Train to Teach

Heronsgate Primary School (rated Outstanding by Ofsted in December 2022), working with Greenwich Learning Partnership and Xavier Teach South East, are offering a Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship route (PGTA) for aspiring Primary teachers.

This route into teaching encourages current school-based employees to make the next step into teaching with the support of their school and experienced staff from our partnership.

Why Train With Us?

  • We offer a 1-year ITT programme in primary teaching, which if successful, will lead to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

  • The programme will consist of:

    • Professional studies training covering topics such as lesson planning, behaviour management, assessment, marking and monitoring.

    • Subject specialist training to enhance your knowledge and teaching of the national curriculum.

    • Two placements within our partnership schools to enable you to embed your training and to further develop your teaching skills.

  • Predominantly you will be placed in your ’home’ school throughout your training year as a named class teacher in either KS1 or KS2.
    A shorter, 6-week placement will be completed in an ‘away’ school, again, all within our partnership.

  • Whilst on placement you will be assigned a highly skilled mentor who will support, develop and challenge your teaching to ensure your experience is of the highest quality. We are committed to laying the foundation for a long and successful career in teaching. In order to support this, not only will you receive high quality curriculum and pedagogy training, but you will also receive 1 – 1 support from a pastoral coach to ensure a smooth and successful training year.

  • As an teaching apprentice, you will be paid by your employing school as an unqualified teacher during their year of training (£25,831 in 2023).

  • In 2023, Xavier Teach SouthEast were recognised by Ofsted as ‘outstanding’ in every category for the second time since their inception, ten years ago. Since 2013, Xavier Teach SouthEast has trained over 600 trainees; the majority of trainees remain in the partnership and many are already in leadership positions.

The Application Process

To apply for this programme, you will need to check that you have the following:

  • an honours degree (2:2 or above) or an equivalent qualification certified by ENIC

  • English, Maths (and Science GCSE for Primary) or equivalent: Grade 4 and above

  • you are currently working in a school who is in receipt of the apprenticeship levy.

  • your school is willing to financially support your year-long training

If you are not working in a school currently, we may be able to offer you an interview with one of our partnership schools.


We will be holding an information session for potential candidates in Autumn 2024.

Applications for September 2025 start are now open.

All applications to the programme must be made via DfE Apply.
We will also ask your school to complete a short application form to verify a few details.
This application will then be reviewed and an official offer/rejection will be made before the end of the summer term.

Our provider code is 1G2 and the course code for Primary is M799.

Any subsequent offers will be subject to the candidate undergoing all statutory safeguarding checks, including a Disclosure and Barring Service check an online check and an occupational health screening.