School Onsite Training Programme

The School Onsite Training Programme (SOTP) provides funding for places in school-based Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes. It gives student teachers the opportunity to gain practical teaching experience in a host school, while studying towards their teaching qualification.

For the 2026 SOTP intake, there are 465 funded places available for primary and secondary schools, including Kaupapa Māori and Māori medium kura. 

Purpose and benefits of SOTP

School-based ITE allows student teachers to gain extended practical classroom experience throughout the full school year as they complete their coursework. This hands-on approach helps build their confidence and ensures they are ready for their first year as provisionally certificated teachers.

The SOTP reduces barriers to participation in onsite training pathways and enables student teachers to build relationships with their host schools while they gain practical classroom experience, supporting them on their journey to become beginning teachers. 

Funding

The Ministry of Education pays the SOTP funding to ITE providers. It is the ITE providers’ responsibility to distribute this funding to schools or kura, and student teachers participating in their eligible programmes.

ITE providers should note that student teachers awarded a 2026 SOTP funded place are not eligible to also be a recipient of a TeachNZ Scholarship.

Each participating SOTP student teacher receives a bursary totalling $19,930 – this is to support the student teacher while they are participating onsite and completing their teaching qualification. The bursary is to be paid by the ITE provider at regular intervals to the student teacher, over the course of the academic year. Unlike previous years, there is no funding component specifically to cover fees. SOTP participants must cover their tertiary fees, they may use the bursary for this.

Host schools also receive a contribution of $2,000 per student teacher, to contribute towards the cost of hosting onsite for the duration of a school year.

Applications

Applications for step two are now open.

The Ministry aims to make the application process more efficient for everyone involved. Our approach for the 2026 SOTP funding cycle is to have ITE providers as lead applicants – meaning they should be leading the submission of application forms on behalf of their host schools.  

The 2026 SOTP has a two-step application process.

Step one:  

• ITE providers submit their programmes for assessment against the SOTP provider criteria.  
• Applications for this close on 1 August 2025.  
• Outcomes will be communicated to providers on or before 8 August 2025.

Step two:  

• ITE providers submit their SOTP application with input from their host schools or kura for places on the 2026 programme.  
• Host schools will then be assessed against the SOTP school criteria.  
• Applications for this open on 11 August 2025 and close on 12 September 2025.  
• Outcomes for places will be communicated to providers on or before 19 September 2025. 

Information for schools and kura  

Schools and kura wanting to be a host school for the 2026 SOTP intake should contact their partner ITE provider to express their interest.

Schools and kura who do not have a partner ITE provider can refer to the list of providers available on the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand website. We encourage schools and kura to get in touch directly with ITE providers whose programme is best suited to their needs. 

Information for ITE providers

To be considered for the 2026 SOTP, ITE providers should be able to establish that they have an approved 1-year graduate or post-graduate ITE programme that:  

• will lead to teacher registration  
• is focused on primary or secondary education.

Additional requirements for ITE providers in this funding cycle include:

• ITE providers need to demonstrate an understanding and integration of work-based pedagogy in their programme design and delivery.  They also need to work with host-schools on their programme design and delivery.
• ITE providers also need to demonstrate how the SOTP programme delivers differentiated wraparound support and structure for student teachers.
• The programme needs to include an explicit focus on preparing teachers to teach to the new curriculum including key focus areas of structured literacy, mathematics, and the science of learning and the use of explicit instruction for primary programmes, and an explicit focus on science of learning for secondary programmes.
• ITE providers need to demonstrate how assessment includes authentic evidence generated through practice, including onsite assessment involving mentor teachers and other school staff where appropriate.
• ITE providers need to have clear agreements with schools in place that address how student teachers will be supported onsite by appropriately experienced mentor teachers within a whole-school approach
• ITE providers also need to offer opportunities for mentor teachers to engage in learning and development to improve their ability to support student teachers, working with host schools to ensure it is relevant and accessible.
• Schools and ITE providers have clear agreement in place on how they work together to select student teachers, where appropriate. 

ITE providers and schools who can demonstrate that they meet the criteria will be prioritised in the allocation of 2026 SOTP funded places.

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