Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Priority Subject Incentive 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. 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. 

The following scheme documentation is available on the Welsh Government website:

• terms and conditions of this scheme
• privacy notice
• guidance for administrators and students

The following scheme delivery documentation is issued to ITE Partnerships to support delivery: 

• 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.

ITE Partnerships are responsible for administering and assessing students’ eligibility for this incentive. 

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

You must share these with the students you deem eligible for this incentive.

Student application process

Students can only apply for an incentive grant if they:

• meet all the eligibility criteria
• are studying on an eligible programme
• have made an application to the Welsh Government via the online portal

Students can apply between 1 September and 15 November. 

Should a student need to apply outside of this timeframe you should contact Welsh Government at ITEIncentives@gov.wales.

Students will need the weblink to the application form and the ITE Partnership application code.

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

How to ensure that applications have been received

Students will receive a confirmation email once they have submitted their application. They should only consider their application submitted once this has been received.

If a student makes an error, they should not submit a new application. Mistakes will be corrected during the validation stage.

Validation report

The ITE Partnership application code will be issued to ITE Partnerships on an annual basis. Students must use this code when applying for the incentive. It authenticates the application and links students with ITE Partnerships. 

Welsh Government will share a 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 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.

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

The £15,000 incentive will be paid 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 instalment.
• £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 instalment.
• £3,000 on successful completion of induction in Wales. The Welsh Government is responsible for this instalment.

Part-time students

The £15,000 incentive will be paid 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 instalment.
• £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 instalment.
• £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 instalment.
• £3,000 on successful completion of induction in Wales. The Welsh Government is responsible for this instalment.

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.

In-programme instalment payment

You should only pay in-programme instalments 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 instalment.

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

QTS instalment payment

You should only pay the QTS instalment 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 instalment payment

The induction instalment is made by Welsh Government. NQT’s must use the online application to apply for one or multiple incentive induction instalments. 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. 

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

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

The Welsh Government is responsible for the induction instalment.

ITE Partnership responsibilities for grant administration

• Utilising the incentive scheme to support recruitment into eligible ITE programmes where appropriate.
• 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 scheme.
• Validating student applications.
• Sharing student information necessary for the scheme securely with Welsh Government (for example, validation report, claim forms). This must comply with data protection requirements and the terms of the grant award letter.
• Completing claim forms in line with in-programme instalment 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 Returner Forms, as necessary.
• Administering in-programme and QTS instalments 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 students. This is explained 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.

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

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 from the Education Workforce Council (EWC).

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 received their QTS instalment, completed induction and received their EWC induction certificate before they can apply for the induction instalment.

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 must verify an ITE incentive induction application. They must complete an online verification form and submit a copy of the applicant’s 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 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.

Induction payment timeframe

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 instalment.

To remain eligible to receive the induction instalment: 

• 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.

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 instalment is due,
• or if they do not return or intend to return to their ITE programme, 

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

If a part-time student defers (suspends) their studies before the in-programme instalment is due, they will not be eligible to receive the instalment. However, if a student resumes their studies within the same academic year, they will be entitled to receive the missed instalment 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 instalment (in January).

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

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

Part-time students who withdraw from a programme before the in-programme instalment is due in their first year, will not be entitled to any payment. Part-time students who received the first in-programme instalment (in January of their first year) but withdraw before the second in-programme instalment 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 instalment and prior to achieving QTS, they will not be eligible to receive the QTS instalment. However, if a student resumes their studies and achieves QTS, they will be entitled to receive the QTS instalment on award of QTS. A 'Returner Form' must be completed and accepted by Welsh Government. Under these circumstances payment will be made following completion of a programme (on award of QTS). ITE partnerships can request a link to the Returner Form from ITEIncentives@gov.wales.

Students who withdraw from a programme after the in-programme instalments have been received but before achieving QTS, will only be entitled to the instalments already received.

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

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 scheme terms and conditions 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 Priority Subject incentive 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.