The British government has said Zimbabwe-trained teachers will be eligible to apply for qualified teacher status in England starting from February 2023.
This was stated in a guide on how qualified teachers can get employment in England even if they got their qualifications outside the United Kingdom.
This guidance is for non-UK citizens who qualified as teachers outside the UK.
From 1 February 2023, teachers who qualified in the following 9 countries will also be able to apply to TRA for QTS:
• Ghana
• Hong Kong
• India
• Jamaica
• Nigeria
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Ukraine
• Zimbabwe
This change is part of the launch of a new service, apply for QTS in England. From 1 February 2023, teachers from all eligible countries will have to show they meet a consistent set of criteria for the award of QTS. Over time, this route will be opened to qualified teachers from every country outside the UK.
To teach in England you will need:
- the correct visa or status
- teaching skills and experience you can demonstrate to an employer
- to pass criminal and professional safeguarding checks (these will be organised by your employer)
The correct visa or status could be one of the following:
- a pre-existing right to work in the UK, such as settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme or indefinite leave to remain in the UK
- a job offer allowing you to apply for a skilled worker visa
- eligibility for another type of visa
Irish citizens do not need a visa to work or live in the UK.
It is also very helpful to have:
- a teaching qualification (this can be from your own or another non-UK country)
- English ‘qualified teacher status’ (QTS)
Applying for qualified teacher status (QTS)
Qualified teacher status (QTS) is the professional status teachers in England gain at the end of their teacher training.
Teachers who qualified outside the UK can work in English schools for up to 4 years without QTS. However, obtaining QTS will make it easier for you to find work and develop your career as a teacher.
This is because:
- in many English state-maintained schools, QTS is a legal requirement when the 4-year exemption period is up
- in all English schools, QTS is used to assess the quality of candidates for teaching jobs
How to apply
Depending on where you qualified as a teacher, you may be eligible to apply to the Teaching Regulation Agency for QTS.
You could also apply for assessment-only QTS while you earn a salary as a teacher or you could apply to train to teach in England.
Salary requirement for a skilled worker visa
The salary threshold you must meet depends on whether you have qualified teacher status (QTS) and the region you are applying to work in.