Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Priority Subject Incentive 2025 to 2026: guidance for ITE Partnerships

The ITE Priority Subject incentive scheme provides a £15,000 grant to students who are undertaking an accredited postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE). The programme must lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Students must meet the eligibility criteria.

This scheme is available for both full-time and part-time student teachers.

Students undertaking any employment-based teacher training scheme are not eligible for this grant. This includes the ‘Salaried PGCE scheme.’

Students undertaking training programmes which enable them to teach in the Post Compulsory Education and Training Sector (PGCE PCET) are not covered under this scheme.

The ITE priority subject incentive scheme documentation is updated annually. 

ITE Partnerships will be issued with a grant award letter and contract to support the delivery of this scheme.

The following scheme documentation is publicly available: 

• A legal scheme.
• A privacy notice.
• Scheme guidance for administrators and students.

Access to legal schemes, student guidance and Privacy Notices.

The following scheme delivery documentation is issued to ITE Partnerships: 

• A grant award letter.
• A contract for the administration of the grant.

These documents set out the scheme requirements and will assist in checking student eligibility. Please ensure that you look at the correct year of study when viewing the documents. 

If you have any questions related to this scheme or schemes from previous years, please contact ITEIncentives@gov.wales.

Under this scheme an incentive grant of £15,000 is available to all students who meet the eligibility criteria for the academic year of study.

The exact dates of payments to ITE Partnerships will be set out in the grant award letter.

Full-time students

Under this scheme the incentive payments totalling £15,000 will be made in 3 instalments, during a student’s ITE programme and early career:

• £6,000 in January following completion of the first term of their PGCE and continuation of their ITE programme. ITE Partnerships are responsible for this payment.
• £6,000 in July or August on successful completion of their PGCE and award of QTS. Where a student is assessed by a resubmission exam board, payments will be made prior to 31 December. ITE Partnerships are responsible for this payment.
• £3,000 on successful completion of induction in Wales. The Welsh Government is responsible for this payment.

Part-time students

The incentive payments totalling £15,000 will be made in 4 instalments during a student’s part-time ITE programme and early career:

• £3,000 in January following completion of the first term of their PGCE and continuation of their ITE programme. ITE Partnerships are responsible for this payment.
• £3,000 in January following completion the first year, and the first term of the second year, of their PGCE and continuation of their ITE programme. ITE Partnerships are responsible for this payment.
• £6,000 in July or August on successful completion of their PGCE and award of QTS. Where a student is assessed by a resubmission exam board, payments will be made prior to 31 December. ITE Partnerships are responsible for this payment.
• £3,000 on successful completion of induction in Wales. The Welsh Government is responsible for this payment.

Students assessed by a resubmission exam board

ITE Partnerships should submit an additional claim form for students who have been assessed by a resubmission exam board and have been awarded QTS. This will enable payments before 31 December.

A new online application system is in place for the 2025 to 2026 academic year. 

Students can use the online application to apply for one or multiple incentives. 

ITE Partnerships are responsible for:

• assessing students’ eligibility for this incentive
• validating student applications
• making the in-programme and QTS payments to students 

They do this on behalf of the Welsh Government.

Students can only receive an incentive grant if they:

• meet all the eligibility criteria
• have made an application by completing the online application form 

Welsh Government will provide a web link for the online application form for this incentive scheme to ITE Partnerships. ITE Partnerships must share this with students they deem eligible for this incentive. 

If students have any queries, they should contact their ITE Partnership.

In-programme payments

You should only pay in-programme payments to students who are continuing their ITE programme. Students must have completed the autumn term and started the winter or spring term with the intention of continuing their studies, to remain eligible for the in-programme payment.

If any student has withdrawn or deferred (suspended) a programme prior to when the in-programme payment is due, payment should not be made. Please refer to the ‘deferment (suspension), withdrawal and resumptions’ section of this guidance.

QTS payment

You should only pay the QTS payment to students who have completed an eligible postgraduate ITE programme in Wales leading to QTS (on award of QTS). If a student fails to achieve QTS, payment should not be made.

If any student has withdrawn or deferred (or suspended) a programme prior to being awarded QTS, payment should not be made.

Induction payment

The induction payment is made by Welsh Government. NQT’s must use the online application to apply for one or multiple incentive induction payments. School verification is required. 

Please see Induction payment process section of this guidance for ITE Partnership role.

This incentive is administered by the Welsh Government and on behalf of the Welsh Government by ITE Partnerships. 

ITE Partnerships are responsible for payments made in-programme and on award of QTS.

The Welsh Government is responsible for the induction payment. This is paid following successful completion of induction and award of an induction certificate.

The Welsh Government is responsible for the terms and conditions of the scheme and is the data controller for the scheme.

ITE Partnership responsibilities for grant administration

ITE Partnerships are responsible for:

• identifying students that meet the eligibility criteria
• providing eligible students with access to the online application at the start of the ITE programme. The online application covers all three ITE incentive schemes
• ensuring students understand the terms of the grant
• validating student applications
• sharing student information necessary for the scheme, with Welsh Government (for example, validation report, claim forms), in a secure manner, which complies with data protection requirements and the terms of the grant award letter
• completing claim forms in line with in-programme payment dates, as detailed within the grant award letter
• completing claim forms in line with QTS award dates, as detailed within the grant award letter
• supporting students to complete Deferment and Resumption Forms, as necessary
• administering in-programme and QTS payments to students
• dealing with student queries in relation to the incentive scheme
• advising students on the induction claiming process. This will include sharing information and web-link to the online application with them, as detailed in the award letter and the Induction payment process section of this guidance
• invoicing Welsh Government for the administration cost for delivering the scheme, as detailed within the contract

Full responsibilities for ITE Partnerships and important dates are issued annually in individual grant award letters and contract letters. ITE Partnerships should contact ITEIncentives@gov.wales if they have any queries.

Students can apply online for this incentive scheme between 1 September and 15 November. They must complete an online application form. This will provide the Welsh Government and ITE Partnerships with the information required to administer and evaluate the scheme. 

Prior to the start of the academic year, Welsh Government will issue ITE Partnerships with: 

• a weblink to the online application
• the ITE Partnership application code

ITE Partnerships should share this information with eligible students to enable them to apply within the relevant timeframe. 

The online application will remain open between 1September and 15 November. Should a student need to apply outside of this timeframe, ITE Partnerships should contact Welsh Government at ITEIncentives@gov.wales. The link to the online application is only valid for the 2025 to 2026 academic year.

The ITE Partnership application code will be issued to ITE Partnerships on an annual basis. The purpose of this code is to authenticate the application made, linking students with ITE Partnerships. 

Welsh Government will share an application validation report with ITE Partnerships prior to 30^th November. ITE Partnerships are required to validate the information within this report and provide any additional information required. The validation report must be returned to Welsh Government by 15^th December. This timeframe supports the claiming process. 

The grant award letter provides details about this process. The validation report will also provide guidance for its completion.

ITE Partnerships must complete and submit claim forms to the Welsh Government. This will ensure appropriate funds are released for payment of the in-programme and QTS instalments. 

Claim submission dates are: 

• 1 to 13 January for in-programme payments
• 1 to 17 August for QTS payments 

Further information can be found in the grant award letter.

ITE Partnerships should invoice Welsh Government once each claim has been agreed. Further information can be found in the contract for the scheme administration. 

ITE Partnerships should direct any questions they have related to the payment process, to ITEIncentives@gov.wales.

Welsh Government are responsible for the incentive induction instalment. This is paid following successful completion of induction and award of an induction certificate.

Induction payment process

Individuals must use the online application to apply for one or multiple incentive induction instalments. Welsh Government will provide a web-link to apply to ITE Partnerships. ITE Partnerships must share this with those eligible students on award of QTS. 

Students must have completed induction and received their EWC induction certificate before they can apply for payment.

If students have any queries about the induction process, they should contact Welsh Government by emailing ITEIncentives@gov.wales.

Induction claiming process

The ITE induction claiming process is made up of 3 parts: 

1. Induction instalment application (the applicant must complete this online).
2. Induction school verification, (the induction school must complete this online).
3. Induction certificate (the induction school must submit a copy of this to Welsh Government).

An induction application will only be viewed as complete once Welsh Government have received all 3 parts of the process. 

NQT’s or schools can contact Welsh Government should they have any questions about this process at ITEIncentives@gov.wales. 

Induction claim Part 1

Eligible individuals must apply to the Welsh Government to claim their induction instalment by completing an online incentive application.

Individuals can contact Welsh Government should they have any questions about this process at ITEIncentives@gov.wales.

Induction claim Part 2 and 3

The school where an NQT completes induction is required to verify an ITE incentive induction application. To do this they are asked to complete an online verification form and submit a copy of the applicants Induction certificate to Welsh Government. 

Either a Head Teacher, Deputy Head, Assistant Head or Head of Department of a school should complete part 2 and 3 of this claiming process. Failure to provide verification or submit the induction certificate will result in the applicant's ITE induction application being rejected. 

All of the directions to complete Part 2 and 3 will be issued directly to the Head Teacher, Deputy Head, Assistant Head or Head of Department. If they have any questions about this process, they can contact Welsh Government at ITEIncentives@gov.wales.

Where a student resumes an ITE programme in a different academic year to when they initially started or deferred, payments will continue to be made at the same rate (if any) which applied in the academic year the student’s studies initially started or deferred, unless the Welsh Government agrees otherwise in writing. 

Where a student resumes an ITE programme they will need to complete a Deferment and Resumption Form. This form must be completed by the student and submitted to the Welsh Government. ITE Partnerships must include these details in the appropriate claim form.

Deferment and Resumption Forms are available from the Welsh Government upon request. Completed forms will be submitted to Welsh Government and shared with the relevant ITE Partnership. Any payments made to students who resume an ITE programme will take into account any payments previously received.

In-programme payments (paid in January)

If a full-time student defers (suspends) their studies: 

• before the in-programme payment is due,
• or if they do not return or intend to return to their ITE programme, 

they will not be eligible to receive the payment. However, if a student resumes their studies within the same academic year, they will be entitled to receive the missed payment on award of QTS. Under these circumstances payment will be made following award of QTS and in addition to the QTS payment.

If a part-time student defers (suspends) their studies before the in-programme payment is due, they will not be eligible to receive the payment. However, if a student resumes their studies within the same academic year, they will be entitled to receive the missed payment in their second year. Under these circumstances payment will be made following the completion of their first year and in addition to the second in-programme payment (in January).

If a part-time student defers (suspends) their studies after their first in-programme payment (in January of their first year) and before the second in-programme payment is due (in January of their second year) they will not be eligible to receive the second in-programme payment. However, if a student later resumes their studies within the second academic year, they will be entitled to receive the missed payment on award of QTS. Under these circumstances payment will be made following award of QTS and in addition to the QTS payment.

Full-time students who withdraw from a programme before the in-programme payment is due will not be entitled to any payment.

Part-time students who withdraw from a programme before the in-programme payment is due in their first year, will not be entitled to any payment. Part-time students who received the first in-programme payment (in January of their first year) but withdraw before the second in-programme payment is due (in January of their second year), will not be entitled to any further payment.

QTS payment

If a student defers (suspends) their studies after receiving in-programme payments and prior to achieving QTS, they will not be eligible to receive the QTS payment. However, if a student resumes their studies and achieves QTS, they will be entitled to receive the QTS payment on award of QTS. The 'Deferment and Resumptions Form' must have been completed and accepted by the Welsh Government. Under these circumstances payment will be made following completion of a programme (on award of QTS).

Students who withdraw from a programme after the first payment has been received but before achieving QTS, will only be entitled to the payment already received.

Students who do not achieve QTS at the end of their programme will not be entitled to the QTS payment.

Induction payment

Students who achieve QTS but do not complete their induction period within the specified period within a maintained secondary school in Wales, will not be entitled to the induction payment.

To remain eligible to receive the induction payment: 

• induction must be completed within 3 years of achieving QTS within a maintained setting in Wales.
• An online application must be made to Welsh Government within one year of the NQT achieving induction.

Students who have started ITE Programme prior to 2022 and are returning

Students who started an ITE programme prior to September 2022 and return after September 2023 will move to the payment structure as set out in this guidance. The total incentive amount will remain as per amounts set out under the Initial Teacher Education priority subject incentives: guidance for students 2021 and previous years, minus any payments already received. Termly payments are no longer accessible under this scheme.

The Welsh Government has powers to recover incentive grants paid, in whole or in part. It has discretion about whether to exercise those powers and will consider all cases on their merits.

Welsh Government may exercise these powers where:

• after receiving any instalment of an incentive grant, the recipient fails to meet any eligibility criteria as set out in the legal scheme in relation to a subsequent instalment
• the recipient has provided information which is false or materially misleading in, or in connection with, their application for an incentive grant
• there is firm evidence that the recipient had never intended to complete the programme or having completed it, to enter teaching

Information which students submit as part of their application under the ITE priority subject incentive scheme, is subject to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the “FOIA”), the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (the “EIR”) the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018 (the “DPA”).

Students also acknowledge that the Welsh Government is responsible for determining in its absolute discretion whether:

• to disclose any information which it has obtained under, or in connection with, the Funding to the extent that it is required to disclose such information to a person making a disclosure request under the FOIA or the EIR
• any information is exempt from disclosure under the FOIA or the EIR
• to undertake checks for the purposes of preventing fraud and money laundering, and to verify your identity. This would involve sharing your personal data with third party fraud prevention agencies.

The Welsh Government is the data controller for the personal information it receives. Any personal data we collect will be managed in accordance with our Privacy Notice and 'Privacy notice: Welsh Government grants'.

The ITE incentive grants available reflect current recruitment priorities within the teaching workforce in Wales. They are available to eligible students on eligible postgraduate ITE programmes in Wales.

The Welsh Ministers have powers under sections 14 to 17 of the Education Act 2002 to provide financial assistance for the promotion of the recruitment or retention of teachers or non-teaching staff. This grant is in place to encourage individuals to train, enter and remain in the teaching profession. ITE incentives do not form part of a student finance package.

The Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Priority Subject incentive scheme is a legal scheme (“the Scheme”). The Scheme is made by the Welsh Ministers in the exercise of their powers on 11 November 2024. The Scheme is reviewed on an annual basis. Each Scheme makes provision for postgraduate ITE students, studying their accredited ITE programme in a specified subject, to access the incentives.