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Principals and schools

School Onsite Training Programme - information for schools

Learn about the school-based training programme for student teachers and becoming a host school
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Last updated 21 August 2026

The School Onsite Training Programme (SOTP) supports people training to become teachers through a school-based study and practical teaching experience.  

Student teachers spend three days a week in a host school or kura while completing their Initial Teacher Education (ITE) qualification and receive mentoring support from an experienced teacher. 

Host schools and kura receive funding to help cover some of the costs of supporting a student teacher. Principals can also choose to support people in their school community to train as a teacher by participating in the programme and becoming a host school. 

School Onsite Training Programme for 2027

The 2027 intake is now open.

If you are interested in becoming a host school or kura, contact your preferred ITE provider from the list of SOTP approved providers to discuss hosting a student teacher, or supporting people from your community to train as a teacher. You do not need to apply through the Ministry of Education.

Funding

Each SOTP place is funded at $22,660, consisting of:

  • a $2,000 payment to the host school or kura as a contribution towards the cost of hosting a student teacher onsite.
  • a $20,660 tax-free bursary paid to the student teacher as a contribution towards their study and living costs.

2027 SOTP providers

All ITE providers offering SOTP places and their programmes are listed below.

SOTP providers and programmes
Contact details, programmes and useful links
Go to list launch

School | kura eligibility

All participating schools and kura must:

  • be state, state-integrated or private schools. Charter schools are not eligible to host Ministry-funded SOTP student teachers
  • have formal arrangements and support structures in place for student teachers
  • ensure mentoring teachers have a minimum of four years' teaching experience.

Additionally, primary schools and kura must be able to demonstrate school-wide commitment to professional learning and development in structured maths and literacy.

Student eligibility 

Students must:

  • be a graduate, as this is a one-year graduate or post-graduate training programme
  • be a New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or holder of a resident visa. International students are not eligible
  • be enrolled in an approved SOTP one-year Initial Teacher Education programme that leads to teacher registration
  • not have accepted a TeachNZ scholarship or another Ministry funded pathway into teaching. * 

* You can apply for other Ministry funded pathways into teaching. However, you can only accept funding through one programme.

School staff requirements

School staff who meet the student eligibility criteria can train to become a teacher through SOTP. However, they cannot be employed to work on the 3 days that form part of the SOTP placement.

Contact us

Contact your preferred provider directly from the list of providers. 

Please get in touch if you have other questions about the information on this page. We're here to help.

Email: info.sotp@education.govt.nz 

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