The recent changes to Skills Tests is excellent news, but you still have to pass them, even if you do now get 3 FREE attempts and no ‘lock-out’ for 2-years if you do fail the 3rd test anymore.

Since the changes, if you had failed a 3rd test sometime over the past few years and were ‘locked-out’, you no longer have to wait for 2-years and so can reapply on UCAS and start taking tests again now. If this is YOU, we’d love to hear from you ASAP about reapplying for this year.

So clearly we’d like you all to pass the Skills Tests as soon as possible and preferably not have to pay for a test, so we’d rather you were properly prepared to take and pass them , hopefully first time, so please read this carefully:

Firstly it’s important that you take the right documents when attending the Skills Test centers. Anyone that doesn’t follow the process (below) might be turned away, and may lose their first free attempt at taking the Skills Tests.

Booking the skills tests:

You can book your Skills Tests once you have submitted your application through UCAS Teacher Training. You can book in advance of this, as long as your application is submitted before you attend the test centre.

You can complete a fully interactive online test before you attend – simply follow the instructions on the page and use this activation key: jhULiqgX

What you need to bring:

• Two forms of identification – a primary ID such as a passport, and a secondary ID (e.g. a debit card). More information can be found on the STA Website
• You also need to bring proof of your teacher training application – e.g.:
• a welcome email from UCAS Teacher Training;
• correspondence from your school or university provider;
• a copy of your completed UCAS Teacher Training application form;
• confirmation of, or an invitation to, an interview from your school or university.

For more information please visit: www.sta.education.gov.uk

We run coaching sessions for applicants who have been offered a place to train with us, but other organisations also offer helpful advice or on-line guidance, such as TES – Get help preparing for the Professional Skills Tests – Register for FREE on-line sessions.

So, once you know what you’re taking with you, please consider that:

In our experience, many applicants take the first one without any real preparation thinking “how hard can it be?” and are then surprised by the test and fail it. Then they do some practice tests, but think we need them to pass the tests ASAP, so re-book without really taking the time they need to be ready to pass and so fail again, perhaps just by an odd mark.

So, be one of those who doesn’t take it lightly, be very well prepared for your first attempts and you’ll more than likely pass them both first time. But if not, make sure that you are totally ready for the 2nd attempt and then you’ll not be putting yourself under the pressure of having to take it for a 3rd time, even if you can now go back for a 4th or 5th etc. as after the 3rd test you will have to pay.

Almost everyone passes by the 3rd attempt, very few fail and most pass 1st or 2nd time.

Take and pass the ‘easier’ of the two first. If Maths is your ‘thing’ do that one and then take the literacy later on. If English is your strength, do that one first then take the numeracy later.

Don’t book to take them both on the same day just to save travel time and costs – it could put you under too much pressure and end up costing you far more in the long run!

For applicants offered places with us, we run coaching & support events in the Spring & Summer Term, so there’s no mad rush having to take them just yet.

And . . . you might want to go to one or more the following – other websites & services can be found from a simple Google search (other search engines are also available!), but these have been recommended by some of our former trainees:

Numeracy Ready & How to pass the Numeracy test (Quote ‘NST20’ for a Discount)

FREE online sessions (TES)

How to pass the Literacy test

Literacy Skills Test (spellings)

Creative Openings (Numeracy & Literacy support)

QTS Skills Tests

Good luck with your Skills Tests!

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All our tuition-fee paying courses (SCITT & School Direct*) require trainees to apply for fees from the Student Loans Company (SLC) / Student Finance England (SFE)

Please watch this 1 minute film which helps explain student finance and the application process or go to the Student Finance Zone or watch the ‘Getting Paid’ video on YouTube.

To apply for tuition-fees and see what other loans you may be eligible for, please go to the DfE’s Student Finance – Log-in

To register for a tuition-fee loan please go to: www.slc.co.uk and search for the ‘Doncaster ITT Partnership’ then you can select from one of two courses with SLC, either:

• ‘QTS ONLY’ (£7,400) – SLC Course Code: 664647, or;
• ‘QTS plus PGCE’ (£8,600) – SLC Course Code: 664650 – (See below for details)*.

To apply you need to search for the ‘Doncaster ITT Partnership’ then it should give you the two Course options (above). Do NOT enter any other description (i.e. ‘Primary SCITT’, ‘Maths’ etc.) as these will NOT allow your application to be correctly processed. You do NOT need the UCAS course code to apply for a loan on SLC.

*NB – Please note that the ‘PGCE’ refers to the programme offered by University of Hull who provide this additional qualification to Doncaster ITT Partnership trainees – please do NOT apply for a tuition-fee with the University of Hull.

Good luck arranging your student loans!

*NB – School Direct (Salaried) trainees do not need to apply for tuition-fees

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