Assessment Only route leading to Qualified Teacher Status
Subject and course type
- Education and Teaching
- Postgraduate
Ready to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)? If you have at least two years of teaching experience and a degree, this Assessment Only Route will help progress your classroom teaching career.
You are reading:
Help the next generation of pupils progress
Develop your understanding of teaching and learning in line with your own appraisal or developmental targets.
Taking this Assessment Only Route to QTS at Kingston University gives you the opportunity to demonstrate you meet the standards for QTS without any further training.
To apply for the course, you will need to have worked across two consecutive age phases and show your experience meets the Teachers' Standards by your final assessment point. All applicants must also have a school or setting mentor to support you throughout the route.
During the Assessment Only Route to QTS course, you'll complete a range of portfolio tasks based on your classroom practice. You’ll engage with current research and evidence-based learning, improve your knowledge, skills and understanding and have a positive impact on your pupils' progress.
You’ll complete the route with a recommendation for QTS, and will need to complete an induction Early Career Teacher (ECT) programme at your employing school.
Please note, if you have a teaching qualification from the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you might not need to take the AO route. If the UK recognises your teaching qualification, you will need to apply to the Department for Education for your QTS.
Why choose this course
Kingston University is an accredited and approved provider of the Assessment Only (AO) route into teaching. We work with a range of partnership schools across the South East region, and actively promote diversity and equality in the teaching profession.
You can choose to gain your recommendation in Early Years Primary (3–7 years), General Primary (5–7 years) or any secondary subject.
While you study, you’ll have access to a range of facilities at our Kingston Hill campus. From our fully-equipped Nightingale Centre library to our modern wireless network, you’ll have everything you need to accelerate your learning.
Course content
The Assessment Only route is not a training programme and is only available for unqualified teachers with appropriate educational qualifications and experience. The route allows you to demonstrate that you already meet all of the standards for QTS without the need for any further training. You will need to present a detailed portfolio of evidence, complete appropriate pre-selection checks and undertake an online interview in order to be selected for this route.
Subjects offered:
- Primary - early years (ages 3-7)
- Primary - general (ages 5-11)
- Any secondary subject
Career opportunities
After the course
You’ll complete the route with a recommendation for QTS, and will need to complete an induction Early Career Teacher (ECT) programme at your employing school. You could go on to teach a range of age groups and subjects at schools across the UK.
Assessment Only
This course recognises highly competent teaching staff who do not have Qualified Teacher Status. You’ll receive support from experienced educators to make sure your learning gives you what you need to excel in the classroom and beyond.
Fees and funding
- Home 2025/26 – £3,000
The fees need to be met by the candidate or their supporting school or a combination of both.
The cost covers the following:
- application and initial screening
- initial assessment day (interview at school with head teacher and university tutor)
- initial tutor observation and portfolio examination
- additional tutor visits (if required)
- final tutor observation
- and tutor travel expenses.
Please note, this programme is not eligible for Student Finance.
- Home 2024/25 – £2,900
The fees need to be met by the candidate or their supporting school or a combination of both.
The cost covers the following:
- application and initial screening
- initial assessment day (interview at school with head teacher and university tutor)
- initial tutor observation and portfolio examination
- additional tutor visits (if required)
- final tutor observation
- and tutor travel expenses.
Please note, this programme is not eligible for Student Finance.
Apply for this course
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply
Get in touch with the Assessment Only team at aoenquiries@kingston.ac.uk. You should ask for an application pack, which you can complete with your school.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
