On 9 May, the Department for Education (DfE) announced reforms to the PGTA to unlock more opportunities to train to teach and accelerate trainees’ journeys to the front of the classroom.

From 1 August 2025, the minimum duration of the PGTA will be shortened from 12 to 9 months. This will better align the PGTA with the academic year and the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), bringing this route into teaching in line with other postgraduate ITT routes and making this more deliverable for providers and schools.

PGTA courses will still offer the same high-quality content but at a reduced length, with trainees gaining QTS after they have completed the programme, going on to build successful careers in teaching.

For further information on changes to the duration of the PGTA, please see the press release.

The DfE also recently announced improvements to the way assessments work for apprenticeships as part of the continuous drive to deliver greater value and better experiences for apprentices and employers, while retaining the high levels of rigour and quality associated with the programme.

Guided by a new set of assessment principles, DfE will streamline the assessment process for apprenticeships, by enabling more delivery flexibility. For example, where appropriate, there will no longer be a requirement for assessments to occur at the end of a programme. Instead, assessment can happen at the right time and place to ensure apprentices are assessed on what matters most to employers, removing any unnecessary duplication.

For further information on the PGTA, visit the GOV UK guidance.

The DfE is pleased to announce the publication of the EYTDA Employer Guidance, developed with sector experts to support employers in delivering the apprenticeship and helping trainees achieve Early Years Teacher Status. Apprenticeships are expected to begin from September 2026, with some starting earlier.

Employers should monitor training provider announcements from late summer 2025 and refer to the GOV.UK apprenticeship training site.

The full guidance is available at: EYTDA: Guidance for Employers.

For guidance enquiries, please visit the DfE contact page. To receive periodic updates, please email: EYTDA.ENQUIRIES@education.gov.uk.