Applications for the next Advanced Teacher Status (ATS) cohort will open on 1 April. ATS is a recognised professional status for advanced teachers, gained after successfully completing a 14-month period of professional development through the Society for Education and Training (SET). The status is maintained through membership of SET and re-accreditation every three years.
Applications for this ATS cohort are open from 1 April to 30 September 2024, with the programme starting 1 October 2024 for successful applicants. Underpinned by the 2022 Advanced Teacher Professional Standards, the self-guided professional development programme enables advanced teachers to develop their pedagogical expertise further and demonstrate their mastery of teaching to post-14 learners and colleagues. The programme also requires participants to coach a qualified colleague and undertake a quality improvement project that has organisation-wide benefit. The portfolio submission date for this cohort will be 18 December 2025, with Vivas due to take place in early March 2026.
Whilst ATS is a nationally recognised professional status in its own right, awardees also gain Chartered Teacher Status, conferred through the Chartered College of Teaching.
Since its launch in 2019, the 240+ ATS holders have highlighted the wide-ranging benefits of completing the programme: 100% of surveyed 2022 awardees have said it had a positive impact on their practice, learners and colleagues.
Abby Bruce, Academy Director at The Sheffield College, said: “I am proud to wear my ATS badge, and my organisation is keen for more staff to undertake the programme and gain this distinguished award. Since achieving ATS, I have helped and advised others within my organisation, and further afield, who are embarking on the same challenge. Furthermore, the videos I created for my ATS project are now used as part of our recruitment process as we can give prospective students a taste of our facilities and teaching experience from the comfort of their own homes.”
The price of undertaking the ATS programme for this year is £884, with the option to spread the cost across direct debit instalments. Updated eligibility criteria for prospective applicants are now available on the ATS webpage.
Paul Tully, Associate Director of Membership and Business Growth at SET, said: “ATS enables you to demonstrate your skills as an advanced practitioner and take the next progression step in your career. Practitioners and leaders who have gained ATS, and by extension Chartered Teacher Status, are better equipped to use research and evidence to inform their practice, making them more effective and more confident in their role. Not only does this benefit the individual who holds ATS, it benefits the whole organisation and its learners. Providers and employers that invest in ATS are contributing to improving learning outcomes, improving standards, and providing a high-quality developmental process for advanced teachers.”
Find out more about ATS and how to apply here.