Subject knowledge enhancement is a great way to help your teachers enhance their subject knowledge – how can you make a referral?
CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on gov.uk
As a school direct lead school or an ITT provider, you may see applicants who have the potential to become outstanding teachers but who need to increase their subject knowledge before the teachers’ standards can be met. A subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) course can help you to feel confident that the applicant can be recruited. The Department for Education (DfE) currently funds SKE courses in primary mathematics and nine secondary subjects:
biology;
chemistry;
computing;
design and technology;
English;
languages;
mathematics;
physics;
religious education (eight weeks only).
PE with English Baccalaureate (Ebacc) applicants can also access an eight-week SKE in an Ebacc subject where an SKE is available and they meet the eligibility requirements; dual language SKE courses are also available. Applicants who need to complete a dual language SKE course should take a short eight-week course in their main language and a longer course of up to 28 weeks in the other language. Only applicants who have received a conditional offer in a language ITT, which specifies the completion of a (dual) SKE course as a condition of their offer, will be eligible for a dual language SKE course.
SKE eligibility
Eligibility to undertake a DfE-funded SKE is subject to an applicant meeting the eligibility requirements to train to teach in England and the applicant accepting a conditional offer which specifies the requirement to complete a SKE course. Applicants who have a degree (or a joint degree) in their chosen ITT subject awarded in the previous five years are not eligible for a DfE-funded SKE course.
SKE bursary
Applicants might also be eligible to receive an SKE bursary if:
they have at least a bachelor’s degree 2:2 classification in their degree subject or a master’s degree or PhD;
they are undertaking their SKE course before starting ITT, or up to the point they start to receive a salary if they are on a school direct salaried route;
they are entitled to support under the student finance criteria (except non-UK applicants undertaking languages or physics).
SKE bursaries cannot be claimed retrospectively after completion of ITT. Where a provider becomes aware of an applicant withdrawing from ITT before their SKE is complete, their SKE course and SKE bursary should stop.
SKE eligibility for non-UK applicants
Applicants undertaking a face-to-face SKE need 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 permission they will need to apply for a visitor visa to undertake SKE and will be restricted on the type of provider and duration of the course if SKE is delivered face-to-face (maximum of 26 weeks).
If undertaking an SKE 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 those studying online from outside the UK, but those already within the UK will need to ensure they hold a relevant visa.
The SKE bursary is only available to non-UK applicants who are undertaking a tuition fee-based teacher training course in England and are eligible for support under the student finance criteria which is dependent on their immigration or residency status.
For ITT 2023, non-UK applicants who are funding a tuition fee-based physics or languages teacher training course in England are also eligible for an SKE bursary regardless of whether they are entitled, or not entitled, to support under the student finance criteria. This also applies to dchool direct salaried courses in physics and languages, up to the point they receive an SD salary.
How to know if an applicant needs SKE
The need for SKE is 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 an individual before they apply;
from the application form;
during the applicant’s interview.
Applicants may need more specific subject knowledge to begin an ITT course 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 many years.
Referring to a participant for SKE
The applicant’s SKE provider will ask the ITT provider to complete a referral form to ensure a consistent approach to collecting applicant information. The SKE provider will then enrol the applicant onto a course and claim funding from the DfE, providing they have a framework agreement in place.
How SKE courses are provided
DfE-funded SKE courses are only provided by providers who have a framework agreement in place and are listed on the subject knowledge enhancement: course directory. Courses can vary in duration from an eight-week refresher or booster programme through to a 28-week programme, with a week equating to 25 learning hours.
All SKE courses must be completed before qualified teacher status is recommended.
SKE courses can be:
completed before, or alongside, ITT courses (given the time commitments we recommend starting and completing an SKE before commencing ITT);
delivered online through:
distance learning;
face-to-face;
a mixture of these approaches;
undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis.
The applicant should have the final decision about their SKE provider but the ITT provider can support the applicant to choose their SKE provider from the SKE course provider directory.
SKE funding
For all SKE courses in the 2022-23 academic year:
programme costs are funded at a unit fee of up to £200 per week per participant;
subject to meeting the eligibility criteria, the participant bursary funding is £175 per week per participant.
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