Application Guidance

How do I apply?

Applications for places are made through the newly launched DfE Apply for teacher training system which has replaced the UCAS applications system.  

On the  DfE Apply for teacher training website, simply search for Riding Forward Education Alliance to find all of our programmes and to apply.  Please use course code 25Q2 for Primary (5-11) training applications, and 2L8C for Early Years (3-7) training applications.

Further details about entry requirements and the application process can be found on the Get Into Teaching website.

If you want to train to teach, you will need to demonstrate:

  • a standard equivalent to a GCSE grade C in mathematics, English and a science subject to teach at primary level (or a grade 4 for GCSEs taken from 2017 onwards)

Equivalency testing is available if you do not hold these qualifications, but please contact us before applying if this applies to you.

Fundamental English & Mathematics

All teachers are expected to be competent in Fundamental English and mathematics. By the end of ITT all trainees must be able to demonstrate competence in the following areas:

Speaking, listening and communicating are fundamental to a teacher’s role. Teachers should use standard English grammar, clear pronunciation and vocabulary relevant to the situation to convey instructions, questions, information, concepts and ideas with clarity. Teachers should read fluently and with good understanding.

Writing by teachers will be seen by colleagues, pupils and parents and, as such, it is important that a teacher’s writing reflects the high standards of accuracy their professional role demands. They should write clearly, accurately, legibly and coherently using correct spelling and punctuation.

Teachers should use data and graphs to interpret information, identify patterns and trends and draw appropriate conclusions. They need to interpret pupil data and understand statistics and graphs in the news, academic reports and relevant papers.

Teachers should be able to complete mathematical calculations fluently with whole numbers, fractions, decimals and percentages. They should be able to solve mathematical problems using a variety of methods and approaches including: estimating and rounding, sense checking answers, breaking down problems into simpler steps and explaining and justifying answers using appropriate language.

Fees and Funding

The fees and funding arrangements for School Direct trainees can be found at: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-and-salary/overview

You can only complete one personal statement for all the choices you make in within DfE Apply. You can’t change it or create different ones for university or school-based choices.

The providers you’re applying to understand this, so they won’t be expecting you to say specific things about them or their programmes. However, if you’re applying for programmes in a particular subject or age group, it would be helpful to explain why you have chosen them, and the skills and attributes you have that make them appropriate for you.

Fee for UK and EU students

£9,250

Your Application

You do need to think carefully about the things that all your chosen providers will want to know about you. You’ll probably want to include things like:

  • your reason(s) for wanting to teach
  • evidence that you understand the rewards and challenges of teaching
  • details of your previous education and how you have benefitted from it
  • any other work with young people, such as helping with a youth club, working at a summer camp or running a sports team
  • the range of relevant abilities and skills you can bring to teaching, for example, practical experience, managing people, working with or leading a team, and communication skills
  • any reasons why there may be restrictions on your geographical mobility
  • why you want to study in the UK, if you don’t currently live here
  • whether you’ve taken part in the School Experience Programme organised by the National College of School Leadership (formerly the Teaching Agency)

These are the things all training providers want to know so there’s no need to worry that you can’t write different personal statements.

In addition to the details you give in the school and work experience section, you can also expand on your experience of teaching, such as visits to schools, classroom observations or working as a teaching assistant.

How to write it

You can use up to 4,000 characters or 47 lines of text (including spaces) – whichever comes first. Some word processing packages calculate character and line counts differently from the DfE Apply system, so you might need to redraft your statement if there’s a discrepancy between the counts.

  • Write in English (or Welsh if you’re applying to Welsh providers) and avoid italics, bold or underlining.
  • Get the grammar and punctuation right and redraft your statement until you’re happy with it.
  • It’s a good idea to write your personal statement in a word processor first, then copy and paste it into your application.

Be aware that your 2 chosen referees need to have completed and uploaded their references before your application will go live on DfE Apply.  Please allow enough time!

Don’t copy!

Don’t copy anyone else’s personal statement or from statements posted on the internet. Make sure your personal statement is all your own work.

Apply here.