Qualified Teacher Status
QTS is professional teaching status in England. It indicates that a teacher has met the required professional standards through an approved route. It is not, by itself, a subject-specific tutoring qualification.
Parent guide for Dubai & the UAE
QTS, PGCE and British-qualified tutors: what parents should actually check
Parents searching for a British-qualified tutor in Dubai will often see terms such as QTS, PGCE, British curriculum experience and subject specialist. They do not all mean the same thing. The useful question is not simply whether a tutor has a credential, but whether their background fits your child’s exact subject, level and curriculum.
Understand the qualificationsParent-focused guideQualification clarityCurriculum fit
Start with the terminology
What QTS and PGCE mean
They are both useful signals, but they describe different things.
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
A PGCE is a postgraduate teacher-training qualification. Many training routes lead to both a PGCE and a recommendation for QTS, but a parent should still check exactly what the tutor holds rather than assuming the terms mean the same thing.
Academic and subject depth
A teaching credential does not automatically make someone suitable for every subject or level. A parent seeking A Level Chemistry, IGCSE Maths or IB Physics should ask about relevant subject experience specifically.
Curriculum and exam-board familiarity
GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB are not interchangeable. Within IGCSE and A Level, the examination board and specification can also affect content, terminology and assessment.
An important distinction
A qualified teacher is not automatically the right tutor
QTS or a PGCE can be strong evidence of formal teacher training, but successful one-to-one tuition still depends on relevance. The tutor should understand the student’s level, know the course being studied and be able to explain difficult ideas in a way that works for that individual learner.
For example, a highly experienced primary teacher may be excellent at primary Maths but not be the right match for an A Level Mathematics student. Equally, a British-qualified secondary teacher may need additional programme-specific experience before being the right fit for an IB student.
Subject
Do they actually teach the subject at the level your child needs?
Programme
Do they understand IGCSE, A Level, IB or the exact curriculum being followed?
Assessment
Are they familiar with the relevant specification, paper structure and assessment expectations?
Student fit
Can they adapt explanations, build confidence and communicate well with this particular student?
Questions worth asking
What parents should check before agreeing to tuition
A short conversation can usually establish whether the tutor’s qualifications and experience are genuinely relevant.
What teaching qualification do you hold?
Ask for the precise qualification rather than relying on broad wording such as “UK trained” or “British qualified”.
Do you hold QTS?
If QTS matters to you, ask directly and make sure it is not being confused with a PGCE or general teaching experience.
What do you currently teach?
Current or recent teaching at the correct subject and level can be more informative than an impressive but unrelated qualification.
Which curriculum and board?
Ask specifically about Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel, AQA, OxfordAQA, IB or whichever programme the student follows.
How do you identify gaps?
A useful tutor should be able to explain how they work out whether the problem is missing knowledge, weak method, confidence or exam technique.
How will progress be reviewed?
Look for a realistic approach based on improved understanding, accuracy, independence and assessment evidence rather than guaranteed grades.
For IB families
British-qualified does not automatically mean IB-experienced
This is an important point for Dubai families. A tutor can be an excellent British-qualified teacher and still have limited experience with the IB Diploma Programme. IB subjects have their own course structures, assessment expectations and terminology.
Ask for programme-specific experience
If your child studies IB Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry or Physics, ask whether the tutor has taught or tutored the relevant IB subject and level. For Maths, that may also mean distinguishing between Analysis and Approaches and Applications and Interpretation, as well as SL or HL.
How British Scholars approaches verification
Credentials are reviewed, then relevance is considered
Our role is not to place every tutor in a searchable marketplace. We review submitted information and consider the family’s actual requirement before making an introduction.
Qualifications reviewed
Submitted teaching qualifications, certification and identity information are reviewed as part of our tutor process.
Curriculum fit considered
We look at the requested programme, subject, level and examination board rather than matching on the subject name alone.
Practical fit considered
Lesson format, location, timetable and the student’s goals are considered before an introduction is made.
Questions from parents
Frequently asked questions
What is QTS?
Qualified Teacher Status, or QTS, is professional teaching status in England. It is separate from an academic qualification such as a PGCE.
Is a PGCE the same as QTS?
No. A PGCE is a postgraduate teacher-training qualification. Many teacher-training routes lead to both a PGCE and a recommendation for QTS, but the terms are not interchangeable and parents should check what the tutor actually holds.
Does QTS guarantee that someone is the right tutor?
No. QTS is a valuable professional credential, but subject expertise, curriculum familiarity, examination-board experience, communication style and fit with the individual student still matter.
Should I insist on QTS for every tutor?
That depends on what matters to your family and the support required. QTS can be a valuable indicator of formal teacher status, but parents should consider it alongside subject expertise, relevant curriculum experience and the student’s needs.
Can a British-qualified teacher tutor IB students?
Yes, if the tutor also has relevant IB subject and programme experience. British teaching qualifications alone do not demonstrate familiarity with IB assessment.
Personal tutor matching
Tell us the qualification and experience you want.
Share the curriculum, subject, level, location and any specific preference for QTS, PGCE, British curriculum or IB experience. We’ll review suitable tutors.
Start a free parent enquiry