Train to Teach with CET
Be the best teacher you can be
Train to Teach with CET
Be the best teacher you can be
Applications for September 2025 are now LIVE!
Train to teach with Cumbria Education Trust (CET), in partnership with Ambition Institute, who deliver an exceptional Initial Teacher Training (ITT) provision across Cumbria. Transform your future and the lives of young people with expert-led, in-school teacher training, where you will:
- Qualify as a primary or secondary teacher in 12 months
- Benefit from evidence-based, flexible learning online and in-person
- Achieve qualified teacher status (QTS) with a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE)
- Gain hands-on classroom experience and start your career with confidence.
Through our school-centred approach, we aspire to bring even more ambitious and committed teachers into CET and provide the best possible start to a fulfilling career in education.
Why Train to Teach?
Train in one school
You will train to teach mostly in one school, either a CET school or a trusted partner school, giving you immediate opportunities to practise the theory you have learnt in a classroom, supported by teaching experts.
Be guided by a mentor
You will be paired with an experienced teacher who will make sure you are supported through your training.
Benefit from blended learning
Benefit from excellent academic training, that you would expect to receive from a university, with immersive classroom learning.
Develop your expertise with evidence-based training
A high-quality curriculum, backed by the latest research and evidence, will help you focus on developing your expertise in your chosen subject (secondary) or phase (primary).
Have a balanced workload
Our teacher training is designed to build your confidence in the classroom and give you real-life experience of the workload within a working environment.
Feel confident teaching
You will spend lots of time with subject experts, who will go into depth about how to teach your subject (or subjects, if teaching primary) in the most effective way.
Why train with CET?
Training to teach with CET allows you to do most of your training in one school. You can put your academic learning into practice in a structured, step-by-step way, with your mentor and peers, before taking it live in the classroom.
Your dedicated mentor will be an experienced teacher who works in your placement school. They will provide one-to-one guidance and support throughout your training.
Who can apply?
Training is open to anyone who might have an interest in becoming a teacher and has a degree (or equivalent), along with permission to work in the UK by the time training begins.
You might be:
- A recent graduate looking for the first step in your career
- A teaching assistant looking to transition into teaching your own class
- Looking for a completely new career path
- We welcome candidates of all ages, from all backgrounds, and with all types of experience.
To be eligible, you will need:
- An undergraduate degree, 2:2 or above, or equivalent
- A GCSE Grade 4/C or above in English or Maths, or equivalent
- Primary school trainees will need a GCSE Grade 4/C or above in science, or equivalent.
How do I apply?
Applications for our ITT programme starting in September 2025 are now open!
You can apply via the button below, which will take you to the Ambition Institute portal. Once you have registered for a profile, you will be able to submit your application.
If you need any support with your application before you submit it, our ITT team are always willing to help. You can email them at traintoteach@cumbriaeducationtrust.org for advice.
Still have questions?
You can read our FAQs below or talk to our ITT team to get your questions answered:
How is in-school training different to training at a university?
Unlike university-based teacher training programmes, where you have a number of different placements, our programme allows you to do most of your training in one school. The big benefit of this is that you can put your academic learning into practice in a classroom environment where you feel familiar and comfortable.
You’ll learn through a combination of self-guided learning, face-to-face and online sessions with other trainees. In-school activities will include classroom teaching practice, peer support and one-to-one guidance from your mentor. The practical teaching experience you gain will mean you finish the training confident to teach in a classroom.
You will also have a dedicated mentor – an experienced teacher – throughout your training who works alongside you in your school to offer guidance and support.
How long is the programme?
This is a one-year full-time postgraduate programme, which will start in September 2025.
What school will I teach in?
You will be based in one core school for most of your training. As soon as your application is received, we will match you to a school based on the answers you provide to these four questions:
- Where would you like to train?
- Do you want to be in a primary or secondary school?
- What subject do you want to specialise in (for secondary) or phase (for primary)?
- Do you want to train full-time or part-time?
Please be aware that, whilst your preferred school will be taken into consideration and prioritised, it may not always be possible.
Will I learn to teach primary or secondary pupils?
It’s up to you! You can choose to teach in a primary or secondary school.
If you are hoping to teach in a secondary school, the pupils will be aged between 11 and 16. In a secondary school, you will have the opportunity to select your preferred subject.
If you would like to teach in a primary school, the pupils will be aged between 4 and 11.
Can I choose the subject I want to train in and are there any availability limits?
Yes, you can choose the subject you want to teach in a secondary school. Some core secondary subjects are more popular than others, so it is best to express your interest early.
In a primary school, you will need to be able to teach a wider range of subjects.
What qualifications will I gain at the end of the programme?
You will achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), a nationally recognised teaching qualification.
When you have successfully completed the programme, you will also receive a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE). This is an internationally recognised qualification, opening up opportunities for you to teach abroad.
The PGCE is worth 60 credits towards a master’s degree if you want to go on to further study.
What funding is available for the programme?
You can apply for government funding to cover the costs of your £9,250 tuition fees and a maintenance loan. You may be eligible to get support for tuition fees or maintenance loans to help you with your living costs – click the following link to see the current information: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-and-support/tuition-fee-and-maintenance-loans
Alternatively, the current information on tax-free bursaries or scholarships you won’t have to pay back is available on the following link: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-and-support/scholarships-and-bursaries
You can find the latest Teacher Training Funding information here: https://www.gov.uk/teacher-training-funding
Do I need to have the right to work in the UK?
By the start of the training, successful candidates must have permission to work in the UK full-time for the duration of the programme.
Unfortunately, Cumbria Education Trust and Ambition Institute cannot sponsor your visa.
Want to register your interest?
If you would like to be kept up to date with the latest ITT information, you can register your interest here.
Cumbria Education Trust and Ambition Institute, a national education charity, have an exciting partnership aimed to inspire a new generation of teachers in Cumbria and offer professional development to existing teachers, to be the best they can be.