Teacher-training entry requirements across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Teacher training in the UK is not a single system. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own regulatory bodies, their own qualification frameworks, and their own entry requirements for initial teacher education (ITE). What applies in England does not automatically apply in the devolved nations — and vice versa.

This post gives you an overview of what we currently understand about entry requirements outside England, along with clear pointers to the official sources. Important caveat upfront: the England information is well-verified from DfE and gov.uk sources. The Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland sections are based on our research, but we have not been able to independently confirm all details for 2025/26 — particularly specific grade thresholds. We will flag clearly where we’re uncertain and, critically, where you should go to get the confirmed picture.

England (for reference)

In England, accredited ITT providers must assure that trainees have “fundamental English and maths” at a standard equivalent to GCSE grade 4 before the end of their course. For primary programmes (ages 3–11), a science standard equivalent to GCSE grade 4 is also required. There is no central national equivalence test — providers assess this themselves. The QTS Professional Skills Tests were abolished in 2020.

For England-specific detail, see our other posts on this site.

Scotland

Teacher education in Scotland is regulated by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). GTCS accredits programmes and maintains the professional standards for Scottish teachers.

Our research indicates that Scottish ITE programmes typically require applicants to hold qualifications in English and maths at broadly equivalent levels to GCSE grade 4/C — but mapped to the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). Indicatively, this points to approximately SCQF Level 6 (Higher) in English and SCQF Level 5 (National 5) in maths, or equivalents.

⚠️ We have not been able to confirm these specific thresholds for 2025/26. Different sources give slightly different information, and GTCS retains discretion in how equivalency is assessed. Scotland does not appear to have a national equivalence test akin to a central exam.

Where to confirm: The GTCS website (gtcs.org.uk) publishes its Memorandum on Entry Requirements, which sets out what qualifications are required and how equivalencies are assessed. This is the authoritative source — read it directly before making any application decisions based on your qualifications.

Wales

Initial teacher education in Wales is overseen by the Welsh Government, with regulatory involvement from Qualifications Wales and the requirement for teachers to register with the Education Workforce Council (EWC).

Our research suggests that Wales requires ITE applicants to demonstrate English and maths at broadly a GCSE grade C equivalent, though different sources give slightly conflicting information on the exact threshold — one source we found indicated grade B in some contexts. We cannot confirm which is current or whether it varies by provider or programme type.

⚠️ The Wales information in particular should be treated as directional rather than definitive. Wales historically did not have a national equivalency test (providers ran their own), and it is possible that individual ITE providers have some discretion here.

Where to confirm: The Welsh Government’s ITE guidance is published at gov.wales — search for “initial teacher education Wales” to find the current criteria. Contact your specific programme provider for their own entry requirements.

Northern Ireland

Teacher education in Northern Ireland is regulated by the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI). ITE programmes are run primarily through universities and teacher training colleges.

Our research indicates that Northern Ireland generally requires ITE applicants to hold GCSE grade C (broadly equivalent to grade 4) or higher in English and maths. As with the other devolved nations, this does not appear to be assessed via any central national test.

⚠️ We have not independently confirmed these thresholds for 2025/26, and NI qualification frameworks have their own grading conventions that may differ in some respects from England’s.

Where to confirm: The GTCNI website (gtcni.org.uk) publishes guidance on teacher registration and qualification requirements. The Department of Education (Northern Ireland) (education-ni.gov.uk) provides broader ITE policy context.

Key points across the devolved nations

1. No national teacher skills test in any part of the UK. All four nations moved away from (or never had) a central literacy/numeracy exam for teacher entry. England abolished its QTS Professional Skills Tests in 2020. The devolved nations rely on qualification-based entry checks and provider discretion.
2. The entry standard is broadly similar across all four nations — roughly equivalent to GCSE grade C/4 in English and maths. The precise requirements and qualification frameworks differ.
3. Providers have discretion. Even where national-level guidance exists, individual ITE programmes and universities make their own admissions decisions. Your specific programme is always the authority on what they require from you.
4. Contact the regulatory body and your target provider. The official sites linked above are where confirmed requirements live. Do not rely on third-party sources — including this post — for decisions about which qualifications you need.

Regardless of nation: the skills matter

Whatever the specific entry threshold is in your part of the UK, the underlying skills being assessed are consistent: proficiency in English literacy and numeracy to a level that supports professional practice as a teacher. That standard doesn’t change much between Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast and London.

If you’re preparing to demonstrate those skills — for a provider’s assessment, an equivalence test, or simply to feel confident — the core content is the same across the UK. Our free diagnostic gives you an instant read of where you stand.

Take the free UK diagnostic →

— The people of SN Academy