Colchester Teacher Training Consortium
Established in 2003, Colchester Teacher Training Consortium (CTTC) works in partnership with over 60 schools and colleges across Essex and Suffolk to train high-quality primary and secondary school teachers.
The school centred teacher training programme allows trainees to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) alongside a Master’s level Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) through a combination of taught sessions, academic research and school based teaching. CTTC trainees have excellent employment rates after qualifying, with 90% of all trainees securing ECT teaching posts between 2018 and 2023.
The training hubs are located in Colchester and Ipswich to serve the local schools and community.
Colchester Teacher Training Consortium is rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in March 2024.
Read the full report HERE
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Routes into teaching
Salaried
The salaried route into teaching requires employment by a school. As a salaried trainee your tuition fees will be paid for and you will be expected to plan, teach and assess students from the beginning of your employment and subsequent training course.
Non-Salaried
As a non-salaried trainee, you will be expected to attend a school placement and you will be given days off to participate in the core programme at your ITT provider.
The course costs up to £9,250 per year.
Undergraduate
If you have not yet obtained a degree then you can gain QTS as part of an undergraduate degree course.
The cost is typically £9,250 and the length of training can be anywhere from 1-4 years based on your provider and circumstances.
Assessment Only
The salaried route into teaching requires employment by a school.
As a salaried trainee your tuition fees will be paid for and you will be expected to plan, teach and assess students from the beginning of your employment and subsequent training course.
Apprenticeship
The training costs are £9,000. If a school meets the full eligibility criteria, set by the DfE, the apprenticeship can be delivered at no cost to the school as the fees can be paid from the apprenticeship levy.
If a school doesn’t pay the levy, the government will pay 95% of the fees and the school will contribute 5% (£450). The Trainee is employed by a school for the duration of the course and paid on the Unqualified Teacher scale.
Eligibility
In order to begin your teacher training you must have the correct qualifications including:
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A degree
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A GCSE English qualification grade 4 (C) or above
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A GCSE Maths qualification grade 4 (C) or above
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A GCSE Science qualification grade 4 (C) or above for a Primary course
If you completed your qualifications abroad, you can contact UK ENIC for a statement of comparability.
If you do not have the required GCSE qualifications, you can take an equivalency test. Check with your ITT provider to see which companies they recommend.
How to apply
Applications can be made through the new service called ‘Apply’ and completed online.
You can register with the DfE who will provide an Advisor to offer one-to-one support with:
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getting school experience
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funding your course
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choosing the right training
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writing your personal statement
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interview tips
Applications can be submitted from October for courses starting the following academic year.
Finance
If you choose to apply to a non-salaried course, you may be eligible for financial support including bursaries, scholarships and student finance loans during your training period.
You should check with your chosen provider to find out the course fees for the academic year.
Bursaries are available for certain subjects. For the training year 2024-25, trainees with a 1st, 2:1, 2:2, PhD or Master’s are eligible for the following bursaries.
Find out more information about funding and support to help you become a teacher.
