Subject Knowledge Enhancement

Subject Knowledge Enhancement programmes have been created for those secondary trainees who need to refresh or extend their subject knowledge.  Additional information regarding the SKE programmes can be found on the Government website.

As an ITT provider, we will identify if you need to complete an SKE course as part of the selection process. If we feel you need to enhance your knowledge, we may offer you a teacher training place on the condition that you undertake an SKE course. This could be because your degree wasn’t in your chosen subject, but it was closely related, or you have an A level in the subject. Or it may be that you have relevant professional experience, and an SKE course will show you how to apply that to the curriculum and your teaching.

Please note that DFE funding for SKE courses is limited this year.  Where an offer conditional on SKE is made and a DfE funded course is not available, it will be the candidate’s responsibility to gain the subject knowledge. The candidate would need to decide whether to pay for this commercially themselves, in line with the current position for candidates required to gain GCSE/equivalent qualifications.

Those who have a degree in their chosen ITT subject awarded in the previous 5 years are not eligible for SKE. These candidates should have the required level of subject knowledge, or be able to top up their knowledge, without a DfE funded SKE course.

Please note the following additional changes:

i. Reduction of the SKE candidate bursary from £200 to £175 per week;

ii. Removal of Geography as a SKE subject.

SKE programmes are available all over England and can be completed by studying face to face, online or a blend of the two.  In the past we have worked very successfully with Eureka and TES but there are a number of providers.  Courses run from 8 to 28 weeks and the length of the course required will vary dependent on individual applicants existing subject knowledge.

SKE is now available in English to support the DfE’s commitment to recruit EBacc subjects. English SKE is fully funded and eligible candidates could receive a bursary of £175 per week.

NCTL