---
title: "PIN- iQTS inspection regime, appointment of inspectorates"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-5866e683-972f-44a9-8790-404fe5849ef9"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-5866e683-972f-44a9-8790-404fe5849ef9"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-5866e683-972f-44a9-8790-404fe5849ef9.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-5866e683-972f-44a9-8790-404fe5849ef9.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION"
published: "2022-09-30"
---

# PIN- iQTS inspection regime, appointment of inspectorates

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-5866e683-972f-44a9-8790-404fe5849ef9

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-5866e683-972f-44a9-8790-404fe5849ef9)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-5866e683-972f-44a9-8790-404fe5849ef9.json)

## Summary

The Department for Education has initiated a planning stage tender titled "PIN- iQTS inspection regime, appointment of inspectorates" in the System quality assurance assessment and review services category. The procurement process involves market engagement for organisations to participate in developing the iQTS inspection regime. Key dates include the engagement end date of November 30, 2022. The inspection pilot programme is set to run from January 2023 to autumn 2024, with inspection visits planned from January 2024 to July 2024. The tender aims to appoint independent organisations to assure the quality of iQTS training programmes, with a focus on hybrid inspection methods and international collaborations.

This tender presents an opportunity for organisations experienced in quality assurance of education provision to become iQTS inspectorates for the Department for Education's inspection pilot. Suitable businesses should have expertise in teacher training, the capability to conduct in-person inspections globally, and a commitment to developing high-quality inspection frameworks. Participation in this tender offers the chance to contribute to shaping the iQTS inspection regime, ensuring it meets the needs of candidates and providers. Businesses interested in quality assurance and education services would be well-suited to compete in this tender.

## Notice

This is not an invitation to bid. The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to invite organisations to participate in market engagement. International qualified teacher status (iQTS) is a new teacher training qualification backed by the Department of Education (DfE) and the UK government. It is in pilot, with plans underway to open iQTS to increasing numbers of iQTS providers and applicants in academic year 2023/24 and 2024/25 before its full launch to the market. DfE will soon be inviting applications from organisations with experience in quality assuring domestic and overseas education provision to become iQTS inspectorates for the iQTS inspection pilot. The pilot programme will run from January 2023 to autumn 2024. Those delivering successful pilot inspections may later be approved to inspect iQTS provision. The inspection framework(s) and inspection documentation will be developed from January 2023 to summer 2023 and published in autumn 2023. The inspection visits will take place from January 2024 to July 2024. Requirment DfE's International qualified teacher status (iQTS): inspection policy sets out the iQTS inspection regime. Inspection of iQTS provision must ensure that iQTS is delivered in line with the core documents: - iQTS inspection criteria (setting out the standards iQTS providers will be graded on by the inspectorate will be published with the tender documentation) - iQTS Teacher's Standards - Initial teacher training core content framework for iQTS - iQTS: citeria for providers The inspection regime will also ensure iQTS meets the needs of candidates, iQTS providers, the quality control standards set by DfE at the overall goals, as set out in 'Introducing international qualified teacher status (iQTS)' link below. iQTS inspections will be hybrid in nature, with evidence and data provided both in person and via remote technology. You will be expected to visit one school overseas from the provider cohort to speak to the trainees, their mentors and school leaders. Following the inspection, the iQTS provision will be given a grade from 1 to 4, with 1 being the highest rating and 4 the lowest. DfE's International qualified teacher status (iQTS): inspection policy gives more detail. Aims of the iQTS inspection pilot DfE intends to appoint a number of independent organisations to quality assure the iQTS training programmes delivered by 6 iQTS providers in academic year 2023/24. What we learn from the inspection pilot will allow us to successfully roll out the inspection regime for iQTS over the academic year 2024/25. Funding Please note there is no DfE funding available for iQTS inspections or the development of the deliverables listed below. iQTS providers set their own course fees and as part of this course fee they will cover the cost of their iQTS inspection. Organisations submitting an application for the iQTS inspectorate do so at their own risk. Additional information: Eligibility As part of the application process to become an iQTS inspectorate, you must confirm: - You are independent from English ITT providers and all overseas schools - have relevant expertise and experience of similar quality assurance work in the UK or overseas (for example, working with British Schools Overseas) - have appropriate knowledge and understanding of initial teacher training, and if not, confirm you would be prepared to attend training to increase your knowledge and commit to being able to demonstrate this by the point of inspection - have sufficient capacity to design and deliver a high quality inspection framework in line with DfE's inspection policy and iQTS inspection criteria in time for inspections to commence in January 2024 - have an international presence that means you can easily conduct 'in person' inspections, or have overseas connections to facilitate this - have existing international relationships and/or partnerships to assist in the development of your iQTS inspection framework - can evidence you can deploy both your staff and technological resources to meet the ambitions of the hybrid approach to the iQTS inspection policy - will work with DfE and other appointed inspectorates from January 2023 to Summer 2023 to develop the iQTS inspection framework, the iQTS inspection code of conduct and supporting inspection documentation - will work with DfE and iQTS providers from January 2024 to June 2024 to deliver the iQTS inspection pilot - agree to DfE quality assurance of pilot iQTS inspectorates and the direct costs associated with it Key Deliverables In the year prior to the iQTS inspections, inspectorates must: - Attend DfE training to ensure up to date knowledge and understanding of teacher training and iQTS - Produce an iQTS inspection framework (final version by August 2023). - Meet every 2 months with DfE to discuss progress on the development of the inspection framework, producing drafts for review at two points in the year (April 2023 and June 2023). - Once the inspection programme is underway, meet with DfE: o to review draft inspection reports if a provider raises a challenge or complaint during the inspection o to review the post-inspection feedback report Market engagement - Identical information webinars will be held on Thursday 6th October at 2pm and Thursday 13th at 11am and will cover, what iQTS is, what iQTS inspection looks like, who can apply and what being an iQTS approved inspectorate requires. Open to all organisations who are interested and are able to deliver and becoming an iQTS appointed inspectorate. This notice is for information only and is not a call for competition. The Department reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not proceed with award. Accordingly, the Department will not be liable for any bid cost, expenditure, work or effort incurred by any school or other organisation in acting on the basis of this Prior Information Notice.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6bf354d1-9a98-43f7-873c-cbb07d0228bf |
| Notice type | Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Not specified |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 30 Sep 2022 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 30 Nov 2022 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 3BT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 75 - Administration, defence and social security services
- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 72225000 - System quality assurance assessment and review services
- 75121000 - Administrative educational services
- 80000000 - Education and training services

## Release History

- 30 Sep 2022 at 09:43 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6bf354d1-9a98-43f7-873c-cbb07d0228bf
- 30 Sep 2022 at 09:32 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f5829809-b4d7-4319-9cb5-ab5781959159

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6bf354d1-9a98-43f7-873c-cbb07d0228bf
  30th September 2022 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f5829809-b4d7-4319-9cb5-ab5781959159
  30th September 2022 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder
- https://education.app.jaggaer.com
  All future information will be issued to interested applicants via the DfE e-Tendering Portal. Applicants can access this system at:
- http://ViewcollectediQTSpolicyandguidance:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/international-qualified-teacher-status#inspection-policy
  Market engagement event - Please email us at iqts.policy@education.gov.uk with your preferred date. We encourage you to submit questions in advance.
- https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/non-uk-teachers/international-qualified-teacher-status
  View guidance for candidates and current iQTS training providers.
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-qualified-teacher-status-iqts-inspection-policy
  DfE's International qualified teacher status (iQTS): inspection policy
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-qualified-teacher-status-iqts/introducing-the-international-qualified-teacher-status-iqts-pilot
  The inspection regime will also ensure iQTS meets the needs of candidates, iQTS providers, the quality control standards set by DfE at the overall goals, as set out in Introducing international qualified teacher status (iQTS)
- http://Applicantscanaccessthissystemat:https://education.app.jaggaer.com
  All future information will be issued to interested applicants via the DfE e-Tendering Portal.

## Notice URLs

- http://Applicants
- http://View
- https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/international-qualified-teacher-status#inspection-policy

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-5866e683-972f-44a9-8790-404fe5849ef9. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-5866e683-972f-44a9-8790-404fe5849ef9.json.
