Tes Institute learner case studies

Our mission is to help all our learners to grow and progress as educators. Read these stories to hear from our fantastic learners, their experience of studying with Tes Institute and the impact on their careers.

Assessment Only

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    Aisling Leonard, Tes Assessment Only

    Aisling Leonard, Assessment Only

    Aisling describes how the Assessment Only route gave her the opportunity to critically reflect on her teaching practice and grow in confidence as a teacher on the way to gaining QTS.

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    Charli Faux, Tes Assessment Only

    Charli Faux, Assessment Only

    Charli explains how after years of stagnant wages at the top of the Unqualified Teachers’ Pay Scale, they were finally able to gain QTS through the Tes Institute Assessment Only route.

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    Laura Smith, Tes Assessment Only

    Laura Smith, Assessment Only

    Based in Dubai, Laura explains how the Assessment Only route enabled her to gain recognition of her teaching experience and improve her career opportunities in the UAE and internationally.

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    Lena Gaitanou, Tes Assessment Only

    Lena Gaitanou, Assessment Only

    Lena explains how the Assessment Only route helped her to achieve professional validation of her teaching experience while continuing to develop her specialism in SEND and inclusive practice.

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    Mustafa Ziane, Tes Assessment Only

    Mustapha Ziane, Assessment Only

    Mustapha explains how the Assessment Only route provided a structured, smooth and rewarding path to gain a recognised teaching qualification in the UK and internationally.

iPGCE

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    Andrew Hawley, iPGCE

    Andrew explains why he chose to study for his International Postgraduate Certificate in Education (iPGCE) with Tes and how the course has helped him to learn about the best practices he had naturally developed and teaching methods he'd never considered.

  • TI D9 migration phase 2 - Stacey Al Darmaki image

    Stacey Al-Darmaki, iPGCE

    Stacey is one of our International Postgraduate Certificate in Education (iPGCE) graduates based in the UAE. She explains how the practical training she received has taken her a step closer to achieving her goal of gaining QTS.

  • TI D9 migration phase 2 - Tara Quinn Thomas

    Tara Quinn Thomas, iPGCE

    As a Teaching Assistant in a British curriculum international school in Madrid, Tara shares what she enjoys about working in the international school sector and why she decided to start her iPGCE while continuing to work.

  • Tsaeling Wei Kwok profile image

    Tsaeling Wei Kwok, iPGCE

    Tsaeling explains how deciding to take her International Postgraduate Certificate in Education (iPGCE) with Tes has been one of her most valuable decisions, and how the guidance and support she received from her mentors and the programme directors has helped her to develop her knowledge and confidence.

  • Tes Institute D9 migration - Giles Wardle image

    Giles Wardle, iPGCE

    Giles Wardle shares his experience of being a mentor on our International Postgraduate Certificate in Education (iPGCE) programme and how he and his learners have been impressed by both the standard of the course and the way it's delivered.

iQTS

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    Clydeen McDonald, Tes iQTS

    Clydeen McDonald, iQTS

    Clydeen explains how the iQTS course helped them to grow as a teacher by developing their theoretical understanding and aligning their teaching with international standards.

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    Kayla Cloete, Tes iQTS

    Kayla Cloete, iQTS

    Kayla describes how the flexibility of the iQTS course and the support from her mentor helped to boost her confidence and achieve a globally recognised teaching qualification.

Initial Teacher Training

  • Emily Anley Learner story image

    Emily Anley, Initial Teacher Training

    Emily chose to train to become a maths teacher with our school-centred Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course because of the high levels of support it offers. She talks about how life changing her experience on the course has been.

  • Libby Short Learner story profile picture

    Libby Short, Initial Teacher Training

    Libby has always wanted to be a teacher. She explains how her ITT course has helped her to develop her confidence and how supported she felt every step of her journey.

  • Simmi Sangha Learner story image

    Simmi Sangha, Initial Teacher Training

    Simmi shares her journey to fulfilling her goal of becoming a qualified teacher and why choosing a route where she could spend as much time as possible teaching was right for her.

MA in Education with Pedagogy

  • MA graduate

    Jasmin Filz, MA in Education with Pedagogy

    Jasmine shares why she chose to pursue her Master’s degree with Tes Institute and the challenges she faced in finding a flexible programme that suited her needs while living in Germany.

Postgraduate Teaching Apprentice

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    Emma Shade, Postgraduate Teaching Apprentice

    Emma explains how the PGTA was the best fit for her personal circumstances and how the apprenticeship has given her a strong start as an Early Career Teacher.

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    Lauren Edmunds, Tes Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship learner

    Lauren Edmunds, Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship

    Lauren explains how after she made a career change from marketing into education, the PGTA supported her to take that next step from a teaching assistant role to a fully qualified teacher.

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    Jordan Simpkins, Tes Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship learner

    Jordan Simpkins, Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship

    Jordan explains how learning on the job enabled him to try out new ideas in the classroom while working towards a teaching qualification.

Straight to Teaching

  • Cymone Storer, Straight to Teaching learner

    Cymone Storer, Straight to Teaching

    Cymone shares her journey to becoming a qualified teacher and explains how Straight to Teaching was the perfect route for her, as it allowed her to continue working and earning in the school she loves.

  • TI D9 migration phase 2 - Daniel

    Daniel, Straight to Teaching

    After a long career as a professional French horn player and in music teaching positions, Daniel lacked a formal teaching qualification to help him progress. He explains why our Straight to Teaching QTS preparation course can be vital for school staff like him.

  • S2T SEND- Helen Horner

    Helen Horner, Straight to Teaching

    Helen shares how Straight to Teaching allowed her to become a qualified teacher while she continued to work in her SEND school, minimising disruption to her pupils as well as enabling her to learn and earn.

  • Tes Institute D9 migration - Lauren Allcock

    Lauren Allcock, Straight to Teaching

    Lauren explains that Straight to Teaching was the right route into teaching for her as she enjoys working alongside training as it enables her to learn, develop and reflect on her practice.

  • Krishna Sanal

    Krishna Sanal, Straight to Teaching

    Since qualifying as a teacher with Straight to Teaching, Krishna has progressed in her career from being a primary school teaching assistant to becoming a Year 1 class teacher.

  • TI D9 migration phase 2 - Will Lyons

    Will Lyons, Straight to Teaching

    Will was awarded qualified teacher status (QTS) following our Straight to Teaching course. He shares his experience of gaining professional teaching experience while continuing to work in his school.

Subject Knowledge Enhancement

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    Callum Rewcastle-Wattis, Subject Knowledge Enhancement (Computing)

    Following a long period in business holding various management roles, Callum explains why he chose to study an SKE course with Tes Institute and how the course has been invaluable to growing his skills and confidence to teach computing.

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    Christy Ross, Subject Knowledge Enhancement (English)

    Christy decided to become a teacher after a long career in ITT and taking an SKE course was a requirement of his SCITT course offer. He shares his journey to becoming a teacher and explains how his SKE course has benefitted him.

  • TI D9 migration phase 2 - Len Cutler

    Len Cutler, Subject Knowledge Enhancement (Physics)

    Before starting his teacher training, Len completed his physics SKE with Tes Institute. He explains why he chose to move into teaching and how his SKE has benefitted him.

Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship

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    Lisa Rushton, Tes Teaching Assistant Apprentice

    Lisa Rushton, Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship

    Hear from Lisa Rushton, who has been taking her level 3 apprenticeship through Tes Institute while working at Sandfield Close Primary School in Leicester.

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    Stacey Louise Ford, Tes Teaching Assistant Apprentice

    Stacey Louise Ford, Teaching Assistant Apprentice

    Stacey explains how her apprenticeship enabled her to stay in the classroom, working with children, and helping them to grow while also working towards a nationally recognised qualification.