UK QTS, SERS™ and mentoring — answered.

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is the professional qualification required to teach in state-maintained schools in England. It is awarded by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) and demonstrates that a teacher has met the Teachers' Standards (England). QTS is widely recognised by British international schools around the world and by many independent schools in the UK.

The Assessment Only Route to QTS is a pathway for experienced, unqualified teachers who can already demonstrate that they meet the Teachers' Standards without further training. Candidates compile a portfolio of evidence from their current teaching and are formally assessed by an accredited university provider through lesson observations, professional discussions and evidence review.

Yes. The Assessment Only Route can be completed while teaching full-time in an international school in China, provided the school teaches to the English National Curriculum, IGCSE, Cambridge International or A Level programmes and meets the placement requirements of the assessing university. SinoUK ITDC supports teachers across mainland China throughout the process.

Candidates submit a structured portfolio mapped to the Teachers' Standards (England). This typically includes lesson plans, schemes of work, student work samples, assessment data, mentor and observer reports, references, safeguarding certificates, and evidence of professional development. SinoUK's SERS™ Evidence Review Service benchmarks your existing evidence before you commit to a full pathway.

The Assessment Only Route typically takes three to twelve weeks from portfolio submission to final assessment, once evidence is complete. Preparing the evidence portfolio, and any prerequisite English and Maths equivalency work, usually takes several months. Realistic overall timelines are between six and twelve months from initial consultation to QTS award.

SinoUK publishes its fees on the Pricing & Payments page: initial consultations are free; SERS™ Professional Support is offered in four tiers — Silver: Free / US$0; Gold: ¥3,500 / US$525; Platinum: ¥5,800 / US$875; Diamond: from ¥8,500 / from US$1,275 (final Diamond price depends on the approved mentoring arrangement and support required); personal mentoring is quoted individually. University assessment fees are paid directly to the provider (currently the University of Sunderland for the Assessment Only Route).

SERS™ is SinoUK's proprietary structured review of a candidate's existing teaching evidence against the Teachers' Standards (England). It is a structured professional evidence review based on professional judgement, producing a formal written report identifying which Standards are already well-evidenced, which need strengthening, and what a realistic route to QTS looks like — before any commitment to a full university programme.

SinoUK offers one-to-one professional mentoring following SERS™ completion. Mentoring is tailored to the teacher's subject, career stage and school context, and covers lesson observation cycles, evidence portfolio development, reflective practice and preparation for formal assessment.

SinoUK works with the University of Sunderland on the Assessment Only Route to QTS. We also signpost teachers to PGCE and PGCE with QTS routes at UK universities where those are the better fit, and can advise on English and Maths equivalency via A Star Equivalency for candidates who do not yet meet GCSE requirements.

The fastest route is WeChat: scan the SinoUKITDC QR code on the Contact page. You can also email office@sinoukitdc.com for general enquiries or andy.greaves@sinoukitdc.com for direct contact with the Programme Director. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:00 China Standard Time.