll also need a GCSE grade 4 / grade C in Science.

SCITT providers usually ask applicants to complete professional skills tests in literacy and numeracy, either before your interview or as part of the conditions of your offer. You will have to pass a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as well, which is an official check of your criminal record.

While not required, it’s a good idea to gain some voluntary experience in a local school too, observing and helping teachers. As well as highlighting your motivation, it’ll also help to give you an idea of what it’s actually like to work in a school. Hopefully the experience makes you think ‘this seems neat’ rather than ‘oh no the kids are not alright’. But hey, if it’s the latter, better to know early, yeah?

What is the application process?

Applications for SCITT programmes are handled through the UK Government Teacher Training portal.

After finding your SCITT course and registering with the portal, you’ll need to write a personal statement and provide the contact details of two referees. You should also give information about your academic background and any work experience – especially anything that demonstrates your interest in working with children.

If your application is successful, you’ll be invited to attend an interview at one of the schools. You may also have to complete a set of tasks with other candidates and an aptitude test, but the precise selection process differs from SCITT to SCITT (probably not a dance-off, though).

What's it like to study on a SCITT programme?

No two SCITT programmes are the same – each one is designed and delivered by the group of schools you’ll be working in, so you’ll have access to unique training and opportunities for professional development while on the job. The course will usually reflect the priorities and specialisms of the SCITT itself.

You can expect SCITT programmes to share the following elements:

• Initial training to give you a solid grounding in the fundamentals of teaching
• A full-time placement at one of the partnership schools (your timetable won’t be as intense as a qualified teacher)
• A second full-time placement at a contrasting school

During your time on the SCITT programme, you’ll usually take part in several ‘immersion days’ at schools with a strong background in areas like diversity and behaviour management.

You’ll also have access to an established support network made up of dedicated mentors and tutors, as well as your fellow trainee teachers.

Even though the exact structure and format of the programme may differ from SCITT to SCITT, you’ll still receive that all-important Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) at the end of the course.

Most SCITT programmes give trainees the opportunity to gain a PGCE (and Masters credits) while studying. Although you don’t necessarily need a PGCE to teach in England and Wales – just QTS – you probably will need a PGCE if you want to teach abroad (even in Scotland!).

What funding is available for SCITT training?

The UK Government offers generous bursaries and scholarships for trainee teachers, all of which are available for SCITT programmes. Our guide to PGCE funding covers this support in detail.

Bursaries of £29,000 are on offer to graduates in these subjects who have at least a 2:2 (or a Masters / PhD):

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Maths
• Computing

You could instead be eligible for a bursary of £26,000 for the following subjects:

• Geography
• Languages (Any)
• Biology
• Design and Technology

Finally, scholarships of between £29,000 and £31,000 are available for talented trainee teachers in the following subjects:

• Computing
• Chemistry
• French, German and Spanish
• Maths
• Physics

Eligibility for these sources of support depends on your nationality and residence. If you’re a UK national and enrolled on a teacher training course in England that charges tuition fees and leads to QTS – like a SCITT programme – you’ll usually be eligible. EU and EEA nationals could also be eligible in certain circumstances.

Are SCITT courses paid?

No, SCITT programmes are non-salaried. However, many trainee teachers on these courses end up being employed by their placement schools after successfully completing the training.

If you’re keen to earn a salary while training to become a teacher, you could apply for the ITT salaried / School Direct option.

How much does SCITT training cost?

Tuition fees vary between SCITT providers, but will be in the region of £9,000. Don’t be put off, though – in addition to the bursaries and scholarships mentioned above, you could also be eligible for a tuition fee and maintenance loan through Student Finance England’s undergraduate system. I'm not sure why it's through the undergrad system considering it's a postgraduate programme, but hey. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Tips from the author

#1 At the interview, don't just focus on your subject passion

It is important to actually like your subject and want to talk about it, but that’s not all there is to being a school teacher—you should make sure to also show you’re genuinely interested and passionate about teaching and working with children. Sounds obvious, but it can be easy to get a bit lost in the subject stuff, especially if you’re feeling the interview nerves. Of course, saying that teaching has been your dream since you were a tyke may also be a bit much (even if it’s true), so try to strike a balance.

#2 No need to overprepare for the SCITT once you’re accepted

By which I mean, you don’t need to go out and read every book on teacher training, prepare lesson plans and practice managing behaviour on your nieces and nephews before you start (even if they’re causing a ruckus). If it helps you to feel prepared, maybe read up on some exam papers for your subject, but even that's above what most folks do. It’s a marathon, not a race, and you should learn all you need on the SCITT itself.

#3 Don’t be afraid to cut corners when you can

On top of your regular work at the school doing actual teaching, you’ll have other elements to take care of (like reflective essays). While it’s important to get these done to an acceptable standard, it’s not going to be worth the time making sure they’re A* material. You’ll be busy enough as it is (organisation is crucial!), and once you have QTS, schools aren’t going to ask how well-crafted your essays were. ‘Good enough is good enough’, as it were.

Frequently asked questions

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