DfE New Guidance Assessment Only Route to QTS (October 2026)

Summary

New guidance on the Assessment Only route to QTS published by the DfE (October 2026).

DfE published the new guidance yesterday, which can be found here: Assessment only route to QTS: criteria and supporting advice - GOV.UK

The changes have been tested with providers, schools and sector experts.

The core changes are:

• all applicants are required to have a minimum of 2 years teaching experience (A1.4)

• applicants with 5+ years of teaching experience will be able to access the AO route irrespective of the number of schools they have worked in (A1.4)

• applicants whose teaching experience is mainly in a special school or alternative provision are required to have some mainstream school experience (A1.4).

• applicants must have a written headteacher recommendation (or suitable alternative) (A1.3).

• there is now guidance on phase registration and appropriate assessment adaptations for applicants being assessed in special schools and alternative provision settings (A2.2, A2.3).

These changes have been designed to increase access to the AO route for experienced unqualified teachers, while promoting high-quality standards and consistency of requirements across providers and school settings.

We hope that by introducing clarity and guidance on special schools and alternate provision settings we will support the delivery of AO for experienced teachers in these settings.

UCET