How to apply

Before you begin your Initial Teacher Training application, make sure that you’re prepared with this pre-application checklist:

• Know your ITT Provider and their provider code (E.g. Teach West London Teaching School Hub, 1KV)
• Know if applying for fee-funded, know whether you are applying for QTS or QTS with PGCE.
• Know which course you are applying for (E.g. Primary, Secondary - Maths, Secondary - MFL French)
• Have a preferred placement school that offers your selected course/subject. 
• Know whether you’re applying for a salaried / postgraduate teaching apprenticeship or unsalaried route. Make sure you are clear on the differences. 
• Gather your relevant qualifications (bachelor's degree, GCSEs, UK ENIC etc)
• Write your personal statement
• Organise your two references. Please note that references will not be requested until an offer is accepted.

Watch our 'How to make a successful Teach West London application' for more guidance.

All applications to train to teach must be made through the Department for Education (DfE) using their Find Postgraduate Teacher Training Service.

Our provider code: 1KV
Our name: Teach West London

Using the table below, click on the name of the course you wish to apply for. This will take you to the relevant course on the DfE application portal.

Subjects/Phase	Fee-Funded (Unsalaried) Courses		Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeships (salaried) Courses
Primary Courses	QTS & PGCE	QTS Only	QTS only  (N.B. PGCE is an optional add on)
Primary 5-11	R068	L407	V087
Primary SEND 5-11	B903	B667	X472
Secondary Courses	QTS & PGCE	QTS Only
Art	D681	G337	J739
Computing	W912	J064	W054
English	S142	Q257	A271
Geography	Z486	J602	J618
History	S299	P623	K473
Maths	Q883	C200	R600
MFL - French	J326	L110	H803
MFL - German	S753	E722	B940
MFL - Spanish	V039	W433	V058
Music	V746	U554	W853
PE	M502	F516	Q682
PE + Ebac	Q359	T410	G458
Religious Education	J415	L976	N708
Science - Biology	P050	S176	N570
Science - Chemistry	Z663	Y465	V398
Science - Physics	X317	L177	C903
Social Science - Psychology	U644	A824	S396
Social Science - Sociology	P158	M430	N593

 

Please note: Allocations to places on the courses are made on a ‘first come, first served’ basis so availability is subject to change as placements become filled. If a course is no longer available at your chosen school, we will endeavour to place you in another school of your choice, contact us for further information if the course is no longer available. If DfE Find displays a message 'not currently accepting applications', we have no available schools currently offering placements for that course. Please check back regularly as this may change over the course of the academic year. 

Alternatively, you can navigate to the DfE Apply website. You will need to create an account and select Teach West London Teaching School Hub as your ITT provider.

You’ll need the Teach West London course provider code, and you can then choose your phase (Primary or Secondary) and subject.

Our provider code: 1KV

Our name: Teach West London

For more information on the courses we offer before you apply, see About our courses.

On your chosen course page, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the ‘Apply for this course’ button.

The DfE website will prompt you to either create an account or log into your existing account.

Next, the application will ask you to submit the following information:

• Personal details
• Choice of ITT provider (Teach West London Teaching School Hub, 1KV)
• For non-British nationals, confirmation you do not require a sponsored visa
• Qualification and content of undergraduate degree
• School, college and university education
• Employment history (where applicable)
• Special needs or support requirements
• Personal statement 
• Contact details of referees
• For international applicants: statement of comparability for equivalence for your qualifications

Before, during and after writing your personal statement, please refer to our trainee person specification to give yourself the best opportunity of reaching a selection day. 

Once you complete all the questions, your application is complete so Teach West London advises all applicants to make sure that they proof-read their application carefully for spelling, punctuation and grammar and ensure that they do not leave any sections of the form blank.

Step One - Application Review

Once you have submitted your Initial Teacher Training (ITT) application to Teach West London via DfE Apply our team will acknowledge receipt of your application. Teach West London is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all trainees, apprentices, staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Teach West London will complete safer recruitment checks for all its applicants, prior to shortlisting any for selection. 

 Thereafter, our team will review your application and if the eligibility criteria is met, we will contact you requesting further information: 

• Identity documents (eg. Passport) 

• Any documents relating to your right to work in the UK (if applicable) 

• Proof of your qualifications (GCSEs and undergraduate degree) 

• Your masters (if applicable) 

• UK ENIC statement of comparability and certificates that were submitted for this (if applicable) 

• Up to 4 preferred placement schools of your choice (from the placement schools that are offering the course) 

• Details of work history gaps (if applicable) 

• A request for further information / response to questions if you have applied for a salaried programme / postgraduate teaching apprenticeship.  

If the eligibility criteria is not met, you will receive notification via DfE. 

Step 2 – School Shortlisting 

If your application meets our initial eligibility criteria, we will forward your application to your preferred school/s for shortlisting. 

Step 3 - Scheduling the Selection Day 

If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to attend a selection day with a member of Teach West London and a representative from your placement school.  

Selection process and interview 

This is a rigorous process, which is designed to match the applicant to the placement school. Before the selection day, you will be required to take online tests to determine your level of fundamental skills in English and Maths, which must be passed to continue to the selection day. 

During the selection day, applicants will be required to teach a lesson, complete a written task, deliver a short presentation (information for these activities will be sent in advance) and answer questions in a panel interview. 

We aim to have completed the shortlisting process and have communicated the outcome to you within 25 days, hopefully sooner!

Teach West London is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all trainees, apprentices, staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to undergo the child protection screening, including an enhanced disclosure from the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and references from previous employers.  For more information about the DBS please see gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check.

Safeguarding is vital for all our selection processes and decision making.

If an applicant is shortlisted they will be invited to a selection day, which will take place in the school that they are likely to be placed in.

This is a rigorous process, which is designed to match the applicant to the placement school. During the day, applicants will be required to teach a lesson, complete a written task, deliver a short presentation (information for these activities will be sent in advance), answer questions in a panel interview and complete tasks to determine their level of fundamental skills in English and Maths. 

If they are successful at interview, a conditional offer of a place will be made. The conditions will include providing proof that they have met the eligibility conditions for Initial Teacher Training, including a criminal record check (DBS) and an occupational health assessment. Further conditions may be discussed with the applicant at interview. Some secondary applicants may also be asked to complete a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course as a condition of entry.

If successful applicants accept the offer, they will be required to attend Teach West London’s induction days in July.