Train to teach
Start your teaching career with Lift Schools
Gain your QTS and PGCE through school-based teacher training from day one
QTS and PGCE
School-based training
Primary, secondary and special schools
Applications for September 2027 open soon!
Our school-based teacher-training programme offers:
Graduate with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) alongside an internationally recognised Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
Build a strong foundation during a supportive, two-week intensive training programme in August before going on to lead your class
Progress confidently with dedicated guidance from a personal tutor and an in-school coach
Enhance your practical classroom skills with ongoing, weekly training sessions throughout the year
Connect with a wide network of trainees and alumni across Lift Schools for collaboration and support
Benefit from a diverse, equal-opportunities training provider designed to help every individual reach their full potential
How our teacher training programme works
Step 1 - meet your school and new colleagues
Step 2 - join Ark Summer School
Step 3 - begin working in your main school
Step 4 - complete a second school placement
Step 5 - submit your PGCE assignments
Step 6 - gain QTS (Qualified Teacher Status)
Step 7 - graduate and celebrate
Across all settings, you will:
- Learn from experienced teachers and mentors
- Observe a range of teaching styles to develop your classroom practice
- Gradually take on more teaching responsibility as your confidence grows
Alongside your teaching, each week includes:
- Team-teaching and instructional coaching
- Observations of experienced teachers
- Lesson planning and assessment
- Weekly training with Ark Teacher Training and fellow trainees
- Time for reflection and professional development
We know that the early years of a child's education are among the most important. As a primary teacher, you'll inspire a love of learning, nurture confidence, and help children build the foundations they need to succeed in school and beyond.
Secondary school teacher training offers the opportunity to inspire young people aged 11–16 at a pivotal stage in their education. As a secondary school teacher, you'll help students develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed, while sharing your passion for your subject and encouraging a lifelong love of learning.
We offer teacher training across a range of secondary subjects, including:
- Mathematics
- English
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Geography
- Computing
- Modern Foreign Languages
Don't see your preferred subject listed? Contact us to find out if we offer it at our schools.
As one of the first providers to offer special school teacher training, Lift Schools provides a unique and fully supported route into teaching for those passionate about helping pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Because every student's learning journey is different, our SEND teacher training programme is tailored to your special school environment, helping you develop the skills, creativity and confidence to adapt your teaching to a range of needs and abilities.
Secondary subjects
We offer apprenticeships across a range of secondary subjects, including:
Mathematics
English
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Geography
Computing
Modern foreign languages
Learn more about each subject route
Don’t see your preferred subject listed? Contact us to find out if we offer it at one of our schools.
Applications for September 2027 open soon!
Earn while you train with no tuition fees.
- Salary from day one
- Gain QTS, a PGCE, and a teaching apprenticeship qualification
- Fully funded by Lift Schools
Train to teach while earning a salary.
- Receive a salary throughout your training
- Tuition fees paid by Lift Schools
The most widely available training route.
- Tuition fees: £9,750
- Eligible for student finance and maintenance loans
- Government bursaries and scholarships available for eligible subjects
Teacher training bursaries and scholarships
Primary school trainees receive an additional £3,000 Lift Schools bursary to support their training year.
Depending on your subject, you may be eligible for a tax-free government bursary or scholarship. Visit the Department for Education website to check the latest funding available.
Student finance and maintenance loans
If your subject is not eligible for a bursary, you may still qualify for:
- A tuition fee loan to cover training costs
- A maintenance loan to help with living expenses
Not sure which funding route is right for you? We'll help you find the best fit when you apply.
Ongoing support and community
- Your tutor and school-based staff will support you throughout the year, with wellbeing embedded into the programme from Summer School onwards, including workload-management strategies and organisational guidance
- Join a trainee teacher community, with Wellbeing Representatives organising social events to help you connect with peers and share experiences
- Access a half-termly wellbeing newsletter featuring practical advice, programme updates, and trainee success stories
Managing the classroom with confidence
- Learn effective strategies to manage your classroom confidently, with the support of a whole-school approach to behaviour
- Develop positive relationships with pupils and purposeful classrooms through communication techniques that build trust, confidence, and engagement
- Build strong classroom authority by practising proven teaching techniques, including body language and behaviour strategies
Diversity and inclusion
At Lift Schools, diversity and inclusion are central to our teacher training programme and school communities. Find out more about our approach to diversity and inclusion.
Your application and eligibility
Want to make an impact from day one? Our school-based Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programme puts you in the classroom from the very start. Discover our recruitment process, check your eligibility, and take the first step toward your career to train to teach with Lift Schools.
Find out more about your eligibility here.
