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School Direct Tuition Fee Route
The School Direct Tuition Fee Route is one of several pathways to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) with Equalitas. It is ideal for applicants who want to train in a school setting, but whose placement school does not have access to apprenticeship levy funding, or whose subject or phase is not eligible for a salaried place or government bursary.
Who is the tuition fee route for?
This route is sometimes known as the fee-funded route. It provides the same high-quality, school-led training experience as the salaried and apprenticeship options.
The difference lies only in how your training is funded.
You might choose the School Direct Tuition Fee Route if:
- You have been offered a placement in a school that is unable to sponsor a salaried or apprenticeship trainee.
- You wish to train in a subject or phase that does not attract a government bursary or salary grant.
- You want to train in a school-based environment while funding your training through tuition fees and student loans.
Whichever route you take - Teaching Apprenticeship, School Direct Salaried, or Tuition Fee - you become part of the same professional community. Every trainee follows the same evidence-informed, research-led curriculum, designed to transform teaching practice
Tuition fees and student finance
You are responsible for paying tuition fees for your training year. For most postgraduate ITT programmes, these are up to £9,790 for a full-time course.
Most trainees apply for a tuition fee loan through Student Finance England, which covers the full cost of fees. You may also be eligible for a maintenance loan to help with living costs.
For further information, visit the Get Into Teaching page here:
Training teachers leaves a legacy - every great teacher we train goes on to impact hundreds, if not thousands, of students.
Placement and training
You will spend the majority of your time in a placement school, supported by an experienced mentor and the Equalitas tutor team. You are not employed by the school during your training year. Instead, your school hosts you for your placement while Equalitas oversees your training and assessment.
Throughout the year you will:
- Complete school placements arranged in partnership with Equalitas.
- Attend central and online training sessions that form part of our research-led ITT curriculum.
- Build the knowledge, skills and understanding that lead to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
School Direct Tuition Fee FAQs
Do I get paid on the School Direct Tuition Fee route?
No. Trainees on the tuition fee route are not employed by their placement school and do not receive a salary. Most applicants fund their training through tuition and maintenance loans from Student Finance England.
Can I still train in a school if I’m on the tuition fee route?
Yes. You will spend most of your time in a placement school, working closely with experienced mentors and the Equalitas tutor team. The school provides the setting for your practical training, but you are enrolled with Equalitas as your training provider.
Do the tuition fee and salaried routes lead to different teacher training courses?
No. All Equalitas trainees follow the same evidence-informed, research-led curriculum and gain QTS on completion. The only difference is how the training is funded.
How much are the tuition fees, and can I get a loan?
Courses cost up to £9,790 for a full-time year of training. Eligible trainees can apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans through Student Finance England.
Can I get a bursary to help with costs?
Some subjects attract tax-free government bursaries or scholarships. If your subject is not eligible, you can still access loans to fund your training. See the latest funding information on the Get Into Teaching website.
Join the mission
When you train with Equalitas, you’re joining a profession with responsibility and purpose – and a community of educators determined to transform futures.