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Train to Teach

Every day, great teachers help shape a brighter future. For children who’ve had a challenging start, a teacher’s influence can make all the difference. Our Teacher Training prepares you to become the kind of inspiring educator who helps every child thrive.

Train to Teach with the Lime Trust, in partnership with Ambition Institute. Reach your potential and start your teacher journey with us.

How do I apply?

Complete your application using the link below: 

Lime Trust Application Form

For enquiries, please contact: traintoteach@limetrust.org 

About Lime Trust

Lime Trust is a values-led multi-academy trust with nine schools across Northeast London, Peterborough, and Luton, delivering education in both primary mainstream and all-through special education sectors. 

 We are guided by our core RESPECT values: Respect, Equity, Self-worth, Partnership, Enjoyment, Communication and Trust. Our schools collaborate across regions and sectors, sharing expertise to break down barriers and create inclusive, high-impact learning environments.   

Join Lime Trust and begin your teaching journey in a community that values partnership, communication, and putting learners first. 

About Ambition Institute

We are partnered with the England-wide education charity Ambition Institute to deliver our teacher training programme. 

Ambition Institute are a national education charity offering teacher training and professional development based on the most rigorous evidence about what really works. In 2024/25 1 in 9 teachers and leaders in England developed on their programmes.  

Together, we are shaping the future of education to give every child the best start in life. 

 

Apply

Course Overview

"Course Overview"

The teacher training program starts in September 2026.

  • 100% of Ambition Institute trainees have achieved Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
  • Duration: 11 months full-time or 20 months part-time.
  • Location: You’ll complete most of your training at one of our academies, in a location that suits you. You’ll also complete shorter placements at local contrasting schools.
  • Qualifications: Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
  • Mentor support: You’ll receive one-to-one guidance from a dedicated mentor. Your mentoring sessions include protected time to discuss your wellbeing, coaching for your classroom practice, and support with lesson planning.

Am I eligible?

"Am I eligible?"

We welcome candidates of all ages, from all backgrounds, and with all types of experience. To be eligible to apply, you will need:

  • An undergraduate bachelor’s degree with honours, or equivalent.
  • A GCSE grade 4/C or above in English and maths, or equivalent.
  • A GCSE grade 4/C or above in science, or equivalent.

Check your eligibility

You may require a degree and/or A-level qualification related to the subject you wish to teach.

Are you a graduate looking for the first step in your career?

Or a teaching assistant looking to move into teaching your own class?

Or maybe  you’re looking for a completely fresh career path?

If you meet the eligibility criteria above, we would welcome your application.

After you’ve qualified

"After you’ve qualified"

Earn a competitive salary

Once you’re qualified, the world is your oyster. You can work your way up the teaching ladder into a leadership role, or travel the world—your qualification is recognised internationally.

In England, teachers earn the following starting salaries depending on location, with head teachers earning upwards of £140,000 in some schools. Teachers are also entitled to a substantial pension, generous holidays and annual salary reviews, with most teachers moving up the pay range each year.

  • England, excluding London: £32,916–£51,048
  • London fringe: £34,398–£52,490
  • Outer London: £37,870–£56,154
  • Inner London: £40,317–£62,496

Qualified teacher status (QTS)
You’ll receive QTS, which is a nationally recognised teaching qualification that allows you to teach in any school, run by a local authority in England.

Postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE)

You’ll also receive a PGCE accredited by Liverpool Hope University. This internationally recognised qualification opens up opportunities to teach outside of the UK. The PGCE is worth 60 credits towards a Master’s degree, should you wish to pursue further study.

Getting a job
Trainees often go on to work in their placement schools, so you may not need to apply for jobs elsewhere.

Early career teachers
After finishing your teacher training, you’ll be classed as an early career teacher (ECT) for your first two years in the classroom. During this period, you can access training and support through Ambition Institute, an approved provider for the Department for Education. Completing your ECT training with Lime offers valuable continuity—we reduce repeated content from your initial training so you can build on a consistent foundation. Learn more about our Early Career Teachers programme.

How you’ll learn

"How you’ll learn"

The programme runs Monday to Friday, with most of your time spent in your main placement school.

Each week, you’ll concentrate on a specific aspect of teaching. Your learning will combine independent study, group sessions with fellow trainees, and hands-on classroom experience. Education experts will support you as you explore each topic and see how it applies in real school settings.

Click here to view a visual overview of the programme structure. Please note that this refers to the full-time, 11-month route.

Summer term and starting the programme

Before your training year officially begins, you’ll spend some time becoming familiar with your main placement school. This usually takes place over the summer or in early September. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the school, meet your colleagues, and start feeling part of the community.

At the very beginning of the programme, you’ll attend a five-day conference with other new trainees. This is where you’ll connect with peers, receive support from experienced trainers, and start developing the knowledge and skills you’ll draw on throughout the year.

Your main school placement

After the conference, you’ll begin working in your main placement school. Here, you’ll start applying your learning immediately—working with pupils in the classroom and getting to know teachers, support staff, and the wider school environment.

Experience in different schools

To broaden your understanding of education, you’ll also spend time in other local schools. These shorter placements allow you to experience different settings—for example, schools with different age groups, religious characteristics, or urban and rural contexts. This variety will help you build confidence and appreciate how schools can differ.

We will help you find placements that are a good fit for you and your needs.

What you'll learn

"What you'll learn"

The training covers five key areas:
  • Behaviour: How to create calm, safe and purposeful classrooms where every pupil can achieve.
  • Instruction: How to help all pupils learn, from presenting information clearly to encouraging independent learning.
  • Curriculum: How to design lessons and sequences that help pupils build knowledge over time.
  • Assessment: How to check what pupils have learned and respond when they need extra support.
  • Professionalism: What it means to be a teacher and how to prepare for your career.

Each module introduces the key ideas behind good teaching, then shows you how to apply them step-by-step. You’ll see great teaching in action, discuss what works, and practise these approaches yourself, with support from your tutors and mentor.

We’ve designed the programme so you:

  • Build confidence in your subject.
  • Focus on the areas of teaching that can be most challenging.
  • Learn about key topics, such as pupil behaviour, right from the start.
  • Revisit your learning regularly, so you keep improving.

If you’re training to teach primary, your modules will cover a range of subjects, building your confidence across the full primary curriculum.

How much does it cost?

"How much does it cost?"

Tuition fees and maintenance loan for 2026 to 2027
All trainees will need to pay tuition fees, unless you are a salaried trainee and your school has explicitly offered to pay your fees. The costs for the Teacher Training programme for 2026/27 are:

  • £9,790 for full-time study.
  • £7,335 per year for part-time study.

If you are enrolled on an unsalaried place, you may be able to apply for a government student loan to cover the costs of your tuition fees.

You may also be able to apply for a maintenance loan of up to £13,762 to help with your living costs, you will then only have to make loan repayments once you are earning.

To check if you’re eligible to apply for tuition fees and maintenance loans, please visit Gov.uk.

Non-UK citizens and salaried placements

"Non-UK citizens and salaried placements"

The tuition fee can be paid in three instalments across the school terms. Payments will be due at the end of the month in October, February, and May.

  • Full-time trainees: £9,535
    Broken into 3 payments (October: 25%, February: 25%, May: 50%)

International candidates

"International candidates"

We accept international qualifications that are equivalent to the eligibility criteria above. You will need to provide an ENIC statement of comparability at the conditional offer stage; this costs £69.60. It takes 15 working days to complete your order from the date ENIC receives your qualification documents and payment. For more information and to apply for your ENIC statement, please visit UK ENIC.

Please also note that you must have a visa with permission to work in the UK full-time by the start and for the duration of the training programme. Unfortunately, Ambition Institute cannot sponsor your visa. You can find out more about which visa to apply for by visiting Get Into Teaching.

Check your eligibility

Why should I train with Lime?

"Why should I train with Lime?"

We are partnered with the England-wide education charity Ambition Institute to deliver our teacher training programme. Ambition Institute are a national education charity offering teacher training and professional development based on the most rigorous evidence about what really works.

The benefits of choosing to train with Ambition Institute are that you’ll have the opportunity to:

Learn with England’s largest professional development provider
Ambition Institute is England’s largest professional development provider for teachers and school leaders. In the last school year, one in nine teachers and leaders in state-funded schools developed professionally with Lime.

Improve children’s lives
Ambition Institute’s mission as a charity is to help young people reach their full potential, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Train in school
You’ll do most of your training in one school, giving you immediate opportunities to practise the theory you’ve learnt in a classroom and build relationships with teachers, staff, and the wider school community. By the end of your training, you’ll have the confidence to teach in a classroom independently, you’ll also stand a great chance of securing a permanent role.

Receive mentor and well-being support
Get weekly one-to-one guidance from a dedicated mentor. Your mentoring sessions will also include protected time to discuss your well-being.

Get a placement to suit you
Whether it be the city where you studied or the town you grew up in, through our national network of 350+ partner schools across England you can train in a location that suits you.

Benefit from blended learning
We blend the high-quality academic training you’d expect to get from a university with immersive, classroom learning. You’ll benefit from face-to-face training sessions and theoretical study on Ambition Institute’s online learning portal.

Hear from our trainees and mentors

"Hear from our trainees and mentors"

Lime Teacher Training Graduation.

100% of trainees on our programme have achieved Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Hear from them below. 

“What I enjoyed most about the programme was the sense of community and collaboration. Being part of a supportive group made the challenges feel more manageable and the successes even sweeter.” Charlotte, Trainee Teacher

“The support I received throughout the course has been extremely thorough. From support on subject knowledge progression through to the detailed mentoring I have received on my placement. I believe the support I have received has shaped not just the teacher aspect of myself but me as a person.” Jamie, Trainee Teacher

“I felt consistently supported by my mentor, ITT partner lead, and the wider school team. Weekly mentor meetings helped me reflect and develop next steps. This support helped me build confidence in the classroom, lesson planning and adapting learning for SEND and EAL pupils.” Liz, Trainee Teacher

“I enjoyed the Monday sessions, this felt like a collaborative learning space where we were all supported and were able to share ideas and make mistakes together.” Heather, Trainee Teacher

“During my Ambition teacher training, I received strong support from mentors, peers, and staff, which helped me grow in confidence, improve my teaching skills, and stay motivated throughout the journey.” Chelsea, Trainee Teacher

Hear our trainees talking about their experiences on the programme: 

What is the application process?

"What is the application process?"

Complete your application using the link below: 

Lime Trust Application Form

For enquiries, please contact: traintoteach@limetrust.org 

Assessment only route to QTS

"Assessment only route to QTS"

If you are already an experienced teacher, however, are yet to have obtained your Qualified Teacher Status, the 12 week Assessment only route to QTS, might be more suitable for you.

This route is for unqualified teachers who meet the set eligibility criteria and can show they already meet all the teachers’ standards in full, without the need for further training.

Unlike the Teacher Training programme, no training is provided for the Assessment only route to QTS. Instead, you will compile a portfolio of evidence across 12 weeks using the single, comprehensive online platform, demonstrating that you can meet all the teachers’ standards in full.

Find out more about the Ambition Institute Assessment Only route to QTS here.

FAQs