Based on my experience, I would not recommend enrolling with this company! This is an honest account of my experience and not a sponsored or incentivised review.
I entered into a £6,000 agreement with SCCD for a Level 5 Diploma in Teaching. The same qualification is available elsewhere for significantly less around only £1,000! I had to pay a minimum of £3,000 upfront to access a payment plan for the remaining balance. After several months and additional instalments, I realised that SCCD could not deliver the outcomes promised during consultation. I also found that the contract did not fully reflect what was communicated to me before enrolment.
In my experience, the higher price appeared to be partly justified by SCCD because they promoted placement as coming with a potential job or visa sponsorship. However, sponsorship can only be granted by a licensed employer, not a training provider, and SCCD did not have the ability to guarantee or arrange this. Even for students who do not need visa sponsorship, the course still seems significantly more expensive than similar Level 5 qualifications offered elsewhere. In my view, the pricing does not reflect any extra value that justifies the difference.
SCCD tries to place all students in a school, if possible, to complete their 100–150 unpaid placement hours. They tell students the school might offer a job and that their performance during placement will decide if they get hired. In reality, placements are mainly for completing training hours, not employment. By presenting it this way, SCCD can avoid responsibility if students are not hired because they can claim it was due to the student’s performance even though the school never planned to hire them and only took them on so they could complete their mandatory teaching practice hours.
The placement itself is something I later discovered I could have arranged independently by contacting schools directly, as many schools are willing to support placement students without an intermediary. In my experience, paying a higher fee for the course and placement did not provide any clear advantage, as placement was mainly promoted by SCCD as a selling point with the suggestion it could lead to a job or visa sponsorship, which was not true.
I was not clearly told before enrolling that this course leads to a Level 5 Diploma only, not QTLS. Completing it does not automatically make a student eligible for QTLS. Eligibility depends on prior qualifications in the subject, whether the subject is recognised in schools, and successful completion of the course. Many students may only realise this later, after investing time and money. Anyone with a relevant Level 3 qualification, which is essentially a college-level qualification, can enrol and be eligible for SCCD Level 5 Diploma. Because the entry requirement is relatively low, it’s understandable why schools often prefer hiring QTS-qualified candidates rather than QTLS holders for employment and visa sponsorship.
After identifying what I believed to be misrepresentation in how the course was sold, I exercised my right to withhold further payments. I subsequently received correspondence referencing potential legal action. In my experience, the correspondence I received came directly from SCCD and not through any court or official legal process. I would encourage others not to feel pressured by such correspondence and to seek independent legal advice before responding or making any decisions. For those who have already enrolled and feel they may have been misled, I would also encourage you to seek independent legal advice regarding your consumer rights.
I am sharing this review so others can make a more informed decision before enrolling. If you are considering this course, I strongly encourage you to:
∙ Check that everything you were promised or assured during your consultation is reflected in your contract. If it is not in writing, do not sign.
∙ Speak to the school SCCD place you in directly and ask whether any agreement is in place regarding job opportunities or visa sponsorship. Do not rely solely on what SCCD tells you
∙ Research the differences between QTLS and QTS before committing
∙ Confirm whether you already hold the subject qualification required to pursue QTLS
∙ Compare prices with other Level 5 teaching providers as many offer the same qualification for significantly less, around £1,000
∙ Research this provider thoroughly across multiple platforms before making any decision
∙ Seek independent advice if your visa situation depends on this course
∙ Keep records of all interactions
∙ Consider seeking independent legal advice if you feel you may have been misled regarding your consumer rights.
This review reflects my personal experience only
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SCCD Training is a multi-accredited teacher training centre with a proud record of working with schools and colleges across London. We seek to add value to the community, maximising the potential of our learners to help them achieve their professional dreams and aspirations.
We offer Level 5 Diploma in Education & Training (leading to QTLS) and Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Teaching & Learning in Schools.See more
