Teachers: Standards

Evidence shows that high quality teaching is the most important in-school factor for improving the outcomes of children, which is why qualified teacher status (QTS) is so important. The government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and ensuring the best life chances for every child. As part of this, we are ensuring that new teachers entering the classroom have, or are working towards, QTS.

Teachers who have undertaken initial teacher training (ITT) leading to QTS have demonstrated that they meet all the teachers’ standards at the appropriate level and have had access to high quality, regulated training, followed by a statutory induction. The children in their classes will benefit from having professionally qualified, well-trained teachers.

All primary and secondary ITT courses leading to QTS must incorporate the ITT Core Content Framework (CCF) in full. The CCF is based on the best available evidence of what makes high quality teaching. A review of the CCF alongside the Early Career Framework (ECF) was undertaken during 2023. Building on the evidence underpinning the frameworks, in addition to what the department learnt from the first few years of CCF implementation and ECF delivery, the content of the ITT, CCF and the ECF were reviewed and updated into the combined Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF). This covers the first three years or more of a teacher’s career and articulates what trainee and new teachers need to know and be able to do. From September 2025, the ITTECF will replace the CCF and become mandatory for accredited ITT providers to incorporate into their primary and secondary ITT courses leading to QTS.