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²ÝÁñÊÓƵ (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ) Leicester welcomed its first-ever cohort of learners enrolling on the Teacher Degree Apprenticeship in Primary Education. 

The university is one of the first in the country to offer the Teaching Degree Apprenticeship in Primary Education, which has been introduced to help those working in schools become qualified primary school teachers. 

Its first cohort of 14 learners have enrolled on a four-year course, which will see them graduate with a BA in Education Studies and earn Qualified Teaching Status (QTS) while earning a salary. 

Traditionally, aspiring teachers in the UK would have to study a three-year bachelor's degree and then complete their one-year postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) course to obtain qualified teaching status (QTS).  

However, through the new Teaching Degree Apprenticeship qualification, those on the course split their training between on-the-job training at a school for three days and academic study at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ for the remaining two days.  

The scheme, which has been developed in partnership with teacher training providers Leicester and Leicestershire SCITT and The Mead Educational Trust, will widen access to teaching careers and offer a practical path into work for those who may not have followed a traditional university path. 

Each apprentice will receive a school-based mentor, an academic mentor and teaching training support from Leicester and Leicestershire SCITT, as well as access to the support services at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ. 

Talitha Bird, Head of Division, Education, said: “We are really proud to be one of three higher education institutions in the country offering a TDA in Primary Education for 2025/26. A lot of hard work has gone into getting to this day, and I would like to thank all my colleagues from ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ, The Mead Education Trust and Leicester and Leicestershire SCITT. 

“The passion for developing this programme has been to provide an outstanding teacher training and education degree programme for all those people currently working in schools, and already providing excellent support for children to develop and grow socially, emotionally and academically. 

“We have been overwhelmed by the range of experiences and levels of skill our first cohort of learners has shared with us during the onboarding process.” 

 

During the induction, we caught up with four of the first cohort of Teaching Degree Apprenticeship learners. 

36-year-old, Sinead Gately, from Warwick didn’t feel that university would be for her and always wanted to find work. She worked her way up to a Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA), while raising her family before the Teaching Degree Apprenticeship was available.  

Hi, Sinead. Welcome to ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ. What first inspired you to apply for the Teaching Degree Apprenticeship? 

As a HLTA, I’m teaching a lot of the time anyway and I felt like the time had come in my life to get a degree. 

I’ve got a young family. I’ve got a home, so coming to university wouldn’t have been practical for me. Previously, you needed a degree but this has come up and becoming a qualified teacher is now my goal. 

What do you feel are the advantages of this new programme? 

I think because you can still work, you still get the pay coming in so, for me, I can maintain my family life. You’re also not jumping from placement to placement because you’re already working in a school, so there’s that familiarity there too.  

Have you always worked in education?  

I worked in nurseries for about 10-or-so-years before having my own family. There was then a slight break in my career before a job came up in my current school, so I went for that. I’ve worked myself to become a HLTA, I helped set up the school’s nursery provision, which I’m very proud of.  

I have loved being a HLTA and it’s become a passion of mine to want my own class and my own room. 

This was the natural next step for me. 

Finally, what was your favourite subject in school? 

History. I have a massive passion for history and get really into it at school. 

 

Jamie Adams, 23, from Nuneaton, works at an independent special needs school as a sports coach for learners aged between six and 19.  

Hi, Jamie. You’ve gone from working with sports to wanting to become a teacher, why did you want to make the switch? 

So, I have taught sports with every class in the school and I’ve had a lot of observations in that time and my head teacher told me that I would make a good teacher. He asked me if I’d like to pursue it and I said yes, and he found this course.  

Is teaching the natural step up for you? 

Yeah, I’m going from delivering content in a sports aspect to delivering it classroom environment. I’m hoping to learn the science before education, explore different ways of how people learn, the sociology and the science behind it. 

What are you most looking forward to about becoming a teacher? 

Trying to make everyday education positive for the learners that I work with. A lot of them have had a bit of a rough time, and they do need a friendly face to help them with their education.  

What was your favourite subject at school? 

P.E 

  

Brajit Bacon, 41, is originally from Vancouver, Canada but moved to Leicester several years ago and now lives in nearby Market Harborough. 

Hi Brajit, what inspired you to become a teacher and enrol on the Teaching Apprenticeship Degree? 

I work in a school inclusion team, primarily as a learning support assistant (LSA) and work with small groups in the afternoons. A few friends of mine who are teachers had heard about the scheme and passed it my way.  

They believed it was a great opportunity, so I was really encouraged to do the programme because they thought I had the skillset. 

It’s such a great opportunity to stay in that working environment but study alongside and use the skills you pick up on the course in the classroom. 

Had you ever considered becoming a teacher before?  

It had crossed my mind. I’ve always been somebody who’s wanted to climb the ladder. I started working in a nursery in Canada and then moved into primary schools. 

This was the kind of opportunity I needed.  

And finally, what was your favourite subject at school?  

Ooh, I guess in primary school it was either art or English and then in secondary – maybe photography? 

 

Leicester-born and bred, Lily Del Grosso, 19, Blaby, jumped at the chance to join the Teaching Degree Apprenticeship and hopes the programme will allow her to transition from teaching assistant to qualified teacher.  

Hi Lily, why do you want to become a teacher through ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ?  

Last year, I predominantly worked in a SEND class that catered to the children’s needs, and I just loved it. I did cover and led quite a few sessions in there and I absolutely loved being the leader and seeing the children develop. 

The school is very close to my house and with the course being at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ, everything is so close – it’s just perfect for me.  

What are you most looking forward to with this programme? 

I think it’s going to be applying what I’m learning. I’ll learn stuff at work as well as university, so it’ll be amazing transferring the knowledge across both into the classroom. Something that I learn theory-based at uni will be proven in the class. 

Have you always wanted to become a teacher? 

Yes, this is definitely what I wanted to do for my career. I finished my A-levels but going straight into university didn’t feel right to me and I wanted to gain experience in a school, which is where I am now.  

Now the Teaching Degree Apprenticeship has come up and it just feels like the natural progression for me because I get to keep my job, which I love, and I get to study and train at the same time. 

I’ve asked everyone, so what was your favourite subject at school? 

English and I also really liked drama as well.