Professional qualifications

At The 3-18 Education Trust, professional qualifications including apprenticeships are a cornerstone of our people strategy—encouraging a culture of continuous improvement.

We actively engage with the apprenticeship levy, so we can fully fund professional qualifications for our staff at all stages of their career. This offers our staff the opportunity to achieve recognised qualifications and gain practical experience, advancing their careers with growth and development opportunities.

Fully-funded professional qualifications (via apprenticeship route)

We are proud to offer a diverse range of professional qualifications (via the apprenticeship route). From diplomas through to degree and masters level, these highlight the breadth of career paths available in education.

Examples of qualifications include:

Administration
Digital and IT (see more information below)
School Business Management
Facilities Management
Finance
HR
Marketing and PR
Safeguarding
Senior Leadership
Site Management
SEND
Teacher Degree Apprenticeship (TDAs)
Teacher QTS (plus PGCE)
Teaching Assistant

Digital and IT professional qualifications

Futureproof your career: join The 318 Education Trust’s Digital Drive and lead the way in educational technology.

As part of our drive to embed the use of technology in our schools, we have partnered with Primary Goal to offer a comprehensive package of digital champion and IT professional qualifications.

These programmes are designed to enable support staff to streamline business services, empower teachers and senior leaders to use technology to enhance learning and improve outcomes, and upskill technical staff.

Digital Educator (Level 3)
Digital Leader (Level 3)
Digital School Support (Level 3)
Microsoft 365 Education
Network Engineer (Level 4)
Cloud Specialist (Level 3)

Hear from our apprentices

“As I am still new to working in education, I hope to learn more skills and techniques to help me better support the children and staff around me. I already feel better equipped to face situations in the classroom or on the playground, allowing me to figure out solutions that provide better outcomes for the children. This qualification will help me build my confidence, which will help me to work better in the classroom and will create a strong foundation for me to build my future career upon.”

“I decided to start an apprenticeship because I wanted to gain practical, real-world experience while learning the trade of a school business professional. I believe that hands-on learning is the best way to develop my skills and build a strong foundation for my career. An apprenticeship also offers the opportunity to work alongside experts in the field, which allows me to learn from their knowledge and experience.”

“Having moved from a 16-year career in banking and finance, I felt like I needed to learn more about school business management. This is the perfect solution for me as the qualification will help with my knowledge and skills and also support future career progression.”

“I wanted to build practical skills in a hands-on environment while gaining a formal qualification. Property maintenance is a field where experience really matters, and an apprenticeship offered the perfect balance of learning and doing. It also gave me a clear pathway into a skilled trade with long-term career potential."

Celebrating apprenticeships: “The qualification will help with my knowledge and skills and support future career progression.”

Celebrating apprenticeships: “I hope to learn more skills and techniques to help me better support the children and staff around me.”

Celebrating apprenticeships: “My apprenticeship is giving me a well-rounded foundation to become a confident and capable school business professional.”

Professional development and learning

Empowering you to develop, thrive and lead at all stages of your career.

Find out more