GovWire

This guidance is for:

• subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) providers
• initial teacher training (ITT) providers
• School Direct lead schools

If youre an applicant to an ITT course, visit our SKE page on the Get into Teaching website.

You can use the subject knowledge enhancement: course directory to find a suitable provider.

Overview

As a School Direct lead school or anITTprovider, you may see applicants who have the potential to become outstanding teachers but need to increase their subject knowledge before theteachers standardscan be met.SKEcourses can help you to feel confident that the applicant can obtain the minimum subject knowledge standard to be recruited.

The Department for Education (DfE) currently fundsSKEcourses in five secondary subjects:

• chemistry
• computing
• languages
• mathematics
• physics

PE applicants can also access an 8-weekSKEin an Ebacc subject where anSKEcourse is available, and they meet the eligibility requirements.

Dual language SKE courses

Applicants who need to complete a dual languageSKEcourse should take:

• a short 8-week course in their main language
• a longer course of up to 28 weeks in the other language

Only applicants who have received a conditional offer in a languagesITT, which specifies the completion of a (dual)SKEcourse as a condition of their offer, will be eligible for a dual languageSKEcourse.

SKE eligibility

To be eligible to undertake aDfE-fundedSKE, applicants need to:

• meet the eligibility requirements to train to teach in England
• accept a conditional offer which specifies the requirement to complete anSKEcourse

Applicants who have a degree, postgraduate degree or joint degree awarded in their chosenITTsubject within the previous 5 years, are not eligible to complete aDfE-fundedSKEcourse.DfEdoes not fundSKEcourses for individuals who have already obtained qualified teacher status (QTS).

SKE bursary

Applicants may also be eligible to receive anSKEbursary if:

• they have at least a bachelors degree 2:2 classification in their degree subject or have a masters degree or PhD
• they are undertaking theirSKEcourse before startingITT, or up to the point they startITTif theirSKEcourse overlaps withITT
• they are entitled to support under the student finance criteria (with the exception of non-UK applicants undertaking languages or physics)

If a participant is undertaking anSKEcourse in parallel with theirITT, they are not eligible for a bursary.

SKEbursaries cannot be claimed retrospectively after completion ofITT. Where a provider becomes aware of an applicant withdrawing fromITTbefore theirSKEis complete, theirSKEcourse andSKEbursary should stop.

SKE eligibility for non-UK applicants

Applicants undertaking a face-to-faceSKEneed permission to study in the UK. Candidates on an existing visa should check that their visa allows them to study. If they do not already have a visa or relevant permission, they will:

• need to apply for a visitor visa to undertake theirSKEcourse
• be restricted on the type of provider and duration of their course ifSKEis delivered face-to-face (maximum of 26 weeks)

If undertaking anSKEcourse online from inside or outside the UK, there are no restrictions on the type of provider and the maximum course duration remains at 28 weeks. No immigration permission is required for non-UK applicants studying online from outside the UK, but those already within the UK should ensure they hold an appropriate visa.

TheSKEbursary is only available to non-UK applicants who are undertaking a tuition fee-basedITTcourse in England and are eligible for support under the student finance criteria. This is dependent on their immigration or residency status.

Non-UK applicants who are funding a tuition fee-based physics or languages teacher training course in England, are eligible for anSKEbursary regardless of if they are entitled, or not entitled, to support under the student finance criteria. This also applies to School Direct salaried courses in physics and languages, up to the point they receive a School Direct salary.

How to know if an applicant needs SKE

The need forSKEis usually identified by a school or provider during the recruitment and selection process. This could be:

• when the applicant is undertaking school experience
• during discussions with the applicant before they apply
• from the application form
• during the applicants interview

Applicants may need more specific subject knowledge to begin anITTcourse if they have:

• a different but related degree to the subject they want to teach
• studied the subject at A level but not degree level
• an unrelated degree but relevant professional knowledge in the subject
• studied for a languages degree but need a second language at an acceptable level for teaching in schools
• a degree in the subject but have not used their degree knowledge for more than five years

Referring a participant for SKE

Applicants must have freedom of choice regarding theirSKEprovider and should useDfEsSKEprovider directory to aid their choice.ITTproviders may support participants but must not make it a condition of theirITToffer to undertake anSKEcourse with a particular institution.

Once an applicant has chosen theirSKEcourse provider, theirSKEprovider will ask theITTprovider to complete a referral form to ensure a consistent approach to collecting applicant information. TheSKEprovider will then enrol the applicant onto a course and claim funding fromDfE.

How SKE courses are provided

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