Guidance

Teacher subject specialism training (TSST): programme details

A programme to improve subject knowledge for non-specialist and returning-teachers.

• From: National College for Teaching and Leadership and Department for Education
• Published: 14 March 2016
• Last updated: 28 September 2021 — See all updates

This guidance was withdrawn on 7 October 2024

This is no longer current government activity.

Applies to England

The TSST Programme has now closed.

From April 2021, training for non-specialist teachers who currently teach maths or physics will be delivered by the maths hubs and the Stimulating Physics Network (SPN).

Support for non-specialist maths, physics and languages teachers has been aligned with existing curriculum programmes and their delivery partners. Contact them directly to access support.

Support for non-specialist maths teachers

From April 2021, the National Centre of Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) will work with maths hubs to deliver a programme aimed at non-maths teachers currently teaching maths: specialist knowledge for teaching mathematics - secondary.

For more information see the National Centre of Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) website.

Support for non-specialist physics teachers

From April 2021, the Institute of Physics (IOP) will work with the Stimulating Physics Network (SPN) to deliver a programme aimed at non-physics teachers currently teaching physics: specialist knowledge for teaching physics programme.

For more information contact the Stimulating Physics Network.

Support for non-specialist languages teachers

From December 2021, the National Centre for Excellence for Language Pedagogy (NCELP) will provide online continuing professional development on modern foreign languages pedagogy and is available to all specialist and non-specialist teachers. Extensive resources (including screencasts) are available now on their website.

For more information contact the National Centre for Excellence for Language Pedagogy.

Other opportunities

You can:

• contact the Association for Language Learning which supports and represents language teachers from all sectors
• read A guide to STEM continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities for teachers (PDF, 274 KB, 15 pages) for opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics teaching
• search for other subject association and professional organisations who may offer continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities for teachers
• contact your local higher education institutes (HEI) for subject-specific professional development for teachers

Published 14 March 2016
Last updated 28 September 2021 + show all updates

1. 28 September 2021

   We have added a link to the National Centre of Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) website.

2. 31 March 2021

   Page updated as the teacher subject specialism training programme has now closed. Added information about support for non-specialist maths, physics and language teachers.

3. 1 February 2021

   Added information about the programme ending in March 2021.

4. 10 February 2020

   The course directory has been replaced with an accessible HTML version, available on a separate webpage. Eligibility details have been reformatted to make it clearer about who can apply.

5. 29 October 2019

   Teacher subject specialism training directory updated.

6. 8 October 2019

   Added an updated version of the Teacher subject specialism training directory in both Excel and ODS formats.

7. 25 September 2019

   Added latest version of document 'Teacher subject specialism training directory' with updated contact details.

8. 24 July 2019

   Teacher subject specialism training directory updated for the 2019 to 2020 academic year.

9. 3 April 2019

   Added latest versions of document 'Teacher subject specialism training directory' with updated contact details.

10. 11 March 2019

    Added an updated version of the directory in both Excel and ODS formats.

11. 27 February 2019

    'Teacher subject specialism training directory' attachments updated.

12. 23 November 2018

    Updated 'Teacher subject specialism training directory' with further information for Dartford Grammar.

13. 1 November 2018

    Replaced both 'Teacher subject specialism training directory' attachments with updated versions.

14. 12 October 2018

    Replaced 'Teacher subject specialism training directory' documents with updated versions.

15. 28 September 2018

    Updated teacher subject specialism training courses directory.

16. 20 September 2018

    Updated teacher subject specialism training courses directory.

17. 13 September 2018

    Updated directory added. Overview and eligibility text has been reviewed for clarity.

18. 28 February 2018

    Teacher subject specialism training courses directory updated.

19. 9 February 2018

    Teacher subject specialism training courses directory updated.

20. 2 February 2018

    Updated teacher subject specialism training courses directory

21. 26 January 2018

    Teacher subject specialism training directory

22. 17 January 2018

    Updated teacher subject specialism training courses directory

23. 10 January 2018

    Updated teacher subject specialism course directory

24. 8 December 2017

    Directory updated.

25. 27 November 2017

    Updated teacher subject specialism course directory

26. 16 November 2017

    Updated teacher subject specialism training directory

27. 2 November 2017

    Updated teacher subject specialism training course directory

28. 27 October 2017

    Teacher subject specialism training directory updated

29. 20 October 2017

    Teacher subject specialism training directory updated.

30. 12 October 2017

    Teacher Subject Specialism directory updated.

31. 6 October 2017

    Teacher Subject Specialism Training course directory updated.

32. 29 September 2017

    Updated Teacher Subject Specialism Training Directory

33. 22 September 2017

    Teacher subject specialism training courses directory updated.

34. 14 September 2017

    Latest Teacher subject specialism training directory added to web page.

35. 6 September 2017

    Updated teacher subject specialism training directory

36. 29 August 2017

    Updated teacher subject specialism training directory

37. 18 August 2017

    Latest TSST directory added to webpage.

38. 11 August 2017

    Teacher subject specialism training directory

39. 26 July 2017

    Teacher subject specialism training course directory updated.

40. 18 July 2017

    Teacher subject specialism training courses guidance and course directory updated.

41. 2 March 2017

    Teacher subject specialism training directory updated.

42. 21 February 2017

    Teacher subject specialism training directory updated

43. 6 December 2016

    Updated teacher subject specialism training course directory.

44. 30 November 2016

    The teacher subject specialism training course directory has been updated.

45. 24 November 2016

    Updated teacher subject specialism training course directory.

46. 14 November 2016

    Updated teacher subject specialism training course directory.

47. 3 November 2016

    Teacher subject specialism training directory updated.

48. 25 October 2016

    Update to teacher subject specialist training courses page.

49. 17 October 2016

    Teacher subject specialism training directory updated.

50. 5 October 2016

    Teacher subject specialism training directory updated.

51. 30 September 2016

    Updated teacher subject specialism training directory

52. 16 September 2016

    Updated TSST directory

53. 8 September 2016

    Teacher subject specialism training directory updated.

54. 28 July 2016

    Teacher subject specialism training directory updated.

55. 22 July 2016

    Update to teacher subject specialist training courses page

56. 14 March 2016

    First published.