About this departmental advice

This is non-statutory departmental advice on employing overseas-trained teachers (OTTs) to teach in state maintained and non-maintained special schools in England. In this guidance, OTTs are people who have qualified as teachers in a country outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, having successfully completed a course of initial teacher training, which is recognised by the relevant authorities in their home countries.

The Education (Specified Work and Registration) (England) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/762) set out the conditions under which overseas-trained teachers are allowed to carry out specified work.

Expiry or review date

This advice will be kept under review and updated as necessary.

Who is this advice for?

This advice is for:

  • local authorities
  • school leaders, school staff and governing bodies in all maintained schools and academies
  • teachers who were trained in overseas countries.

Key points

  • the Education (Specified Work) (England) Regulations 2012 allow teachers trained in a country outside of the UK to teach in state maintained schools and non-maintained special schools in England for up to four years
  • teachers who qualified in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America (USA) may apply for qualified teacher status without further training or assessment in England
  • teachers from overseas may be subject to UK Border Agency requirements

 

Contact details

Teaching Information Line
Organisation type: Other
Telephone: 0800 389 2500

Teacher Enquiries
Telephone: 0300 7900225
Email: qts.enquiries@education.gsi.gov.uk