Initial Teacher Training

Start Your Teaching Journey in 2026!

Applications for our 2026-2027 Initial Teacher Training programme are now open! Click here to apply for your place now.

Not quite ready to apply yet? Fill out this brief form and we’ll send you an information pack with more details about our programme.

Become an Initial Teacher Training Partner School

Want to train your existing staff, or place trainee teachers in your school for a year? Find out how we can support you with all your training needs by becoming an ATTI Partner School!

What Do I Need to Start Training?

ITT is a postgraduate course, which means you’ll need to have an undergraduate degree before you start your programme- if you’re currently studying, you can apply in your final year. If you want to train as a secondary teacher, your degree usually needs to be in a related subject to the one you’re training to teach.

You’ll also need to have the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re not able to sponsor visas for overseas applicants.

How Can I Fund my Training?

The two main routes to fund your ITT programme are Student Finance and bursaries. Finance works the same way as it does at undergraduate level, meaning that you’ll make repayments based on what you earn. You may also be eligible for a maintenance loan to help with your living expenses.

Bursaries, only available to secondary teaching trainees, are tax-free incentive payments offered by the Government. Depending on which subject you’re training in, you could receive between £5000 and £29,000. For more information, see our ITT finance information page.

What’s the Process to Apply for ITT?

After you complete our application form, we’ll be in touch with the details of what happens next. Your application will be reviewed by Ambition Institute, and if you’re eligible, you’ll be invited to book an in-person individual interview at one of our hubs, where you can ask any questions about us and the programme. We’ll ask you to complete a couple of simple pre-interview tasks beforehand.

After the interview, we may offer you a place on our ITT programme. If you decide to accept it, we’ll explain the actions you need to take in the runup to the start of your course. You’ll need to apply for funding, provide us with documentation of your education and right to work in the UK, and we might ask you to complete a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE), a short course designed to refresh your memory of the subject you’re trying to teach.

What Will I Do on the Programme?

Our ITT programme is a practical, school-centred programme. You’ll be in school 5 days a week, giving you a valuable opportunity to get to know the pupils, mentor and colleagues, and get a feel for what working as a teacher is like. During your placement, you’ll have the chance to observe lessons and get involved in their planning and delivery.

Even though our programme involves practical learning, that doesn’t mean there’s no academic element to the course. A high-quality curriculum, backed by the latest research and evidence, will help you focus on developing your expertise in your chosen subject or phase. Throughout the course, you’ll be supported in school by an expert mentor, and we’ll be on hand to help you with anything you need.

What Happens When I Finish the Course?

At the end of your programme, you’ll have achieved a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and attained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). This means that you’ll be ready to start teaching as an Early Career Teacher (ECT). Often, placement schools go on to hire their trainees.

If you stay on at one of our academies, you’ll be able to continue on to the Ambition Institute Early Career Programme, which will equip you with all the skills and in-depth knowledge you need to develop your practice. Otherwise, the demand for teachers in England means you should soon be able to secure your first teaching job very soon after you finish your programme.